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Trail Guides
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Big Timber Creek Park
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6
 
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Route 41/Hurffville Road, Deptford Township, NJ
Phone: (856) 845-5300
www.bigtimbercreek.org/
Deptford Township
From Rankin Avenue, turn Right on Good Intent Road. Turn Right at the first light onto Hurffville Road, Route 41. After 0.4 miles, turn Right into the entrance for Big Timber Creek Park. DIRECTIONS FROM NEAREST HIGHWAY: From Route 55, take exit 56A and merge onto Route 47 South. After 0.8 miles, turn Left at the traffic light onto Hurffville Road, Route 41. After 1.7 miles, turn Right into the parking area for Big Timber Creek Park. Map
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| Double-crested Cormorant | Greg-Vizzi |
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| | Big Timber Creek Park is a modest, 18 acre, site that is easily accessible, with varied habitat transversed by hiking trails and a good view of the tidal estuary and the creek. The paths are buried by large roots at points, creating difficult hiking, but also helpful footing when the trails become steep. The sparse undergrowth in the oak/pine uplands allows easy views of waterfowl and forest species. Some edge birding is available where the mowed field at the parking lot meets the forest. Big Timber Creek was once used to transport lumber cut in NJ to Philadelphia markets.
Spend some time at the benches along the trail overlooking the wetlands and creek to the East of the park.
Hike to higher points in the woods for the best views of the creek. The absence of foliage offers views of waterfowl such as Double-crested Cormorant, Mallard, and Canada Goose. Look for Eastern Towhee, Northern Flicker and Brown Creeper in the woods. Red-tailed Hawk is a regular visitor and well-trained eyes and ears may find its night-time counterpart, the Great-horned Owl, at dusk.
Daffodils greet visitors with their bright yellow blooms in April. Some migrant birds are returning to nest, while others are passing through. Mountain Laurel blooms through May and June, attracting butterflies and moths to its sweet flowers.
Turtles venture farther from the water and many young birds are fledging. Great Egrets catch fish and frogs slowly and methodically along the creek’s edge. Swamp Sparrows and Red-winged Blackbirds trill, and Belted Kingfishers rattle over the marsh. Wildflowers include St. John’s Wort, lady’s thumb, red clover, yarrow, spatterdock, and bur marigold.
Many birds can be seen feeding on the wild rice in the wetlands. The mixed woods of oak, maple, tulip poplar, sassafras, beech, and hickory show off their fall colors. Deer are active in the woods along the creek and all along Hurffville Road.
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