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Trail Guides
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The Glades Wildlife Refuge
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261 Schoolhouse Road, Newport, NJ 08345
Phone: (856) 447-3425
www.natlands.org
Natural Lands Trust
From Route 49 heading east toward Millville, turn Right onto CR 610/Cedar St. Follow Cedar St. for 5.8 miles and turn Left
onto CR 629/Newport Rd. Continue on Newport Rd. for 3.5 miles and then turn Left onto CR 553. Follow CR 553 for 0.4 miles and turn Right at
the blinker light onto CR 656/Baptist Rd.
Continue down Baptist Rd. for one mile and
turn Left at the blinker light onto CR 637/ Fortescue Rd. Follow Fortescue Rd. for 2.0 miles and turn Left into the National Park Service
Office driveway. There is a sign at the end of
the driveway.
* Note: These directions will take you to the National Park Service office on Fortescue Rd., which is closed on weekends, holidays and some Fridays. The staff at this office will be able to give you information on The Glades and direct you to the best wildlife viewing in the area. There is no public restroom at this office. Map
The Glades Wildlife Refuge is open daily from dawn to dusk. One small parking area is available on site, but
parking along roadsides is acceptable in this
low traffic area.
Much of this preserve can best be seen from a boat or canoe. A few small
car-top launches are available, and a public boat launch is located at the end of Turkey Point Rd. Or call the Natural Lands Trust office and ask about guided paddles through the refuge. Small boats can also be rented from a number of local crab boat rental companies.
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| Fox Sparrow | Kevin Karlson |
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| | The Glades Wildlife Refuge consists of over 7,000 acres of vast tidal marshes, oak-pine woodlands, Delaware Bay beaches and hardwood swamps. While most of the preserve is only accessible by canoe or by boat, there are trails for hikers to enjoy. Take advantage of the salt marsh views to scan for Bald Eagle,
Northern Harrier, wading birds and waterfowl. The preserve is owned and managed by the Natural Lands Trust, a nonprofit land conservation
organization preserving open space in the
greater Philadelphia region.
the Russell Farm trail, which winds through a maritime forest before reaching the salt marsh. Benches along elevated portions of the trail and an observation platform are wonderful places to sit quietly and observe life in the marsh. The trail is frequently wet and muddy so boots are recommended.
Bald Eagle are plentiful, as well as other raptors including the occasional Rough-legged Hawk or Golden Eagle. Visiting the bridge and platform at Turkey Point will give you a great
vantage point from which to scan the marsh.
Look for Short-eared Owl at dusk but bundle up, the wind can be frigid!
The annual migration brings songbirds back to the area and the songs of Yellow-throated and Pine Warblers can be heard in the mixed oak and pine forests. Visit the beaches in May and early June for looks at Red Knot, Ruddy Turnstone and other shorebirds that stop to feed on
protein-rich horseshoe crab eggs.
Watch for diamondback terrapins crossing the roads in July on their quest for a nesting site. Late summer is a great time to observe the beginning of the southbound shorebird migration and thousands of swallows can be seen sitting on overhead wires or swarming over the fields or marsh at dusk, feasting on insects. Biting insects are abundant, so insect repellent and long-sleeved shirts and pants are recommended.
Fall foliage provides a beautiful backdrop for the migration that occurs during this time of year. Keep your eyes on the sky so you don’t miss the birds flying overhead; but be on the lookout for migrating butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies at lower elevations as well.
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