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Allaire State Park is probably best known for its historic 19th-century iron making town, Allaire Village, and its antique steam trains on the Pine Creek Railroad. The Manasquan River, which winds through the park, attracts canoeists and fishermen. The river’s floodplain provides habitat for over 200 species of wildflowers, trees and plants as well as habitat for birds and other wildlife. Hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders enjoy the many trails in the park.
CAMPING FACILITIES
Campsites: 45 tent & trailer sites with picnic tables and fire rings, restrooms and showers within walking distance, open year-round. $15
Group Sites: 6 sites with picnic tables and fire rings, port-o-potties. Open all year- $1 per person per night based on site capacity.
Yurts: Four yurts (Circular tents built on a wood frame) Each yurt has a lockable wood door, window screens and flaps, and two double-deck bunks, which sleep up to four people. $25 per night.
Shelters: Six shelters. Cabin-like structures with wood stove and two double-deck bunks, which sleep up to four people.$8 a bunk per night, based on the number of bunks.
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Location: Monmouth County
Size: 3086 acres
Fees (only charged between Memorial and Labor Day)
Weekdays-n/a
Weekends-$5.00
Walk in/Bike-n/a
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 220
Farmingdale, NJ 07727
(732) 938-2371
Activities: Historic Allaire Village, Pine Creek Railroad, fishing, canoeing/kayaking, trails
Bass River State Forest became the first forest to be acquired by the State of New Jersey for public recreation, water conservation, and wildlife and timber management. Lake Absegami, a 67-acre lake created in the 1920's, is the center of the forest's recreational activities and provides an area for swimming and a serene setting for boating and canoeing. A trail through the Absegami Natural Area wanders through a pine/oak woods and a small Atlantic white cedar bog.
CAMPING FACILITIES
Group Campsites: Six group campsites with water and pit toilets are within walking distance. Each site accommodates a maximum of 25 campers. Open all year. $1 per person per night, based on site capacity.
Lean-tos: Nine lean-tos each with a hardwood floor and a wood burning stove. Flush toilets and showers are within walking distance. Accommodates six people. Open all year. $25 per night.
Shelters: Six shelters with two bunk rooms, one double-deck bunk in each room, woodburning stove. Flush toilets and shower facilities are nearby. $8 a bunk per night.
Cabins: Six cabins with living room with double-deck bunk and fireplace; two bunk rooms with double-deck bunks. Kitchen. Open April 1 through October 31. $60 per night, $420 per week.
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Location: Burlington and Ocean Counties, 726 Stage Road
Size: 26,764 acres
Fees: (only charged between Memorial and Labor Day)
Weekdays-$5.00
Weekends-$10.00
Walk in/Bicycle-$2.00
Mailing Address: PO Box 118
New Gretna, NJ 08224
(609) 296-1114
Activities: Fishing, boating, swimming, Batona Trail
The forested acres of Belleplain include stands of young pine, oak and Atlantic white cedar, reflecting better soil conditions and less damage by fire than found in the Pine Barrens just north of the forest. Belleplain State Forest was established in 1928 by the State of New Jersey for recreation, wildlife management, timber production, and water conservation. In 1933, three camps were set up by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Reforestation Relief Act, supplying labor to the forest for more than eight years.
The CCC converted Meisle Cranberry Bog into Lake Nummy, a popular swimming, boating, and fishing area. They also constructed the original forest headquarters, maintenance building, a road system, bridges, and dams.
CAMPING FACILITIES
Camping: Campsites: 169 tent and trailer sites with fire rings and picnic tables. Flush toilets, showers, and laundry facilities are within walking distance. Campsites open all year.
Group campsites: Two group campsites with fire rings, picnic tables, water, and chemical toilets. Each site accommodates up to 75 people. Open all year.
Lean-tos: Fourteen lean-tos with propane heaters. Each accommodates up to six people. Flush toilets, showers and laundry facilities are within walking distance. Open all year.
Group Cabin: East Creek Cabin - Living room with fireplace, full kitchen, two bunkrooms with double bunks, bathrooms. Accommodates up to 30 people. Open year round.
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Location: Woodbine, NJ
Size: 20,749 acres
Mailing Address: County Route 550 P.O. Box 450
Woodbine, NJ 08270
(609) 861-2404
Activities: Hiking, swimming, interpretive center, mountain biking, fishing, boating
Formerly known as Lebanon State Forest, visitors are greeted by the fresh scent of pines. Today's forested acres are a strong contrast to the barren, cleared land that existed in the 1800s. The Lebanon Glass Works was established in 1851 and was successful until 1867, when it shut down after depleting the supply of wood necessary for the furnace to operate. Today, hikers can follow the sandy trails and roads that crisscross the forest, sometimes passing near the remains of stone or brick structures or where large depressions indicate the location of what was once a bustling town.
