Almonesson Park Trail Guide
This guide was produced by the Deptford Township Environmental Commission with a grant from the
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
History and Location
Almonesson Creek is a tributary of Big Timber Creek that begins near Fox Run Road and Route 47. It flows north through Almonesson Lake, Almonesson Park, and the Deptford Mall area and joins the Big Timber Creek near the intersection of Route 55 and Route 42. The lower portion is effected by the tides. Big Timber Creek is 11 miles long and drains an area of 63 square miles. It has 9 major tributaries and 6 lakes. Its lower portion forms the border of Gloucester and Camden Counties.
The Armewamexes branch of the Lenni-Lennape Indians lived in many settlements along the creek. The first European
settle
ment was Fort Nassau, built by the Dutch at the mouth of the creek in 1623. The colonization of the creek began on the 1670’s with the arrival of the Quakers and Irish. Many settled along the creek, which was used for transportation because there were no early roads other than Indian trails.
Big Timber Creek was named for the large amounts of timber that grew along its banks. Much of this was harvested and
floated to the Philadelphia Ship Yard. The Brewer Ship Yard was located near Chews Landing and the Black Horse Pike and built
boats on the creek from the early 1800’s to the 1880s. The colonial farmers along the creek transported their crops to Philadelphia in flat bottom boats using the tides.
Station #1 Oak and Tulip Poplar Trees
Along the trail there are many kinds of trees including white oak, post oak, chestnut oak, sassafras, American holly, and black gum. Oaks are members of the beech family of trees with 65 species found in North America and about 900 species world wide.
Oaks are divided into two groups. Whites oaks have blunt leaves and their acorns mature in one year. Black oaks have pointed leaves and their acorns mature in two years. The white and chestnut oak can grow up to 80 feet tall. They are an important commercial hardwood and were used in early shipbuilding in the area.
The tulip poplar is one of the tallest growing trees found on the east coast and can grow over 120 feet tall and over 4 feet in diameter. It received its name from its large flower that resembles a a tulip. Indians and early settlers made canoes from its wood which is now used for furniture, crates, musical instruments and for pulpwood. The large tulip poplar on the trail is approximately 100 years old and has a Eastern red cedar growing at its base.
White
Oak
Black Oak
Tulip Poplar
Station #2 Wildlife of Big Timber Creek
There are many kinds of wildlife that rely on the creek for home. The large mouth bass is a popular game fish that feeds on smaller fish. Other common fish of the creek include the stripped bass, yellow and white perch, sun fish, American eel, carp and channel catfish.
The red bellied turtle is the most common turtle found in the creek and can be observed sunning on logs and the banks. It grows up to 13 inches long and feeds on vegetation, insects and fish. Other turtles found in the creek include the snapping turtle and eastern painted turtle.
The muskrat builds houses out of reeds and mud and feed on roots of vegetation. The northern water snake is common and hunts in and along the creek.
Large Mouth
Bass
Red Bellied
Turtle
Muskrat
The great blue heron and belted kingfisher feed on the many kinds of fish found in the creek. Other birds that rely on the creek for food include the common egret, greater yellow legs, great egret, osprey and the occasional bald eagle.
Northern Water Snake Belted Kingfisher Great Blue Heron
Station #3 Ferns and Wetlands Plants
The spotted touch-me-not or jewelweed, is a member of the touch me not family with an orange, tubular flower and blooms from mid summer to fall. It is named for its ripe seed pod that explodes when touched, expelling seeds in all directions.
The Joe-Pye weed is a member of the sunflower family named after an Indian who treated colonists with for typhus. It grows in wet areas and has a cluster of purple flowers that bloom from late summer into fall. It grows up to 5 feet tall and its leaves
smell like vanilla when crushed.
Spotted Touch-Me-Not Joe Pye Weed
The sensitive fern or bead fern, grows in wet areas and along the banks of the creek. It has triangular clusters of light green leaves and grows up to two feet tall. It produces a frond with bead-like leaflets that last through the winter.
The cinnamon fern grows up to 3 feet tall and is common in shaded wetlands. It is named for its frond which is a light brown color when mature. Other ferns found in the park include the bracken fern, chain fern, royal fern and grape fern.
Sensitive Fern Cinnamon Fern
Station #4 Maple Swamp and Vernal Pond
The red maple grows in wet woods, wetlands, and along streams. It grows up to 80 feet tall and produces winged, red seeds in early May. Colonists made brown and black dyes from its bark and its wood is used for furniture.
The black gum or tupelo also grows in wet woods and along streams and grows up to 80 feet tall. It has shiny leaves and a small fruit that ripens in the fall and is eaten by birds and mammals. The sweet gum tree is a member of the witch hazel family and grows up to 100 feet tall. It is an important timber tree and is used for furniture, plywood and pulpwood.
Vernal ponds are bodies of water only present during the wet, spring months. These temporary ponds do not have fish and provide a safe spawning area for frogs and salamanders.
