Wharton State Forest
Hammonton, NJ

Wharton is the largest New Jersey State Forest, over 100,000 acres. It is in a pine barren, where the soil is sandy and poor. Pine trees dominate and fires scorch the forest regularly.

There are two developed campsites (Godfrey Bridge and Atsion) and seven primitive camping areas (Buttonwood Hill, Bodine Field, Hawkins Bridge, Batona Campsite, Mullica River Wilderness Campsite, Lower Forge Wilderness Campsite and Goshen Pond).

One of the attractions is the restored village of Batsto, a 19th century bog iron and glassmaking center. There's swimming in the Summer at Lake Atsion and canoeing year-round in Mullica, Batsto, Wading and Oswego Rivers.

A 25-mile segment of the Batona Trail crosses the park. (The entire Batona Trail is 50 miles.) If you're backpacking, you can stay at the Lower Forge and Batona campsites.

The Atsion sites have hot showers and flush toilets. The other campgrounds have outhouses. Because the pine barrens have many fires, there are often restrictions on campfires.

Driving directions

• To the Atsion office: Take the New Jersey Turnpike south to New Jersey Route 206 South. Drive 28 miles and look for the park office between Tabernacle and Hammonton on the left side of 206. If you pass Atsion Lake and the Atsion Recreation Area, you've gone too far.

• From the Atsion office to the Atsion campground: Turn left onto Route 206 South and make the first right onto Atsion Road. The campground will be on your left after a mile or two.

• To Batsto Village: Take the Garden State Parkway to exit 52. Turn left at the stop sign onto County Road 654 South and go one mile. Then, turn right onto Route 9 South and drive 1.4 miles. Turn right onto New Jersey Route 542 West. Continue on 542 for 14 miles to Batsto Village.

• To the Buttonwood Hill Group Campsite: Take the Garden State Parkway to exit 52. Turn left at the stop sign onto County Road 654 South and go one mile. Then, turn right onto Route 9 South and drive 1.4 miles. Turn right onto New Jersey Route 542 West. 12 miles later, you will pass Crowley's Landing on the left. The next right is the entrance to the Buttonwood Hill Campground. If you come to Batsto Village, you've gone about two miles too far.

• To the Bodine Field Group Campsite: Take the Garden State Parkway to exit 52. Turn right and go to Route 679. Drive 5-6 miles on Route 679 and the campsite will be on the left.

• From the Bodine Field Group Campsite to the Batsto Village Office: Go back out to Route 679 and turn left. When you come to Route 563, turn left again. At the end of 563, go right onto 542 and drive three miles to the office.

• To the Batona campsite: Take the NJ Turnpike south to New Jersey Route 206 South. 1-3 miles miles south of the Red Line Circle, bear left on Karanza Road (there will be a large sign for the Karanza Memorial). The campsite is on the left side of Karanza Road, opposite the Memorial. If you're driving on 206 South and you reach the park office or the Atsion Campsite (and Lake Atsion), you've gone too far.

Phone: 609-268-0444 (Atsion), 609-561-0024 (Batsto), 609-561-3262 (Batsto Village)
Address: R.D. #9, Batsto, Hammonton, NJ 08037