Lower Bank, nestled along the Mullica River, is the boundary between Burlington and Atlantic counties.One river, several cemeteries, countless creeks, and a whole lot of peace and quiet — that’s Lower Bank. Not big enough to be called towns, but easily found on most maps, it’s really more of a state of mind. Running through this end of the East Coast’s most unlikely wilderness is Route 542, one of New Jersey’s most scenic roads. The Pine Barrens are mysterious and magical, the quarter of the state most Jerseyans have barely, if ever, set foot in. The million-acre-plus Pinelands may seem vast and forbidden. Lower Bank is a good place to get your bearings, and begin your journey.