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Perhaps the coldest day this winter season, under beautiful clear blue skies, made this a perfect day to visit the Jakes Branch Park in Beachwood in the New Jersey Pinelands.

This video taken in December 2011 takes you through some of my favorite sections of the Long Island Pine Barrens. I start off south of Riverhead heading south through the David A. Sarnoff Preserve, through dry, sandy areas with lots of Pitch Pine. This preserve, like Rocky Point, was once owned by RCA and I point out various pylons along the trails. I continue south toward the NW Quadrant of the Dwarf Pine Plains where there's just loads of cool looking Pitch Pines

At this time of the year, I can't think of any better place to be than in the pines! This hike starts off at Jakes Branch, but I was itching to go back to Double Trouble and explore some new areas I had never been to before. The section of trails west of Double Trouble Rd and north of Pinewald-Keswick was simply amazing. Almost nothing but pines, plus a treat of some sandhills and a small pond. Then it was across the road and more views of the spectacular Ore Pond as well as the amazing Great Shapes by the Cranberry Bogs. There is nothing that beats the scenery of the Pinelands in winter!