Stroll through the Cranberry Bogs at Double Trouble State Park

This is a very easy hike, and a great day trip to take if you're looking for something simple and relaxing, but still want beautiful scenery and wildlife.

For quick access to the cranberry bog trails, the lot on Double Trouble Road near the Historic Village is where you'll want to start. Entering the park, you'll pass through Double Trouble Historic Village, which is a great opportunity for pictures. This area occupies over 200 acres and includes the village and surrounding bogs. Here you'll find buildings that were once schoolhouses, general stores, sawmills, and cottages from the 1700s to 1900s. The sawmill and cranberry sorting and packaging house were the two most important buildings, as the driving forces behind village and it's inhabitants were the production of lumber from the surrounding cedar trees and cultivation of cranberries; cranberries are still harvested from the bogs today.

The nature trail begins next to the cranberry sorting and packaging house, and runs 1.9 miles through and around the wetlands and cranberry bogs. Throughout, you'll spot plenty of cedar, pine, and birch, and will notice that in some spots, the trail is shaded by a natural canopy. The trail opens up to a beautiful view of the bogs; these areas are perfect for photos (even on gloomier days) and wildlife spotting. If you're looking for an easy and relaxing trip, and don't want to pass up an opportunity for some great pictures, the cranberry bogs and nature trail at Double Trouble State Park are definitely worth visiting.

More information and a guide to the nature trail can be found here: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/docs/double_trouble_nature_trail_guide.pdf.