You have probably driven right past it a hundred times. I almost did too.
That exit comes up fast, and most people just keep going.
But here is the truth.
A whole abandoned village sits quietly back in the woods, and hidden inside is something you will not believe until you see it.
A floating bridge.
It actually bounces a little when you walk across.
New Jersey holds secrets like no other place I know.
Why would anyone build a bridge that floats? I asked myself the same question.
The answer is pure old fashioned cleverness and a touch of beautiful weirdness.
So next time you see that exit, take it.
Your detour will thank you.
The Ghost Town That Refused to Stay Forgotten
There’s something magnetic about a place that came back from the dead, and this one did it twice.
Originally founded in 1831 as Shreveville, a textile village started by brothers Jonathan and Samuel Shreve, the settlement hit hard times when import tariffs on textiles were lifted around 1855.
The business collapsed, and the village sat nearly empty for nearly a decade, quietly gathering dust and ghost stories.
Then in 1865, inventor and industrialist Hezekiah B. Smith rode in like a one-man rescue mission.
He renamed it Smithville and rebuilt it into a thriving progressive industrial town, complete with woodworking machinery production and even a bicycle railroad.
Walking through the grounds today, you can almost feel the layers of history stacked beneath your feet.
The preserved village feels less like a museum and more like a conversation with time. Stone foundations, old structures, and carefully maintained grounds make it genuinely fascinating.
This is the kind of place that earns a second visit before the first one is even over.
Walking the 600-Foot Floating Bridge on Smithville Lake
Few things prepare you for the moment your feet hit a floating bridge and the whole thing starts to sway. The 600-foot pontoon walkway stretching across Smithville Lake is the undisputed star of this park, and it earns every bit of that reputation.
It bobs gently underfoot, which sounds alarming but actually ends up being half the fun.
From the middle of the bridge, the lake opens up around you in all directions. Turtles surface near the edges.
Birds cut low across the water. The reflection of the tree line shimmers below like a second forest living underneath the lake.
It’s the kind of view that makes you stop mid-step and just breathe for a moment.
Kids absolutely love the wobble factor, and honestly, adults aren’t far behind. The bridge is part of the trail system that loops around the lake, so you can cross it as part of a longer walk or make it the entire point of the trip.
Either choice is the right one.
The Smithville Mansion and Its Very Persistent Ghost Stories
Built around 1840 in the Greek Revival style, the Smithville Mansion is the kind of building that makes you slow down and stare. The columned facade, the sweeping grounds, the feeling that something important happened here, it all adds up to a genuinely striking sight.
Tours of the mansion are available, and checking the schedule online before visiting is a smart move.
The mansion also carries a reputation that goes well beyond architecture.
Paranormal groups have reportedly spent time here documenting unexplained activity, and the ghost stories connected to this building have taken on a life of their own over the years.
Whether or not you believe in that sort of thing, the atmosphere inside is undeniably atmospheric in the best possible way.
Even if a tour isn’t available on your visit day, the exterior and surrounding gardens are worth plenty of time on their own. The grounds around the mansion are immaculate, with manicured green spaces that beg for a slow, unhurried walk.
Bring a camera because every angle delivers.
Trails That Feel Like a Real Woods Adventure
The 4.4 miles of trails winding through this 312-acre park manage to feel genuinely wild even though you’re never far from civilization. Upland forests give way to wooded wetlands, and the path shifts character around every bend.
Tall trees close overhead, and the light filters through in that particular way that makes everything look like a painting.
Wildlife sightings here are frequent and varied. Deer step quietly through the underbrush, wild turkeys strut across open clearings, and cardinals flash red against the green like little sparks.
Turtles line up along fallen logs near the water, and if you move slowly enough, you might catch a great blue heron standing perfectly still at the lake’s edge.
The trails are well maintained and clearly marked, which makes navigation easy even for first-timers. Most loops are accessible for casual walkers and families, though the longer routes through Smith Woods offer a bit more challenge and solitude.
Weekday mornings tend to be the quietest, which is when the park really gets to show off its best self.
The Underground Railroad Museum of Burlington County
Set into a pair of restored worker’s houses, the Underground Railroad Museum of Burlington County adds serious historical depth to an already layered site.
