Best Dispersed Camping near Brookside, NJ
Dispersed camping options near Brookside, New Jersey are limited but include the Appalachian Trail Designated Backpacker Campsite 2 near Columbia and Thunder Swamp Trailhead across the border in Pennsylvania. The Appalachian Trail site requires hiking in and offers primitive camping with no amenities. Bear boxes are provided, but there are no fires allowed, drinking water, or toilets. A review noted, "No water nearby, and the views are only mediocre," advising campers to "stock up on water at Dunnfield Creek natural area or wait until Sunfish Pond."
Thunder Swamp Trailhead provides a more accessible option with drive-in capability, though a permit is required. The site consists primarily of a shaded gravel parking lot where overnight stays are possible. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "Trailhead parking was chill for a night. No trouble." The location connects to extensive hiking trails, with one visitor mentioning they "went down Saw Creek trail to a marsh." Both primitive camping areas maintain strict regulations regarding fires, alcohol, and pets, which are not permitted at either location.
