In 2011 I took my first bike camping trip, from Philadelphia out to a stealthy camping spot in Wharton State Forest. Since then, I’ve been intermittently exploring the sand roads of the Pine Barrens by bicycle.
In 2024 I decided it was time to do more than aimless meandering, and turn my back-burner ideas of a Pinelands bikepacking route into reality.
Of all the name ideas that occurred to me, none was more evocative than the “Jersey Devil Hunt,” after the region’s iconic cryptid.
As of 2026, the route represents what I think is the best way to connect all the points of interest along it. But it’s still open to possibilities for improvement, particularly based on user feedback!
Get Involved & Support
The goal of this site is to make it possible for anybody with the right bike to ride the Jersey Devil Hunt. I’m based in Philadelphia and will do my best to keep abreast of conditions on the route, updating this site as needed.
If you’d like to contribute, your knowledge is the best way! Please contact info@jerseydevilhunt.com with trip reports, comments, questions, feedback, gripes, or other intel from on the ground. You’ll help keep the information on this site as accurate as possible.
You can also support the route by helping with the costs of web hosting and route stewardship—including traveling to the Pine Barrens to scout the route and make sure conditions are still rideable. Use the icons below to send a little financial support if you like:
Bikepacking
Bikepacking is traveling by bike. Also known as bike touring, bike camping, and probably other things, it can be anything from an overnight trip to a round-the-world voyage. Exploring on two wheels lets you cover ground much faster than walking, but engage with what’s around you in a way that’s impossible with motorized travel.
In the Pine Barrens, a huge network of sandy unpaved roads allows for exploration deep into the hearts of five state forests – all within a quick trip from the biggest cities of the Eastern seaboard.
Ride the Jersey Devil Hunt
This site has all the information you need to get out into the piney woods and go bikepacking. Bring your own bike and start pedaling!