Cyclists will have four days to explore the natural beauty, history and back roads of the Pinelands during the 21st annual Tour de Pines bicycle ride, scheduled for Oct. 1-4.
Sponsored by the Pinelands Alliance and Outdoor Club of South Jersey and operated by Kermesse Sport, the event features four single-day rides at locations throughout the Pinelands National Reserve.
Participants can register for one or multiple days, with routes of varying distances offered each day. The rides are unsupported and self-guided, meaning cyclists are responsible for their own transportation, food and lodging. Participants receive cue sheets, GPS files, access to the Ride with GPS app and detailed ride instructions.
The event begins Thursday, Oct. 1, with “Ride Like the Devil,” starting and finishing at Renault Winery in Egg Harbor City. Cyclists can choose between 29- and 55-mile routes through historic areas of the Pine Barrens. The longer route visits Leeds Point, known in local folklore as the birthplace of the Jersey Devil, along with Port Republic and Oyster Creek.
On Friday, Oct. 2, the “Whitesbog Discovery” ride begins at historic Whitesbog Village in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest. The 26- and 52-mile routes travel through areas including Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area, Chatsworth, New Lisbon and Hanover Furnace, while also passing Mirror Lake in Browns Mills.
A new route for 2026, “Edge of the Pines,” will take riders west on Saturday, Oct. 3. Beginning at Parvin State Park in Pittsgrove, cyclists can select 24-, 34- or 51-mile routes. The ride showcases a different side of the Pinelands, traveling past farmland and through small communities including Alloway and Elmer.
The Tour concludes Sunday, Oct. 4, with “Barren Backroads,” departing from the Pinelands Alliance headquarters in Southampton. The 29- and 53-mile routes wind through Southampton, Tabernacle and Chatsworth along quiet roads and stretches of towering pines.
The longer route visits Chatsworth, often called the “Capital of the Pine Barrens,” while riders will have opportunities to stop at longtime local establishments for refreshments. Following the final ride, participants are invited to enjoy food and drinks in the Pinelands Alliance’s renovated barn, with beer provided by Spellbound Brewing of Mount Holly.
Registration is open, with the first-ride registration fee totaling $65, with another increase scheduled for mid-September. Easy registration ended Aug. 31. Each additional ride cost $20 when booked at the same time. The first 200 registered participants will also receive a complimentary Tour de Pines ball cap.
Proceeds benefit the Pinelands Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting New Jersey’s Pinelands National Reserve and promoting responsible enjoyment of the region’s unique natural and cultural resources. Based in Southampton, the organization works to preserve the Pine Barrens through conservation, advocacy, education and public programs.
Its efforts focus on protecting forests, wetlands, waterways, wildlife habitats and historic communities while encouraging sustainable land-use policies. The Alliance also provides opportunities for residents and visitors to experience the Pinelands through educational programs, guided outings and recreational events.
Fundraisers such as the Tour de Pines help support the organization’s ongoing conservation and public outreach efforts throughout the region.
