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  1. #1
    New Member FredtheWhale's Avatar
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    NJ > Backpacking suggestions

    Hi. I’m looking for quick trips, possible single overnights that i can do in NJ. I did some googling but mostly finding car camping sites. Any suggestions welcome.

    happy day.

  2. #2
    DGrav's Avatar
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    Sections of the AT are a good option. Plenty of road crossings for pick-up/drop-offs (Maybe possible Uber options(Uber works great for the Maryland section of the AT). The Pine Barrens have some options along the Batona Trail.

    If you hop over the border into PA the Pinchot Trail is a great option.
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  3. #3
    Senior Member cmoulder's Avatar
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    Where in NJ do you live? Some good destinations might be fairly close by in PA or NY.
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  4. #4
    New Member FredtheWhale's Avatar
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    Im in the north/central part of nj. About 40 min west of newark. I’ll have to look into the pine barrens. I jsut went to the catskills last weekend. Quite nice but i rented a site. Good for the kids that i brought but would really prefer a trail. It’s very odd to me to rent a site. But I haven’t been camping for a couple decades and don’t know if things have changed.

    (As illustration, i just dusted off my dana design backpack )

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    One of my favorite places to go is Round Valley. It’s about a 4 mile hike in around the reservoir. The cost of the sites are not bad.

  6. #6
    SilvrSurfr's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Heavyhiker View Post
    One of my favorite places to go is Round Valley. It’s about a 4 mile hike in around the reservoir. The cost of the sites are not bad.
    I went to Round Valley once - never again. The police came and hassled our neighbors for an hour, resulting in several hundred dollars in fines. Then they came to our site, and insisted they knew we were doing something illegal. They stayed for 45 minutes just hassling the heck out of us before finally giving up.

    And don't get me started on Round Valley Reservoir - an engineering nightmare. They picked the worst place in the world to put an artificial lake. Twenty-something people have died there - their bodies never recovered. The winds can pop up in a second, and once they get over 20 miles an hour, the authorities set off these bizarre strobe lights warning you to get off the water immediately or be fined. It's twilight zone stuff.

    Seriously, who ever heard of a lake with strobe lights warning you you're gonna die or be fined? I think it must be the only lake like it in the USA.
    Last edited by SilvrSurfr; 07-13-2022 at 20:56.
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  7. #7
    Crash's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SilvrSurfr View Post
    I went to Round Valley once - never again. The police came and hassled our neighbors for an hour, resulting in several hundred dollars in fines. Then they came to our site, and insisted they knew we were doing something illegal. They stayed for 45 minutes just hassling the heck out of us before finally giving up.

    And don't get me started on Round Valley Reservoir - an engineering nightmare. They picked the worst place in the world to put an artificial lake. Twenty-something people have died there - their bodies never recovered. The winds can pop up in a second, and once they get over 20 miles an hour, the authorities set off these bizarre strobe lights warning you to get off the water immediately or be fined. It's twilight zone stuff.

    Seriously, who ever heard of a lake with strobe lights warning you you're gonna die or be fined? I think it must be the only lake like it in the USA.
    Round Valley was to be Newark,NJ’s reservoir and NOT a recreational park.

    Only 6 bodies still unaccounted for I hear.


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  8. #8
    Crash's Avatar
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    The A.T. Over in PA is close and a great backpack. Park at Wind Gap and head in either direction. Rte. 78 to Rte. 33.


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  9. #9
    Member Of Wolf and Man's Avatar
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    I canoed across the reservoir to a paddle in site last year, and it’s a NEVER AGAIN spot for me as well. I had a group of about 10 obnoxious college aged students who were loud, drinking, and the worst part, starting up a gas chain saw every 20 minutes or so cutting down trees and bucking them up. In a State Forest! I kind of wish the cops had come.

    As far as places to camp for free in NJ, are you looking to pound out miles backpacking, or just find a quiet spot down a short trail to set up camp? Harriman SP in NY, Worthington State Park in the Kittatinny Mtns (near Delaware Water Gap) can be backpacked. But the Catskills if you are willing to drive a little further, and the Adirondack high peaks, if you are willing to drive further and spend more than 1 night are a much better experience imo. Btw - if you want info on primitive sites that are first come first serve, and drive-up in the Catskills or a short hike in, send me a private message and I can give you detailed info.

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