Burlington County played a meaningful role in the network that helped freedom seekers move north, and this museum tells that story with care and clarity.
It’s the kind of exhibit that sticks with you long after you’ve left.
The worker’s houses themselves are fascinating structures. Small, sturdy, and preserved with obvious attention to detail, they give a real sense of what daily life looked like for the people who built and sustained this industrial village.
Stepping inside feels like stepping into a different century, and the transition happens fast.
The museum is open on Saturdays, so planning your visit around that schedule makes a big difference.
Combining the Underground Railroad Museum with a walk through the mansion grounds and a crossing of the floating bridge creates a full afternoon that covers history, nature, and genuine wonder all in one loop.
This is the kind of place that rewards curiosity.
Picnicking With a View That Does All the Work
Packing a lunch for this park is one of the better decisions a person can make on a free afternoon.
Picnic tables and pavilions are spread generously throughout the grounds, and many of them sit close enough to the water that you get a lake view without even trying.
The setting does most of the heavy lifting when it comes to atmosphere.
Food trucks have been known to swing by the park during events and warmer months, which is a genuinely welcome surprise when you’re mid-hike and suddenly very hungry.
The park hosts events like Earth Day celebrations, and those days bring extra energy and usually some excellent food options alongside the usual natural beauty.
Barbecue grills are available in certain picnic areas, which makes the case for bringing something to cook even stronger. Families tend to claim the spots nearest the playground, while couples and solo visitors drift toward the quieter benches along the trail edges.
Every table comes with a free view, and none of them disappoint.
Fishing, Canoeing, and Getting Out on the Water
Smithville Lake is not just a backdrop. It’s an active part of the experience, and the park gives you several ways to actually get out on it.
Fishing from the shoreline is a popular choice, especially in the quieter morning hours when the water is glass-smooth and the fish seem more cooperative. A kayak launch is also available for those who want to paddle their own route around the lake.
Canoeing here has a particular kind of magic to it. The lake is calm, the tree line is close, and the occasional turtle or heron gives you something to navigate around.
Getting out on the water also gives you a completely different perspective on the floating bridge, which looks even more impressive from below when you’re paddling underneath it.
Parking near the kayak launch is a specific detail worth keeping in mind before you arrive. The lake sees enough activity that spots near the water can fill up on busy weekends.
Arriving early rewards you with the best conditions and the most peaceful experience the park has to offer.
Wildlife Watching and the Butterfly Garden
The butterfly garden tucked further along the park road is one of those discoveries that feels like a bonus level in a video game. Wildflowers cluster in carefully tended beds, and on a warm afternoon the whole area flickers with color as butterflies move from bloom to bloom.
It’s a quiet, unhurried kind of beautiful that sneaks up on you.
Beyond the garden, wildlife is present throughout the park in numbers that consistently surprise first-time visitors. Wild turkeys appear with startling frequency, especially in the early morning near the wooded edges of the trail.
Chipmunks dart across the path, vultures circle overhead, and the lake edges are practically a turtle convention on sunny days.
The park also has permanently installed easels at scenic viewpoints throughout the grounds, set up specifically for artists who want to paint on location. That detail says something real about how the park understands its own appeal.
This is a place that takes its beauty seriously and makes room for people who want to engage with it slowly and deliberately.
What to Know Before You Go
Getting the most out of a visit here comes down to a few practical details that are easy to sort out in advance. The park is open daily from 7 AM to 7 PM, which gives you a solid window of time without needing to rush.
Arriving closer to opening time on weekdays tends to mean fewer crowds, better wildlife sightings, and a much more peaceful crossing of that famous floating bridge.
The visitor center is staffed and friendly, which makes it a good first stop if you want trail maps or information about current tour availability.
The Smithville Mansion tours run on a schedule that changes seasonally, so checking the Burlington County website before your trip saves potential disappointment.
The Underground Railroad Museum is open on Saturdays specifically, so that’s worth building your schedule around if it’s a priority.
Parking is plentiful across multiple lots, and the kayak launch lot is clearly marked. Dogs are welcome on leash throughout the trails.
The park is accessible year-round, and every season offers something different worth seeing.
Address: 803 Smithville Rd, Eastampton Township, NJ.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
