Snowshoeing at Pineland Farms
Once a school for those with mental illness, Pineland Farms has evolved into a beautiful 5,000 acre family-friendly recreational center. Complete with a market of locally sourced goods, an outdoor center, educational programs, a farm yard, and an equestrian center, this place really has it all. In the warmer months, the farm offers disc golf, mountain biking, hiking and walking trails, tennis, flourishing gardens, fishing, and so much more. My favorite time to visit is in the colder months when you can go skating on the pond, ride the sledding hill, and cross-country ski or snowshoe on their picturesque wooded trails.
Our most recent Pineland Farms adventure took place on a warm Sunday in January. We arrived earlier in the morning to beat the 1:00 crowd. Around 1:00, when it's peak temperature outside, day tickets are half price, which makes it the most popular time for people to hit the trails. As a result, waiting for trail passes can be a lot longer. We prefer to go in the morning and then hit the marketplace for lunch around that time, therefore doing the opposite of the crowds.
Speaking of doing the opposite, we found ourselves laughing all day because we had gone out on a whim and brought our snowshoes and most, if not all of the people there were skiing. We were also a bit jealous watching skiers glide up and down hills while we were stomping through fresh powder. The next time we go back, we will definitely be bringing our skis.
We were the first to venture onto the snowshoe trails, so we had to brake trail. The trails were well marked and often intersected with other trails, so if you wanted to cut your snowshoe short or extend it, there were several ways to do so. We were quite ambitious to choose the Whitetail Way trail, which was 6.1K (3.8 miles) long. Normally, that wouldn’t seem like a long distance to me, but breaking trail in fresh powder can really slow you down.
Whitetail Way begins at the outdoor center, where I was so excited to find a huge outdoor fire pit with benches! It’s a great spot to warm up as you strap on snowshoes and prepare to hit the trail. There are also two other fire pits spread out amongst the trails, which is a huge bonus. From the outdoor center, the trail begins in an open field, which gradually becomes more wooded. Those that enjoy wooded, serene trails, I would highly recommend doing the Whitetail Trail. It also features the cutest little warming hut, complete with hot cocoa and a fire. It really is the perfect place to take a break, eat lunch, or just warm up! Just thinking about it has me ready to go back!
Last but not least, I feel as if I would be withholding information if I didn’t share how delicious the food is at the Marketplace. Their sandwiches, soups, desserts, and pretty much anything else they make are always exceptional. The almost thanksgiving and trailblazer sandwiches are my current top picks. Oh, and don’t forget to bring a few things home for round two.
Interested in planning a visit? Check out the winter trail map here.
