Posted in New Jersey Camping, Nature March 07, 2022 by

There’s A Lake Hiding In An New Jersey Forest Where You Can Camp Year-Round

Brendan T. Byrne State Forest is one of New Jersey’s hidden gems. It takes up a good portion of the Pinelands National Reserve, but it’s one of New Jersey’s least-visited state parks. If you’re looking to get in touch with nature and enjoy some peace and quiet, come pitch your tent and stay awhile.

The Pine Barrens or Pinelands of New Jersey cover a huge section of the southern part of the Garden State, and this ecological preserve is truly unique.
Flickr / Dan Jeffrey
Most of the land is safeguarded by a state forest designation, and you can visit Wharton State Forest, Double Trouble State Park, Bass River State Forest, and Penn State Forest.
The area is characterized by evergreen conifer trees of all types, along with sandy soil and cranberry bog lakes. There are lots of historic villages, too, and each is worth a visit.
AllTrails / Brian Hauckes
If you want to get out and see the Pinelands for yourself, one of the best places to start is at Pakim Pond in Pemberton!
Flickr / JohnFBoyle3
This gorgeous pond is part of Brendan T. Byrne State Forest and offers some of the best year-round camping in New Jersey.
There's nothing quite like waking up to the sound of silence when you spend the night here.
NJ Department of Parks and Recreation
If you camp in the off-season, you're likely to have the whole place to yourself. If you would prefer to make a few friends, come hang up your hammock and pitch a tent in the summer, when it draws in visitors from all regions of the state.

The Campground at Pakim Pond offers more than 80 tent sites with grills and picnic tables year-round. You’ll also find showers and flush toilets, so this rustic campground isn’t so primitive after all. You can also rent a cabin in any month, but from November to January the cabins shut off the indoor plumbing, and a fireplace will be your only source of heat.

Learn more and make your camping reservation on the New Jersey State Forest website.

Address: Pakim Pond, Woodland, NJ 08088, USA