Wharton State Forest Photo: RollerFanatic000 / CC BY-SA 4.0
United States › New Jersey

Wharton State Forest

ByWilderness Experts

Fast facts

  • Size: about 125,000 acres (506 km²), the largest single tract of land in the New Jersey park system
  • Setting: the Pinelands National Reserve
  • Trail: part of the Batona Trail, which runs about 50 miles (80 km) through the Pine Barrens
  • Rivers: the Mullica, Batsto, Wading and Oswego, all paddled for camping trips
  • Gateway: Hammonton
  • Managed by: New Jersey State Park Service

The landscape

Wharton covers a huge swath of the Pine Barrens: low pitch pine and oak forest on sandy soil, cedar swamps and tea-coloured rivers stained by cedar tannins. Fire shapes the landscape. The forest holds rare plants, tree frogs and snakes, and historic sites such as Batsto Village, an 18th-century iron-making town.

Best time to go

Spring and fall are the best seasons for hiking and paddling. Summer is hot and buggy. Winter is quiet and mild, a good time for the Batona Trail.

Batsto VillagePhoto: Frederikto · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Atsion MansionPhoto: JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Batona TrailPhoto: Famartin · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Apple Pie HillPhoto: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
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Getting there and around

Batsto Village and Atsion are the main hubs, reached from nearby highways. A maze of sand roads crosses the forest; many are soft and poorly marked, and some need four-wheel drive. Paddlers launch at points along the rivers, with outfitters nearby.

Things to do

Paddlers take day and overnight trips down the Batsto, Mullica and Wading rivers, with riverside campsites. Backpackers hike the Batona Trail, and cyclists ride the sand roads. Batsto Village and fire towers such as Apple Pie Hill add history and views.

Staying safe

Check for ticks and chiggers, especially in summer. Wildfire is a real risk; obey fire restrictions. Sand roads are confusing and easy to get stuck on; carry a map. Summer heat and insects call for water and repellent. Leave a trip plan.

Know before you go

This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so confirm current conditions, fire restrictions and permits with New Jersey State Parks before you go.

Navigation
Coordinates
39.7383, -74.6909
Magnetic declination
12.0° W (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass

58 places in Wharton State Forest

A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.

Getting there 2

Park entrance

Airstrip

On the trail 13

Route

Campgrounds

Hut or shelter

Sights 43

Lakes

Beach

Heritage sites

Points of interest

Island

Peaks

Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).

Trip types
Day hikeCar campingWeekend backpackingCanoeing & kayakingCycling

Looking for one of these closer to home?Destinations near me by trip type →

Terrain
ForestRiversWetlands
Key hazards
Ticks and chiggersWildfireSoft sand roadsSummer heat and biting insectsGetting lost on unmarked sand roads
Best seasons
Spring, Fall, Winter
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
Access / trailheads
Batsto Village and the Atsion Recreation Area, reached from US Route 206 and County Road 542 near Hammonton in the Pine Barrens.
Water
Rivers and streams; treat all water. Water at developed areas.
Cell / satellite coverage
Patchy across the forest.
Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
Emergencies: 911.
Permits & regulations
Camping, including primitive sites on the Batona Trail and rivers, needs a permit or reservation through New Jersey State Parks.
Leave No Trace
Camp only at designated sites, obey fire restrictions, stay off fragile wetlands and pack out all waste.
Conditions by month

October This month

Average high67°F(20°C)20°C(67°F)
Average low44°F(7°C)7°C(44°F)
Rainfall4.4 in(110 mm)110 mm(4.4 in)
Daylight, mid-month11 h 13 minSunrise 7:07 a.m., sunset 6:21 p.m.

What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.

Plan a trip here →

Averages for 1991–2020 from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, measured at the Indian Mills station, 6 miles (10 km)10 km (6 miles) away at 100 feet (30 m)30 m (100 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.

Before you go Conditions, permits, fire bans and closures change constantly — we summarise and link out, but always confirm with the managing agency first.
Official park website → Last verified 2026-09-21

Nearby parks

Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.

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