CAMPING FACILITIES
Campsites: 82 tent and trailer sites each with fire rings and picnic tables. Flush toilets, showers and laundry facilities are within walking distance. campsites open all year. $15 per night.
Group campsites: Three group sites; total capacity: 100. Fire rings, picnic tables, water, and flush toilets. Open year round. $1 per person per night based on site capacity.
Cabins: Three cabins with furnished living room with fireplace; two double-deck bunks; kitchen with running water, electric stove, refrigerator; half-baths with toilet and basin. Electricity. $40 per night, $280 per week.
Yurts: Three yurts, (circular tents built on a wood frame), featuring a plexiglass skylight. Each yurt has a lockable wooden door, and two double-deck bunks, which sleep up to four people. $25 per night.
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Location: New Lisbon
Size: 34,725 acres
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 215
New Lisbon, NJ 08064
(609) 726-1191
Activities:Whitesbog Village, camping, fishing, cross country skiing, Batona Trail
Cheesequake State Park’s uniqueness lies in its geographical location. Not only is it situated in the middle of the urban north and the suburban south, it lies in a transitional zone between two different ecosystems. Open fields, saltwater and freshwater marshes, a white cedar swamp, Pine Barrens, and a northeastern hardwood forest are the main characteristics of the park.
CAMPSITE FACILITIES
Campsites: 53 tent and trailer sites with fire rings and picnic tables. Flush toilets and showers are within walking distance. Open April 1st through October 31. $15 per night.
Group campsites: Two group areas with fire rings. Gordon Field has three sites with flush toilets and water, accommodates 150 campers. Booth Field has five sites, pit toilets, accommodates 250 campers. Open April 1st through October 31st. $1 per person per night.
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Location: Matawan, NJ
Size: 1,291 acres
Mailing Address: 300 Gordon Road
Matawan, NJ 07747
(732) 566-2161
Activities: Interpretive Center, swimming, boating (electric only), fishing, cross country skiing, hiking, mountain biking
The view from High Point Monument, at 1,803 feet above sea level, is a spectacular panorama of rich farmland and forest, soft hills and lush valleys in three states. The blue line of the Delaware River divides the verdant ridges of New Jersey from those of Pennsylvania. High Point offers superb trails for hikers and skiers and quiet spots for campers and anglers.
The land for High Point State Park, donated by Colonel Anthony R. and Susie Dryden Kuser, was dedicated as a park in 1923. The pleasant landscaping was designed by the Olmsted Brothers of Boston, a prominent landscape architectural firm of that time. The brothers were the sons of the eminent Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park.
CAMPING FACILITIES
Campsites: 50 tent sites (no trailers) along Sawmill Lake with fire rings and picnic tables. Flush toilets are within walking distance. Open April 1 through October 31. $15 per night.
Group campsites: Two group campsites accommodate 25 and 35 people each. Drinking water, pit toilets. Open May 15 through October 15. $1 per person per night, based on site capacity.
Group cabin: Living room with woodstove, full kitchen, two bunkrooms with double bunks, bathrooms, showers. Accommodates up to 28 people. Open May 15 through October 15. $150 per night, two night minimum.
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Location: Sussex County
Size: 15,328 acres
Fees: (Memorial-Labor Day)
Weekdays-$5.00Weekends-$10.00 Walk in/Bike-n/a
Activities: Visitors Center,
High Point Monument, Lake Marcia, Appalachian Trail, Cedar Swamp Trail, winter sports, fishing, boating
Jenny Jump State Forest is located in Warren County along the stunning rolling terrain of Jenny Jump Mountain Range. Panoramic vistas of the Highlands and the Kittatinny Mountains and Valley to the west, and scenic views of the Great Meadows in the east dramatically greet the visitor who climbs the narrow path leading to the top of Jenny Jump Mountain. Rocky outcroppings and
boulders line the trail - evidence that great glaciers once covered what is now known as Jenny Jump State Forest.
CAMPING FACILITIES
Campsites: Twenty-two tent and trailer sites with fire rings and picnic tables. Showers and toilets are within walking distance. Open April 1 through October 31. $15 per night
Group campsites: Two group sites; capacity: 25 campers at one site, 40 at second site. Fire rings, picnic tables, pit toilets. Open April 1 through October 31.
