Pinelands National Reserve in New Jersey, USA - map, photos and visitor information

New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve is a region of forests, wetlands, farms, and communities across southern New Jersey. It includes both public and private land. Plan a visit around a specific park, forest, trail, or historic site rather than looking for one reserve entrance.

Explore the Pinelands through individual places

• Pine and cedar landscapes: forest, wetland, and river habitats give the region its character.
• Education exhibit: the Candace McKee Ashmun Pinelands Education Exhibit introduces native fish, carnivorous plants, and local history.
• River trips: canoe and kayak operators serve waterways including the Mullica, Batsto, Oswego, and Wading rivers.
• Historic places: sites such as Batsto and Double Trouble connect the landscape with its industrial and agricultural past.

Check the rules for your chosen destination

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Prepare for the route you will actually use

Carry drinking water, food, a usable map, and weather protection for a walk. Leave your route and expected return with someone outside the group. For paddling, ask about current river conditions, trip length, equipment, and the return arrangement before launching.

A regional map cannot establish that a sand road, waterway, or trail is suitable for your group. Get route-specific advice from the land manager or operator.

Respect the region's different landowners

A national reserve designation does not make private property, military land, or every public parcel available for recreation. Follow signs, use public access points, and confirm local rules for pets, fires, bicycles, and vehicles. Leave plants, historic objects, and wildlife undisturbed.

Book services with their operator

The reserve does not function as one bookable campground. Arrange camping and lodging with the individual site.

The Commission's paddling directory helps locate operators, but confirm their prices, dates, and reservation needs directly. Groups of more than ten should arrange an education-exhibit visit with the Commission.

Navigate to a public destination, not a regional pin

The reserve spans portions of seven counties and about 1.1 million acres. The education exhibit is at 15 Springfield Road in Pemberton Township. Use the Commission directions for that building, rather than treating it as the gateway to every outdoor site.

Start with the official recreation directory, then obtain a destination map. The Commission's property maps show land and planning information; they do not replace a trail map or permission to cross a parcel.

Two parks for an eastern-side visit

Double Trouble State Park, near the Lacey–Berkeley area, and Island Beach State Park, reached by the Route 35/Shore Road approach, suit plans on the reserve's eastern side. They are part of the wider Pinelands visitor network rather than two short detours from every location in this large region.

Combine learning with one outdoor route

Visit the education exhibit before a forest walk to understand the relationship between water, plants, and land use. Choose a manageable section of an established public trail instead of assuming that an unmarked road is a walking route.

A canoe or kayak trip offers another way to explore. Route length and river conditions affect the time required. Confirm the launch, landing, and transport arrangements as one plan.

Amenities belong to individual sites

State and private campgrounds and lodging are spread across the region. Each site has its own facilities and service schedule.

Ask the site manager about the exact facilities you need before departure, and bring drinking water.

The education exhibit offers an introduction to the region. Arrange group visits with the Commission. Discuss trail accessibility with the manager of the outdoor site you plan to visit.

About the Pinelands reserve

A lived-in landscape protected through a partnership

Lenape history precedes European settlement. Later industries used bog iron, sand, timber, and berry-growing landscapes. Congress created the reserve in 1978, and a state–federal partnership followed in 1979. The Pinelands Commission implements the regional Comprehensive Management Plan.

Water conditions shape animal habitats

The Pine Barrens treefrog is one of the region's characteristic animals. Moisture, vegetation, fire, and water chemistry help determine which species can live here. Protecting those conditions matters as much as protecting a single visible animal.

Pinelands visitor and education questions

Call the Pinelands Commission at 609-894-7300. For Public Programs, use extension 125 or email [email protected]. Mailing address: Pinelands Commission, PO Box 359, 15 Springfield Road, New Lisbon, NJ 08064. Contact individual recreation sites for their own operating details.