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When you arrived at our Coastal Center, did you spot the iron artwork by the parking lot entrance? That beautiful & intricate folk art, depicting upland woods, salt marshes, and open water was forged by local blacksmith Stephen Nuttall, and marks the entrance of our Grassle Marsh Trail!
On October 11th, 2012, the pocket marsh adjacent to our Coastal Center was dedicated in honor of Fred and Judy Grassle, two distinguished national and internationally renowned marine scientists with close ties to Rutgers University and members of the JC NERR staff. In 2016, we cut the ribbon of the Grassle Marsh Trail. As it stands today, the ½ mile trail features winding paths through the maritime forest, an observation deck overlooking the pocket, spotting scope, interpretive signage, and children’s activity stops!
The trail passes through upland, creek and tidal wetland habitats and loops back to the JC NERR Coastal Education Center. The ½ mile trail is open and free to the public every day from dawn until dusk, and features interpretive signage, benches, and an observation deck overlooking the Grassle Pocket Marsh. In addition, the trail is handicap accessible, consisting of a natural earth path walkway with trail at–grade and minimum trimming of vegetation.
The Grassle Marsh Trail has become a treasured place within our local community: a place to escape the fast pace of daily life and recharge, connect with nature, and create life-long memories with family and friends. This would not have been possible without the help of staff and volunteers to manage the trail. Since 2017, the Ocean County Trustees have maintained the trail and boardwalk, installed and repaired signage posts and the Welcome kiosk, maintained the grounds around the JC NERR, and more! In 2020, we began our Trail Stewards Patrol Team, made up of dedicated volunteers that make routine surveys of the trail for litter, vandalism, or any safety hazards. We could not be more grateful for their steadfast support.
There are also many species of creatures that call the Grassle Marsh Trail their home. How do we know? Critter cams! Around the trail, we have motion activated cameras installed that help capture snapshots of elusive creatures. Over the years we have spotted a diverse array of species that we may have never spotted otherwise.
Check out our virtual trail guide!
Sponsored by the Flyover Country app, this virtual field trip is designed for use both in person as well as virtually. The interactive guide can be enjoyed by all ages and features 17 “stops” along our trail highlighting: the cultural history of Tuckerton, the Mullica River-Great Bay estuary, ecosystem knowledge, and more! Download the app for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play. And check out our virtual trail guide tutorial here!
“Life on the Edge” Interpretive Exhibit
The Grassle Marsh Trail does not end when you loop back to the Welcome kiosk! An extension of our interpretation of the estuary can be found just steps away at the Tuckerton Seaport at our “Life on the Edge” exhibit! The interpretive exhibit allows visitors to go back in time to explore New Jersey’s maritime history and leap into the future to learn about the state-of-the-art scientific research on-going at the JC NERR. Visitors are guided on a journey from the headwaters of the Mullica River, through the forested Pinelands, into the open marshes and wetlands of the Great Bay, and out into the ocean without getting their feet wet.
Through hands-on activities and multimedia components, visitors are able to explore the roles estuaries play in our daily life, a variety of aquatic life that call these places home, and what individuals can do to become stewards of this unique and important ecosystem.
Download our Seasonal Scavenger Hunts!
From our Grassle Marsh Trail to your own backyard, the whole family can enjoy our seasonal scavenger hunts! We have multiple editions for each season, featuring bingo cards, species ID guides, sensory activities, and more! We even have special editions for birding, fall foliage, and Halloween!
While crafted specifically for our Grassle Marsh Trail, these scavenger hunts can be enjoyed on any trail your family visits in NJ this fall.
The best part! They are FREE to download and print.