The words “remote” and “New Jersey” may not normally be heard together but we do have some scenic, secluded spots in our state. North Jersey has a handful but when it comes to isolation, South Jersey does it best. There are a handful of towns with tiny populations and no major attractions for miles…just natural beauty to enjoy. The most remote spot in the Garden State has to be somewhere in the middle of the Pinelands, and we think it’s pretty perfect.

Wharton State Forest is the largest tract of land in the New Jersey State Parks System.
Flickr/Julie Feinstein
It comes in at over 122,000 acres. Compare that to Barnegat Lighthouse State Park's 32 acres. Just for reference, High Point State Park comes in at 16,091 acres and Island Beach State Park comes in at 3,003 acres.
The park is located in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
Flickr/Matt Swern
The Pine Barrens were so named because it believed their land was infertile. While the soil is sandy and acidic, the land supports a wide variety of plant life. Because the land is not barren, many now refer to the area as the Pine Lands.
The Pine Lands are home to a very special water source.
Flickr/Julie Feinstein
The Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer has some of the purest water in the United States. Because of this and other factors, the government protected 1.1 million acres of pinelands as the first National Reserve.
Being the largest park in this already remote location, Wharton State Forest has some immensely secluded areas.
Wikipedia/Famartin
Head to Apple Pie Hill (the highest point in the Pine Barrens) and see nothing but trees for miles. The hill comes in at just over 200 feet and features a 60-foot-tall fire tower.
Outdoor activities are abundant at Wharton State Forest.
Flickr/Julie Feinstein
Hike, hunt, boat, fish, ski (cross-country), swim, horseback ride and more. Explore as much as you can, and don't miss the beautiful bodies of water along the way. One of my favorite spots is the beach at Atsion Lake.
You'll love watching the sun set over the lake or kayaking along the river.
Wikipedia/Mwaner
The Batsto and Mullica Rivers are so scenic, Goshen Pond and Atsion Lake are so peaceful, especially outside of summertime.
The park has many other attractions.
Flickr/Carly Schwartz
You'll find ghost towns and historic villages including Atsion and Batsto. Batsto is a popular tourist attraction with preserved and restored historic buildings. The area has more ghost towns than much of the wild west as settlements sprung up around mines and mills and then died away. The Carranza Memorial marks the site of a plane crash and you'll find numerous cranberry bogs around Hammonton.

Have you been to Wharton State Forest yet? What is your favorite attraction in the area? Do you have a favorite trail or camp site? For a secluded spot to check out in the northern part of our state, click here.

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