Rancocas State Park At A Glance...
- A replica 17th-century Native American village in the park hosts events, run by the Powhatan Renape Nation.
- Rancocas Creek can be paddled by canoe or kayak, with turtles, blue herons and deer along the banks.
- Four trails in the Mount Laurel section loop past bluffs, creek views and old cellar holes.
- Todays Sunrise: , Sunset:
- New Jersey Delaware River Region Burlington County
About Rancocas State Park
Rancocas State Park is a state park of about 1,252 acres run by the NJ State Park Service, with sections in Mount Laurel, Hainesport and Westampton, all near where the South and North branches of Rancocas Creek meet. The sections are separate pieces of land, and the north and south halves are not connected by trail.
The Mount Laurel section, also known as Rancocas Woods, is the one most hikers use. It has four interlocking dirt trails totaling about three miles through hilly woods and along the creek, starting from the lot at Spencer Park on Rancocas Boulevard. The Hainesport section on the south side of the creek has about eight miles of trails.
Rancocas Creek itself is a popular paddle by canoe or kayak, and wildlife along it includes painted and box turtles, blue herons, white-tailed deer and geese. The park also holds a replica 17th-century Native American village, run by the Powhatan Renape Nation, which hosts events. The Rancocas Nature Center, in the Westampton section, runs programs year round.
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Activities:
- Hiking
- Paddling - Kayak, Canoe, row boat
- Walking
Amenities:- Parking Lot(s)
Trails:- Natural Surface (Dirt/Roots/Rocks)
Park Type:- State Parks
Rules/Regulations:- Alcohol Not Permitted
Contact / Location
Trail & Path Info
The Mount Laurel section has four trails, all on dirt and rated about 3 out of 10 for difficulty, with some steep areas. The Rancocas Woods Loop is 1.4 miles and blazed orange. Towering Trees is 0.8 miles and blazed blue. The Rancocas Creek Trail is 0.5 miles and blazed yellow, and the Ironstone Bluff Trail is 0.3 miles and blazed white. Expect creek views, bluffs, tree roots and old cellar holes.
The Hainesport section has about 8.2 miles of trails in blue, green, red, yellow and orange, marked with paint on trees and arrows at the connectors. Its blue loop follows the edge of the park and is the best one to start with. This section is separated from the Nature Center half of the park by the North Branch of Rancocas Creek and is not linked to it by trail.
Hours / Season of Operation
The Mount Laurel trails are open sunrise to sunset. Camping along the creek banks is not allowed.
Facilities
There are no facilities at the Mount Laurel trailheads, and none for picnics or restrooms along the creek. Bring what you need.
Parking
For the Mount Laurel trails, park in the good-sized lot at Spencer Park, 339 Rancocas Boulevard. When the ball fields are busy in softball season, there are other trailheads you can use. In the Hainesport section, there are about five or six roadside spots at the corner of Deacon Road and Woolman Road, and parking along a road loop on Rancocas Avenue.
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Nearby Places
- Rancocas State Park (~0 miles)
- Rancocas Nature Center (~2 miles)
- The Funplex Amusement Center - Mount Laurel (~2 miles)
- Burlington County Prison Museum (~4 miles)
- Iron Works Park (~4 miles)
- Johnson's Corner Farm (~5 miles)
- HallowSpire (~5 miles)
- Historic Smithville Park and Smiths Woods (~6 miles)
- Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve (~6 miles)
- Animal Kingdom Zoo [closed] (~7 miles)
- Eastern Mountain Sports (Moorestown) (~7 miles)
- Savich Tract fields (~7 miles)
Mount Laurel, New Jersey 08054