Enjoy nature and recreation in Millville, NJ

Preserved areas for getting outdoors, plus sports, like auto racing and golf

For nature lovers and those who seek the thrill of competition - Millville has it.

Located among the lush green farm fields of southern New Jersey, Millville offers biking, hiking, fishing and boating on the banks of the Maurice River and Union Lake - both within city limits.

Pronounced "Morris," the Maurice and its tributaries are designated as Wild and Scenic Rivers under the National Park Service program. The river has been part of the fabric of life in Millville since the beginning. It was used to power early mills, transport goods, harvest oysters - and the sand it deposits on its banks made the raw material for Millville's famous glass furnaces.

Today, it remains a scenic and peaceful landmark that nature lovers enjoy in many ways. Maurice River Bluffs is a 500-acre preserve, a habitat for native and migrating birds, including songbirds, waterfowl, osprey and bald eagles. It's the perfect place to experience southern New Jersey's unique wild rice marsh habitat, with hiking and biking trails, benches, picnic areas and a floating dock. Sailing from Millville Marina, Maurice River Cruises offers weekend boat trips that bring the river and its wildlife up-close and personal.

Millville began at Union Lake, created to power mills the same year the founding fathers issued the Declaration of Independence. In the process, the pioneers who dammed the river also created a diverse wildlife habitat - protected in today's 5,000-acre Union Lake Wildlife Management Area. It's a dynamic habitat of many species of insects, animals and plants - and a spot for picnicking, hiking, boating and fishing. The city's 12-acre Union Lake Park features a dog park, playgrounds and sports fields. It's also home to Union Lake Sailing and Tennis Club.

Since 2008, Millville has been a mecca for motorsports. Billed as New Jersey's Motorsports Getaway, New Jersey Motorsports Park includes two world-class road course racetracks and one of the nation's top outdoor karting tracks.

With a busy calendar of events, it's the site of professional auto and motorcycle racing, pro-am events, track days and more - including the opportunity to gear up and drive professional-level go-karts. There's even a hotel, pub and spectator campground.

Golfers have a place to play, too, at the nine-hole Silica Sands Golf Club. More are just minutes away, including public and private 18-hole courses - and disc golf.