NJ, PA, NY - Base camping

[Diesel Grinch]

Hi all,

Looking for suggestions on doing some Base camping. What to give some new opportunities to my sons BSA Troop 85 for Andover/Newton NJ. Right now they do a lot of truck camping and we want to at least give them the option to do some backpack camping. So it would be nice to start them slow with some base camping. Maybe hike in a mile then setup camp and then be able to do some day hikes.

We are in the Northwest part of Jersey so a drive of an hour or two is OK. We tend to leave Friday nights after school/work and the boys are use to setting up in the dark but not hiking in it.

Thanks,
DG

[njredneck]

Wharton State forest offers some real easy hiking for new scouts to get use to carrying their gear. We normally do overnights with our scouts when backpacking leaving Sat morning and then take our time hiking in. the Mullica River camp is only 4 miles from Batso village and only takes 2-3 hrs to walk with young whining boys(you will always have 1).Another option is to split the boys into 2 groups and paddle 1 group in from Atsion while the others hike in from Batsto and then switch them the next day. The take out for the Mullica river is just outside of Batsto village.

[perrito]

You can definitely do this at Stokes or DWG. You can stay at a campground and work out some loop hikes.

[fallkniven]

The appalachian trail runs through the NW. Straight through the delware water gap and High point, all in your area. Lots of short marked trails running through those forests, many running across or starting next to the AT. Beautiful areas up there....

[Diesel Grinch]

Thanks all. Those are some good ideas. I'll see what I can workup and run it past the kids.

DG

[Canoefor2]

Look at doing the trail to Sun Fish pond. It is a short hike but a beautiful area and if the kids can bear it they can take a swim and clean off the sweat. I use to hike this with my troop when I lived in the area.