Lincoln Park sits in the highlands of northern New Jersey at approximately 700 feet elevation, characterized by forested hills and small lakes. The area receives about 50 inches of precipitation annually with distinct seasonal changes, making spring through fall the primary camping season. Winter temperatures typically drop below freezing, while summer averages reach the mid-80s with moderate humidity.
What to do
Hiking from camp sites: Access sections of the Appalachian Trail directly from High Point State Park Campground. "I spent two nights camping with my niece and this campground was perfect. The site was maybe a 50-yard walk-in and we barely heard anyone around us and had a real wilderness feel. We fit in a hike up to the Appalachian Trail from our campsite," noted one visitor.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple stocked lakes provide year-round fishing at Panther Lake Camping Resort. "Big campground, lots of sites, nice pool, big community hot tub, boating is great, good fishing, nice playground, basketball court and great amenities," reports a camper. Trout fishing is particularly popular in spring months.
Kayaking and paddling: Round Valley State Park Campground features a 2,350-acre reservoir for water recreation. "The water is crystal clear, the area is clean. There's bathrooms and pumps but we just filtered the water from the reservoir instead which tasted a million times better than the well water," writes one visitor. Rentals available seasonally.
What campers like
Secluded tent platforms: Many campsites at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation feature elevated platforms for tent camping. "They have these 12x12 platforms to put your tent on. This was pretty cool especially since some of the sites are all gravel with surrounding dirt. The sites are very large and I suggest site 7. It is on a hill so have a hand truck or a few people to carry stuff."
Access to services: Despite wilderness settings, most glamping sites close to Lincoln Park, New Jersey remain conveniently near towns. A visitor at Mahlon Dickerson noted, "Located in the Skylands of New Jersey, Mahlon Dickerson Campgound is a perfect place to spend a few nights or a couple of weeks. The campsites are paved and mostly level. They are wooded and large. Convenient for hiking and exploring, it's also only a 20 minute drive to a large mall in Rockaway."
Clean facilities: Swartswood State Park Campground maintains well-kept amenities despite seasonal closures. "Clean bathrooms with flush toilets and showers, masks required for the pandemic still," reported a recent visitor. Another mentioned, "This campsite has a firepit/ring, picnic table, and lantern hook. Campsite sells fire wood."
What you should know
Bear safety requirements: Multiple campgrounds report bear activity. At Swartswood State Park, a camper shared: "Three black bears strolled by the campsite next to ours in the early morning — gave us more of an energy boost after a sleepless night than our coffee!" Food storage regulations vary by campground but generally require secure containers.
Reservation timing: Most glamping accommodations near Lincoln Park book quickly from April through October. For premium sites at Great Divide Campground, a regular notes: "I come here every Father's Day weekend. Love this place. Great staff, plenty of activities and all around good time."
Site selection cautions: Site topography varies significantly. At High Point State Park, one camper warned: "I chose this campsite, 031, based on the photos on the reservation website and boy was I disappointed. We wanted to setup our large tent on the flat gravel driveway and our hammocks and relaxation area on the platform. The photos did not convey the actual steepness of this site!! The gravel driveway is on a 30-40 degree incline."
Tips for camping with families
Youth activities: Stokes State Forest offers nature programs during summer weekends. "Sussex county is beautiful. Stokes is such a peaceful campground! We stay in the cabins. It's great to have the small kitchen when camping with the family. A must see campground," explains one parent.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer lake swimming with seasonal lifeguards, typically Memorial Day through Labor Day. A Swartswood State Park visitor mentioned, "Great for swimming and fishing. There are several trail hikes that you can do from the campsite. The longest is 3 miles but you can connect between each trail to make a longer hike."
Noise considerations: Family-friendly campgrounds can get crowded. One camper at Panther Lake Camping Resort observed, "We went on 4th of July weekend so the place was packed. 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."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campsites in the Skylands region require leveling blocks. At Moon Valley Campground, a camper noted: "This was a great campsite nestled in the foothills of Northern NJ on the NY border. Small, clean with great views and great location for hiking."
Water hookups: Water connections can be distant at some campgrounds. A visitor to Mahlon Dickerson Reservation explained, "Website lists water hook ups at long distances but they have hose reels to help with that. Our site (15) said 75' however the 50' hose reel made it to our rv connection."
Dump station access: Most public campgrounds provide dump stations but with limited hours. "Easy to navigate our 38 ft. RV. Easy to dump and fill. Peaceful. Close to train to N.Y. City," reports a Mahlon Dickerson visitor.
