By:
Submission
The Forest Office can be reached via the Garden State Parkway by taking exit 17 southbound to route 9 and 550 or exit 13 northbound. Highway signs are provided to guide the motorist to the forest office.
Overall a good camping experience, we stayed in the North Shore area. Lots of hiking trails and an abundance of wildlife to see and activities to do. I thought the kayak/canoe rentals for $10/hr was very reasonable.
The restrooms were just ok. They were cleaned daily but in much need of a deep clean. I can't comment on the showers, as we brought our own.
There was a storm on one of our camping days and our site flooded as well as many others around us. Definitely pay attention to the grade of your chosen site, especially when tent camping.
Our stay was Thursday-Sunday. On Thursday, there was literally almost nobody else staying in the area. If you're looking for a quieter camping experience, weekdays are best. The area started filling up on Friday.
Great family place for hiking, BBQ, swimming, fishing and mushroom picking. Has take out window for food and lifeguards in the summer.
The forest was quiet and very peaceful. I was lucky and got site 23 which had the most shade I could see out of most campsites and most by far of all the ones on the water. Some sites are pretty close to the road but this one was push back a bit which was nice. The bathrooms and showers were clean and stocked. I will be back again!
One of my favorite spots to hike, camp and kayak. One of the most affordable campgrounds around. I've only ever camped at CCC sites and they come with firepit and a picnic table. Kayaks can be rented by the hour for very cheap (charged after you return) or bring your own to use on the lake. Swimming is available in the lake with lifeguards during the summer. It gets super packed during the in season though. Hiking is free if you use the trailheads outside of campground. I believe there is about 20 miles or so combined total worth of trails to walk at this park so plenty to explore.
One star simply because of park services and amenities they claim they have. Showers are not really showers and super cold at that. The dryers don’t work so don’t waste your money. Park is beautiful but Meagan’s attitude is not. My son got super sick, and was running fever we had to leave late at night (couldn’t see to pick up). So while my son and I were in the hospital my husband went back and tried to pick up before noon. Turns out my son had a deer tick, so my husband rushed back to the hospital so we could hall be inspected. The State Police called and said Meagan said we left some things. My husband called the office to explain and to tell them he would be there in the morning because it was Tick situation. Megan called him liar, said we didn’t have a medical emergency and we went to the “furthest” possible hospital. Granted we are out of state we had NO cell service. I lived in Jersey for 3 years about 12 years ago and all I could think off the top my head of Cooper’s University so that’s where we took my son. If we had cell service I’m sure there were closer hospitals but when your child had a fever of 103 throwing up, you are not sitting around waiting on cell service or walking around trying to get it. You act, instinctively you act and go to what you know. I know the tick isn’t their fault, but the way my husband was spoken to and the sheer disrespect.
