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
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