Round Valley State Park provides primitive wilderness camping options near Branchburg, New Jersey. The campground requires a 3-6 mile hike or boat access to reach the campsites, offering a more secluded experience than many other local options. The reservoir spans 2,350 acres and reaches depths of 180 feet, creating a distinctive setting for campers seeking solitude within 30 miles of Branchburg's suburban environment.
What to do
Hike-in camping at Round Valley: Round Valley requires physical effort to reach campsites, creating a true wilderness experience. "This is a great campground that is super private and quiet - great for getting out to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. It's a pretty strenuous hike, but you'll be rewarded for the effort!" notes camper Agbi B. at Round Valley State Park Campground.
Whitewater paddling at Tohickon: During scheduled water releases in March and November, Tohickon Creek transforms into a whitewater destination. "When scheduled they open the dam up stream for some world class whitewater rafting," explains Brett C. The park offers primitive campsites for paddlers who want to stay overnight before or after releases.
Fishing in clear waters: The local waters support excellent fishing opportunities. "The water is crystal clear, the area is clean," reports James R. about Round Valley. Multiple campgrounds provide shoreline fishing access with trout being the primary catch in the reservoir areas.
What campers like
Secluded wooded sites: Many campers appreciate the privacy at local campgrounds. "We've tent camped here three or four times. It's a quiet wooded campground (not all spots, but most)," explains Robert J. about Mountainview Campground. The campground offers sites that feel removed from neighboring campers.
Waterfront camping: Sites along the water rank as the most popular. "We love the water views. The sites are large, many have nice mix of sun and shade. You can launch your kayak easily from the shore," writes Ruette W. about Spruce Run Recreation Area. While waterfront sites may lack hookups, many campers feel the views justify the trade-off.
Wildlife encounters: The region's campgrounds offer abundant wildlife viewing. "I've never heard so much wildlife there as I did here. Only shortly after we settled into our tent did we hear foxes fighting right outside our tent, the snorts of deer, and there were bats right above us all night making noise!" shares Christina H. The area supports diverse animal populations that become active at night.
What you should know
Variable bathroom conditions: Bathroom facilities vary significantly between campgrounds. "The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting. I thought with COVID they were cleaning them more, but for the entire weekend, someone's #2 remained all over the toilet, floor, and corner wall," reports Jules T. Some campgrounds have vault toilets only while others offer shower facilities.
Reservoir swimming restrictions: Despite clear waters, swimming may be prohibited. Round Valley has strict swimming limitations at the campground sites. Stuart K. notes, "The thing I found odd about the place is that after hiking so far in to get to this location, you're not allowed to swim in the reservoir, which kind of defeats the entire point IMHO."
Highway noise at some sites: Several campgrounds experience some traffic noise. "Late at night you can hear the drone of a major highway," notes Frank J. about Jenny Jump State Forest, while another camper mentioned, "My only complaint is that the noise from the highway was quite loud at night."
Tips for camping with families
Choose Panther Lake for activities: Families with children benefit from campgrounds with organized programming. "Fun camping place to book groups. Very kid and pet friendly, lake to fish and kayak on, lots of activities, great pool and awesome hot tub," recommends Cynthia H. at Panther Lake Camping Resort.
Look for woodland shade: During summer months, wooded sites offer needed cooling. "We were able to get a secluded spot in the woods which was great! 2 teenage girls had a blast in the lake and riding their bikes around," shares Jojo P. Tree cover provides significant temperature moderation during hot days.
Consider weekday visits: Weekend crowds can change the camping experience dramatically. At Colonial Woods Family Resort, campers note, "Decent amount of people on Friday, but significantly more on Saturday." Weekday camping provides quieter conditions and better site selection.
Tips from RVers
Water and electric availability: Not all waterfront sites offer hookups. "We luckily have some solar so we can go for awhile without running the generator. We fill our fresh water tank for and bring drinking water," notes Ruette W. about managing at Camp Carr Campground.
Dump station timing: Time your departure to avoid dump station backups. "Dump station location isn't ideal on a busy morning. I heard they might work on a second dump location and was told to ask if it's ok to stick around until it dies down if our site isn't needed soon," advises Nathan R.
Tree clearance challenges: Low-hanging branches create hazards for larger rigs. "The roads are very narrow, pretty sizable boulders on both sides, trees are very low and need to be trimmed (almost took my ac out with a huge limb)," warns Brian C. Sites with open clearance prove better for larger RVs and fifth wheels.
