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Trail Guides
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Cooper River Park
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8
 
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North Park Drive, Pennsauken, NJ
Phone: (856) 216-2117
www.camdencounty.com/parks
Camden County Parks
From Lee’s Lane, turn Left onto Newton Lake Drive. Turn Left onto Merrick Avenue, Right onto Bettlewood Avenue, and then Sharp Left to continue on North Newton Lake Drive. After 0.5 miles, turn Right onto Route 30/White Horse Pike. After 0.7 miles bear right to continue on Route 30/130/Crescent Boulevard. After 0.6 miles turn Right onto North Park Drive. After 0.7 miles turn Right into the parking area for Cooper River Park. DIRECTIONS FROM NEAREST HIGHWAY: From I-295, take exit 34B for Marlton Pike/ Route 70 West. After 3.9 miles, take the 2nd exit on the Right for Cuthbert Boulevard South. Make the first Right onto North Park Boulevard. After 0.5 miles turn Left into the parking area for Cooper River Park. Map
New Jersey Transit Bus Lines No. 406 Berlin/Marlton/Philadephia stops at Route 70 & McClellan Avenue. Walk 3 blocks on North Park Drive. Turn Left on McClellan Avenue. Walk 3 blocks on McClellan Avenue. Turn Right on Marlton Pike and walk a short distance. New Jersey Transit Bus Lines No. 317 Asbury Park/Fort Dix/Philadelphia and New Jersey Transit Bus Lines No. 413 Camden/Mount Holly/Burlington both stop at Route 38 & Route 70 Overpass. Walk 1 block on North Park Drive. Turn Left on Browning Road. Walk 5 blocks on Browning Road. Turn Right on Kaighn Avenue. Walk 2 blocks on Kaighn Avenue. Bear Right on Marlton Pike and walk a short distance. New Jersey Transit Bus Lines No. 409 Trenton/Willingboro/Philadelphia stops at Route 130 and Marlton Pike. Walk 1 block on North Park Drive. Turn Left on Browning Road. Walk 6 blocks on Browning Road. Turn Left on Marlton Pike. Walk 1 block on Marlton Pike. Walking distances are less than 1 mile.
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| Northern Flicker with chicks | Kevin Karlson |
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| | 346-acre Cooper River Park in urban Camden is a popular riverside destination throughout the year. Activities and facilities include running trails and tracks, recreational fields, pavilions, sailing and sculling on a large open water area and the historic Hopkins House on South Park Drive, which dates back to the 1740s. There are also large grassland areas and waterside shrubberies that provide opportunities for bird and butterfly watching. Visiting mature forest areas, streamside trails and wetland habitats in the early morning and evening will reward frequent visitors with surprising wildlife encounters.
In the late spring and summer groups of egrets and herons can be seen roosting in most park areas, particularly in the early morning and evening.
Fewer people are present in winter and seasonal resident birds are active and viewable. White-throated, Song and Savannah Sparrows feed on seeds in the fields. Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose and Mallard are usually present in the lakes. Bare trees enhance birding in the wooded areas. Parking areas afford birding from the car amid frigid temperatures. Watch overhead and scan the treeline for Bald Eagles.
Many birds use the park as a fall-out area amid concentrated urban development on their voyage North. Eastern Kingbird, American Goldfinch, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler and Gray Catbird are among common migrants. Unexpected migrant bird species can be spotted in the park in the early morning and evening hours.
The park’s recreational facilities are popular in the summer and crowds of families utilize the sports fields and attend the many concerts and events. However, visiting the park in the early morning before the multitude arrives can offer good wildlife viewing and sightings of summer resident birds, butterflies and dragonflies, basking red-bellied turtles and bullfrogs.
Scan for waterfowl against the beautiful backdrop of the changing trees and their reflection on the water’s surface. Winter resident birds and southbound migrant species arrive and can be spotted feeding in the fields and shrubs. Raptors such as Red-tailed and Sharp-Shinned Hawks and Osprey can be spotted overhead.
The ‘Veterans’ Island’ and walking trail with benches behind the Lobster Trap Restaurant afford a view of the shore from the waterside, showing birds feeding at the water’s edge. Across Cuthbert Road on North Park Drive, the walking trail continues to an ornate gazebo in a nice grove of trees.
Follow trails at the East end of the park, across Cuthbert Road. The South side includes a tributary stream and wet woodland habitat with a hilly trail. On the North side there is a grove of mature oaks and poplars. Walking along lakeside shrubbery throughout the park affords views of birds and mammals.
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