Best Cabin Camping near Essex Fells, NJ
Several state parks and private campgrounds near Essex Fells, New Jersey feature rustic cabins with varying amenities. Stokes State Forest offers well-appointed cabins with bunk beds, twin beds, tables with benches, Adirondack chairs, and wood stoves for heat. These cabins include hot/cold water, electric stoves with ovens, refrigerators, toilets, bathroom sinks, and screened windows. Jenny Jump State Forest provides eight shelter cabins with four beds (two bunks), wood burning stoves, and porches. According to one visitor, "The 'shelter' is what we would describe as a 'cabin'; four walls, a roof, locking door, locking windows, large picture frame front window, four beds, a wood burning stove, and a porch." Turkey Swamp Park features three forest-view cabins in a wooded setting with access to a 17-acre lake.
Rustic and deluxe cabin options are available throughout the region, with most requiring advance reservations. Sebago Cabin Camp in Harriman State Park offers basic accommodations without plumbing or heat, described by one camper as "a step up from tent camping." In contrast, Mahlon Dickerson Reservation provides more comfortable cabins with electric hookups and heated bathrooms during colder months. Pet policies vary by location, with Stokes State Forest and Mahlon Dickerson Reservation allowing pets at cabin sites, while Camp Glen Gray prohibits them. Most cabins can accommodate 4-6 people with bunk bed configurations. Seasonal availability differs significantly, with some parks like Jenny Jump State Forest operating from April through October, while others like Stokes State Forest remain open year-round for cold-weather cabin camping.
Most cabins include basic furniture but require visitors to bring their own linens, pillows, and toiletries. Wood stoves are the primary heat source in many cabins, so bringing sufficient firewood is essential during colder months. One Stokes Forest visitor noted, "You need that wood stove to heat up the cabin. Turning on the oven is a help, but not a good solution." Kitchen facilities vary widely, from fully equipped kitchens with refrigerators and stoves to simple picnic tables with outdoor fire rings. Visitors should also bring battery-powered lights for cabins without electricity. Camp stores at larger facilities sell firewood, ice, and basic supplies, though selection is limited. For more extensive grocery needs, nearby towns offer better options than on-site camp stores.