Red Maple Black Gum Sweet Gum
The fowler’s toad is common and breeds in vernal ponds during rainy nights in the late spring and early summer. It has a very loud nasal waah call. The green frog is common in the creek and the adjacent wetlands.
Fowler's Toad Green Frog
Station #5 Virginia Pines
The Virginia pine is a southern species that reaches its northern limit in New Jersey and is the most common pine tree in this part of the Big Timber Creek watershed. It is also called the scrub or Jersey pine.
It has short needles in bundles of two and scaly, reddish brown bark. It grows up to 80 feet tall with a diameter of 2 feet. The largest recorded tree was 114 feet tall with a diameter of 32 inches. It is used for pulpwood and railroad ties but seldom used for lumber.
It grows in poor, sandy soils and produces cones almost yearly which stay on the tree from three to five years. It is a pioneer plant that grows in old fields after grasses become established. Its seeds are eaten by birds, and squirrels nest in its high branches.
Other conifers found in the Big Timber Creek Watershed include the short-leaf pine, Eastern red cedar and Atlantic white cedar.
Virginia Pine Bark Virginia Pines Virginia Pine Needles
Station #6 Birds
There are many kinds of birds found in the park. Some birds spend the entire year in the area. They are called year-round residents and include the Carolina chickadee, chipping sparrow, cardinal, blue jay, red bellied and downy woodpecker, American goldfinch, and tufted titmouse.
Other birds migrate to the area in the spring to nest and raise their young during the summer. They are called summer residents and include the Baltimore oriole, gray catbird, American robin and house wren. Many of these spent the winter months in central and south America.
Some birds spend the winter in this area and migrate north to nest in the spring. They are called winter residents and include the junco, white throated sparrow, and house finch.
The best way to observe birds in the park is to stand quietly and not make any sudden movements. This allows the birds nearby to become used to your presence. Once they feel safe and that you are not a threat, they may go about their daily routine and may even come very close.
Downy Woodpecker Baltimore Oriole Gray Catbird White Throated Sparrow
Station #7 Mosses and Lichens
Lichens and mosses are found on logs, trees, and on the ground along the trail. Lichens are plants made of algae and fungi growing together. The algae produces food through photosynthesis and the fungi supplies water and minerals. The British soldier lichen is common, grows to 3/4 of an inch tall, and can be recognized by its bright red cap.
Mosses are small green plants with short stems and tiny leaves. They grow in mats and are valuable because they are able to soak up rain water and slowly release it into the soil. They also hold soil, help other plants take root, and help break down fallen trees. There are about 274 species of mosses found in New Jersey.
British Soldier Lichen Moss
The ground cedar is a member of club moss family. It has small evergreen branches and grows in moist, shaded areas along the creek. It has light colored spikes that produce spores in the summer.
The partridgeberry is a small shrub and a member of the Madder family. It grows along the trail in moist, shady areas. It has a green leaf with white veins, produces pairs of white, tubular flowers in the summer. Its bright, red berries ripen in the fall and are eaten by birds and small mammals.
Ground Cedar Partridge Berry
Station #8 Wildlife
Not including birds, there are about 34 species of mammals that are found in Southern New Jersey. Those common in the park include the raccoon, red fox, gray squirrel, opossum, eastern cottontail rabbit, and chipmunk. The raccoon grows up to 28 inches long and has a long black and white striped tail. It is mostly nocturnal, makes dens in hollow trees and logs, and feeds on insects, plants, fish and small mammals.
Gray
Squirrel
Raccoon
The Eastern cottontail weighs up to 4 pounds, is grayish-brown with a white stomach and is the most common rabbit found in North America. It feeds on many types of vegetation including grasses, leaves, bulbs, flowers, seeds, and bulbs. It nests in hollow logs and can produce up to 4 litters of young a year.
The reddish-brown red fox grows up to 30 inches long. It eats berries, insects and small mammals, and has its young in burrows it digs in the ground.
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit Red Fox
Station #9 Shrubs and Red Cedar
The lower part of the forest is known as the understory or shrub layer. Plants common here include the black huckleberry, inkberry, high bush blueberry, mountain laurel, pink azalea, teaberry, and sweet pepperbush.
The pink azalea is also known at the pinxter flower. It has clusters of tubular, pink, flowers, and blooms in May. It grows along the edges of streams and wetlands.
Mountain laurel is a member of the heath family that grows up to 20 feet tall. It has large clusters of white and pink flowers that bloom in June. Its hard wood was used for eating utensils and tool handles. The smaller sheep laurel is found in the Pine Barrens and has clusters of pink flowers
Pink Azalea Mountain Laurel
Sweet pepperbush is a member of the white alder family and grows up to 10 feet tall. It has round clusters of tiny white flowers that bloom in August. The flowers are very fragrant and draw bees and hummingbirds.
Eastern red cedar is also called red juniper. It grows up to 60 feet tall and is the most common conifer found in the eastern states. Its fragrant, rot resistant wood is used for fence posts and cabinet work and it produces juicy, dark blue berries that are eaten by wildlife and birds.
Sweet Pepperbush Eastern Red Cedar
Trail Map