$1 per person per night
Shelters: Eight shelters near the top of Jenny Jump Mountain, with furnished living room with wood burning stove, two rooms each with double-deck bunks. Showers and flush toilets are located nearby. Outdoor grill, picnic table. Each accommodates four people. Open year round. $8 per bunk per night based on number of bunks
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Location: Warren County
Size: 4,239 acres
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 150
Hope, NJ 07844
(908) 459-4366
Activities: Astronomy Observation Site, boating/canoeing (electric motor only), picnic tables, playground,
fishing, cross country skiing, ice fishing, vistas of the Delaware Water Gap and the Great Meadows, Nature trails, hiking trails
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The brisk blue waters of Round Valley Reservoir attract swimmers, boaters, fishermen, picnickers and campers to its scenic shore. The Round Valley Reservoir swimming area was created by the construction of an earth dam across a narrow waterway on the west side of the reservoir, separating it from the main part of the reservoir. The reservoir covers over 2,000 acres and is approximately 180 feet deep, the deepest lake in New Jersey. It has a water capacity of 55 billion gallons. The reservoir is stocked with lake trout.
Round Valley is one of the few parks that offers wilderness camping. The campsites on the eastern side of the reservoir are accessible only by hiking or boating. The campers' parking lot is three miles away from the nearest site, reachable by a steep and rugged trail. Cross-country skiers and sledding enthusiasts congregate at Round Valley in the winter months.
CAMPING FACILITIES
Wilderness: 85 wilderness tent sites with fire rings (no trailers and no vehicle access), water, pit toilets are within walking distance. Access to campsites by boat, canoe, or backpacking. 3-6 mile hike from parking lot and from most facilities including swimming area. $12 per night.
Group wilderness campsites: Eight group wilderness sites. Running water and pit toilets are within walking distance. Each group site accommodates 7-25 people. Open April 1 through October 31. $1 per person per night.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Location: Lebanon
Mailing Address: 1220 Leba-
non-Stanton Road Lebanon, NJ
08833-3115 (908) 236-6355
Size: 3,639 acres
Fees: (only charged between Memorial and Labor Day)
Weekdays-$5.00
Weekends-$10.00
Walk in/Bike-$2.00
Activities: Trails, camping ,
fishing, scuba diving,
swimming, boating
The breathtaking and panoramic view from Sunrise Mountain along the Appalachian Trail rewards the hiker who has trekked up the steep side of the mountain. The view encompasses the pastoral farmland of New Jersey to the east and undeveloped forests and mountain ridges to the west. For those who don’t relish the idea of climbing up the side of a mountain and following a sometimes rocky and steep trail for a few hours, there is a short drive to the pavilion at the top of the mountain.
Stokes is famous for its impressive beauty, whether it is at the top of a mountain ridge or in the cool and fragrant Tillman Ravine with its rushing stream and steep cliffs. Hikers, campers, fishermen and photographers are attracted to its wild setting.
CAMPING FACILITIES
Campsites: 77 tent and trailer sites with fire rings and picnic tables.
Group campsites: Nine group sites with fire rings and picnic tables; capacity varies. Open from April 1 through October 31.
Lean-tos: Ten lean-tos with flush toilets, fire rings, picnic tables nearby. Open year round.
Cabins: Ten furnished cabins each with fireplace; two single beds; one double-deck bunk; kitchen with cold running water, refrigerator, electric stove; half-bath. Electric lights. Open from April 1 through December 15.
Group Cabins: Accommodates eight to twelve people. 2 sleeping areas and two full bathrooms. Open April 15 through November 30.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Location: Branchville, NJ
Size: 15,947 acres
Mailing Address: 1 Coursen Road
Branchville, NJ 07826
(973) 948-3820
Activities: Swimming, boating/
canoeing, fishing, cross coun
try skiing, hiking, fishing/ice
fishing, Appalachian Trail
Established in 1914 as New Jersey's first state park, Swartswood is well known for its great fishing and tranquil surroundings. Little Swartswood and Swartswood Lake were formed by glaciers thousands of years ago and are now home to a variety of fish. Both lakes have been the focus of water quality improvement efforts including invasive aquatic weed control and watershed protection.
Whether you are on land or water, there is always a chance you will catch a glimpse of the spectacular wildlife in Swartswood, from bald eagles to the unique plant life found in sinkhole ponds.
CAMPING FACILITIES
Campsites: 65 tent and trailer sites with a fire ring, picnic table and lantern holder. Maximum occupancy is six at each site. Flush toilets, showers and laundry facilities are within walking distance. Open April 1 through October 31. $15 per night.
