Wharton State Forest — Attraction in Waterford Township

Wharton State Forest is amazing! The nature and wildlife there is thriving and very beautiful to see in early June. Lotus flowers are gorgeous during June-August. The front desk in Batsto Village were wonderful and polite! Please remember to bring tick repellent when coming here during the warm weather, there are many kinds of different ticks here!!

My partner and I backpacked Mullica River Trail and camped for two nights in the Mullica Wilderness campground. Very easy to reserve and pay for your campsite ahead of time online. Be prepared if camping here as this is a hike-in campground. There is only a outhouse (no showers) and at the moment no potable water. Make sure to bring a water purification for the water if backpacking and camping for multiple nights here. There is multiple sandy entrances to the shore of the Mullica River on the campground. Fire rings are equipped with a grill. We completed the whole Mullica Trail within our three days, the trails are very clean and well maintained. There are many variety of toads and birds. We only saw three white tail deers while hiking and they run so gracefully. Please be careful and pay close attention on this trail due to the markers being far apart and many unmarked roads along the trail. The Atsion Recreation Area gate told us they were discouraging walk-ins due to how dangerous it is to cross the...

Wharton State Forest is an absolute gem in the heart of New Jersey, and my experience there was nothing short of magical. From the moment I embarked on a canoe journey down the Mullica River to my campsite, I was captivated by the stunning natural wonders that surrounded me. The river, with its ice tea-colored water, unveiled a rich tapestry of wildflowers, lily pads, turtles, frogs, snakes, and the industrious beavers crafting their dams. Witnessing river otters playfully navigating the currents was a delightful surprise.

The skies above proved equally enchanting, offering sightings of majestic bald eagles, osprey, and other birds of prey. The pervasive feeling of being miles away from society was amplified by the soothing sound of tall pines whispering in the wind, eerily reminiscent of a distant freeway. This auditory illusion added to the sense of wilderness that enveloped me, making me feel both small and enlightened.

The Pine Barrens, with its myriad wonders, left me in awe, offering countless reasons to cherish this natural haven. Wharton State Forest is a sanctuary where nature unfolds its secrets, leaving visitors with a profound sense of connection to the wild. It's a place where the soul can truly find solace and inspiration. My heart is forever tethered to this extraordinary...

What a shame.

Paddled the pretty little Mullica last weekend and I hate to say it: the whole area is badly mismanaged as a public asset.

It's clear that there's very little effort put into maintaining the "river" for paddlers, as there is virtually nothing in the way of signage, and we had to exit our lightly loaded, flat-bottomed 15ft canoe over 30 times. It was more like a bog crawl, than a canoe trip.

I don't mind a handful of portages, but this was just ridiculous.

Removing several logs and deadheads (without impacting dams and other habitat) would make for quick work and would have a huge impact on the user experience. As someone who has maintained ttrails, it's clear that little to no attention is being paid.

Every paddler we spoke with was frustrated and I doubt those folks will be back, or say good things about the park, or the outfitter.

Spent the night at the Mullica River Campground and instead of respite, campers were greeted with sites sitting almost on top of one another - and bizare jam-type music billowing through the woods until late. (Apparently there's a band camp near there). Strange stuff.

A lot of opportunity here, but poorly managed. Sadly, we...