Wharton State Forest
Wharton State Forest is the largest state forest in New Jersey. It covers about 122,880 acres (497 square kilometers) and stretches across Burlington, Camden, and Atlantic counties. The forest is part of the Pinelands and lies within the Pinelands National Reserve, in the Mullica River watershed that drains into Great Bay.
The forest is home to Batsto Village, a historic site from 1766 to 1867. It has many hiking trails, including a section of the Batona Trail that connects to Brendan T. Byrne State Forest and Bass River State Forest. There are over 500 miles of unpaved roads, and the Mullica River is popular for canoeing.
Wharton State Forest is named after Joseph Wharton, who bought much of the land in the 1800s and wanted to use the Pine Barrens’ groundwater to supply Philadelphia. New Jersey lawmakers blocked exporting water, and the state bought much of the land in the 1950s. The forest was officially created on December 30, 1954, with more land added in 1956.
In 1978, the Pine Barrens were protected as the Pinelands National Reserve to prevent further development. A major fire, called the Mullica River Fire, burned in June 2022.
Atsion Mansion sits inside the forest. Built in 1826 by Samuel Richards, it shows how families lived in the 19th century and has no electricity or indoor plumbing.
Nearby is a monument to Emilio Carranza, a Mexican aviator who crashed nearby in 1928. A ceremony is held there each July on the Saturday closest to his anniversary.
The forest has ten campgrounds, from family camping at Atsion Recreation Area (with showers and a guarded beach) to wilderness camping that you reach only by hiking or canoe. Apple Pie Hill is a popular hiking spot with a 60-foot fire tower and stunning views of the Pine Barrens. The area is home to trees like pines, cedars, maples, oaks, and a fern-filled forest floor.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 00:31 (CET).