Group Campsites: Three group sites with picnic tables, a fire ring and lantern holder. Minimum occupancy is seven and maximum is twenty. Water and sanitary units are within walking distance of each site. Open April 1 through October 31. $20 per night, per site.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Location: Sussex County
Size: 2,266 acres
Mailing Address: P O Box 123
Swartswood, NJ 07877-5230
(973) 383-5230
Fees: (Memorial-Labor Day)
Weekdays-$5.00
Weekends-$10.00
Walk in/Bike-n/a
Activities: Fishing, swimming,
boating (electric only), trails
Voorhees served as a camp for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) - Franklin Roosevelt’s program to get people back to work during the Depression. The CCC planted trees and constructed shelters, picnic sites and trails throughout the park. Two overlooks provide scenic views of Round Valley reservoir and Spruce Run Reservoir.
CAMPING FACILITIES
Campsites: 50 sites are available. Modern toilets and showers are within walking distance. $15 per night.
Group campsites: Two group sites; 50 campers each. Toilets, showers. $1 per person per night.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Location: Glen Gardner, NJ
Size: 632 acres
Mailing Address: 251 County
Road Route 513
Glen Gardner, NJ 08826
(908) 638-6969
Activities: Trails, observatory,
fishing
The quiet charm of Wawayanda appeals to hikers, campers, swimmers and boaters. Forested hills surround Lake Wawayanda creating a restful backdrop for canoeists, boaters and fisherman, while steep mountains challenge casual as well as serious hikers. A twenty-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail runs through the park, while the top of Wawayanda Mountain offers sensational views. More than forty miles of trails are marked in the park.
CAMPING FACILITIES
Group campsites: Three sites with pit toilets; total capacity: 150. Water must be carried from the maintenance building. Open April 1 through October 31. $1 per person per night.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Location: Hewitt, NJ
Size: 17,541 acres
Mailing Address: 885 Warwick
Turnpike
Hewitt, NJ 07421
(973) 853-4462
Activities: Barret Farm,
Swimming, boating (electric
only), fishing, winter sports,
trails
Wharton State Forest is the largest single tract of land within the New Jersey State Park System. It is also the site of Batsto Village, a former bog iron and glassmaking industrial center from 1766 to 1867 that currently reflects the agricultural and commercial enterprises that existed here during the late 19th century.
Throughout Wharton are rivers and streams for canoeing, hiking trails (including a major section of the Batona Trail), 500 miles of unpaved roads for mountain biking and horseback riding and numerous lakes, ponds and fields ideal for wildlife observation.
CAMPING FACILITIES
Atsion campsites: 50 tent and trailer sites with fire rings and picnic tables. Water, flush toilets and showers are within walking distance. Campsites open April 1 through December 31. $15 per night.
Godfrey Bridge: 49 tent and trailer sites, water, picnic tables, fire rings, pit toilets. Campsites open all year. $15 per night
Wilderness campsites: (group, individual, and family) Bodine Field, Hawkins Bridge, Batona Campsite, Mullica River Wilderness Campsite, and Goshen Pond have hand pumps for water and pit toilets. Buttonwood Hill and Lower Forge sites have no water. Mullica River and Lower Forge are wilderness sites, access by hiking, canoeing or by horseback. Group sites-$1 per person per night, family-$2 per night.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Location: Atlantic, Burlington, and Camden counties
Size: 114,557 acres
Mailing Address: 4110 Nesco
Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037
(609) 561-0024
Activities:Visitors Center,
Basto Village, boating/
canoeing, fishing, cross coun-
try skiing, Batona Trail
Some of the most rugged terrain and splendid views of northern New Jersey are found in Worthington State Forest. A rocky and sometimes steep trail follows Dunnfield Creek from the Delaware River to Mount Tammany, or hikers may choose to follow the trail to Sunfish Pond, one of the most popular sites in the area. Millions of years in the making, the pond was carved out by glacial forces during the last ice age and is one of fourteen rock-basin lakes between the Delaware Water Gap and the end of Kittatinny Ridge. A trail circles the pond, with many boulders and openings for resting and observation.
CAMPING FACILITIES
Campsites: 69 tent and trailer sites with picnic tables and fire rings. Open April 1 through December 31.
Campsites 1-77 have modern toilets and showers. $15 per night
Group campsites: Three group sites; capacity: 35 each. Picnic tables, fire rings, modern toilets. Open April 1 through December 31. $1 per person per night.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Location: Old Mine Road, Delaware Water Gap
Mailing Address: HC 62, Box 2
Columbia, NJ 07832
(908) 841-9575
Size: 6,233 acres
Activities: Visitors Center,
boating/canoeing, fishing,
winter sports (cross country
skiing, snowmobiling,
Trails (hiking, biking on Old
Mine Road, Appalachian Trail)