The Great Egg Harbor River runs for about 60 miles through the heart of the New Jersey Pinelands before emptying into Great Bay and then the Atlantic Ocean. For paddlers, the upper and middle sections of the river — above Mays Landing — offer the best experience: clear, tannin-stained water (the characteristic dark tea colour of Pinelands streams), overhanging cedar and pine, and long stretches with no visible development on either bank.
The recommended stretch runs between Penny Pot County Park, off Route 322, and Atlantic County Park at Lake Lenape — a trip of several hours that can be extended or shortened depending on where you put in and take out. Canoe and kayak rentals are available from outfitters in the area during the warmer months. The water is shallow enough in most places to wade if you capsize, and the current is gentle. Spring and autumn are the best seasons — summer brings biting insects in the wetter areas, and water levels can drop in dry years.