Cabin camping near Maplewood, New Jersey offers accommodations within a 30-45 mile radius across northern New Jersey's highlands region. This area features elevations ranging from 400-1,500 feet with deciduous forest cover dominated by oak, maple and birch trees. The region experiences distinct seasonal changes with summer high temperatures averaging 80-85°F while cabins remain operational during spring and fall when temperatures can drop to 40°F overnight.
What to do
Hiking trails: Easy to challenging options. Turkey Swamp Park features several short trails with the longest one measuring 2.5 miles. "There are lots of trails and the packed dirt roads are nice for bike riding," notes a camper. Some sections of trails become muddy in wet weather but remain passable.
Waterfront activities: Fishing and paddle sports. Spruce Run Recreation Area offers reservoir access where visitors can launch kayaks directly from shorelines near campsites. "You can launch your kayak easily from the shore," reports a regular visitor. Rental equipment is available at most locations during peak summer months.
Archery practice: Designated ranges. Turkey Swamp Park maintains an archery range for visitors bringing their own equipment. "We went camping with our 2- and 3-year-old kids. The campground was super clean," notes a family who enjoyed various park amenities during their stay.
What campers like
Privacy: Wooded sites with good spacing. Jenny Jump State Forest features sites designed for seclusion. "The space was reasonably priced, but we did have to pay an extra $5/day for our dog. However, we didn't mind as it was so private we felt like we had the entire Park to ourselves," reports a camper. Sites vary in terrain with some offering superior tent placement options.
Shelter options: Alternatives to traditional cabins. Jenny Jump offers structures between cabins and tent camping. "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 (two bunks), a wood burning stove, and a porch," explains a visitor who stayed in shelter #2.
Forest ambiance: Natural wooded settings. Great Divide Campground provides sites with dense forest surroundings. "This is a beautiful campground with much to do around the grounds themselves. We found plenty of trails to hike with our two dogs," shares a visitor. The campground maintains natural vegetation between sites for enhanced privacy.
What you should know
Seasonality impacts: Winter limitations. Most cabin facilities operate from April through October with limited winter availability. Stokes State Forest offers cabin rentals with wood stoves for cold-weather use. "Rented a cabin in November (#009) and again in December (#008) of 2021... The wood stove definitely heats the room up nicely. I went through two bundles of wood in one night," reports a winter visitor.
Wildlife considerations: Bears and ticks. Stokes State Forest requires proper food storage as it's located in black bear territory. "Remember, this is bear country so proper food storage is a must. Bear lockers are not provided. The area also has ticks and rattlesnakes," warns a camper. Several locations report significant tick presence during warm months.
Bathroom facilities: Variable conditions. Cabin locations have inconsistent bathroom quality. "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," reported a visitor to Spruce Run Recreation Area. Always bring sanitizing supplies.
Tips for camping with families
Shelter selection: Wheelchair accessible options. Jenny Jump State Forest offers ADA-compliant structures among its eight shelter units. "Oh, this shelter is wheelchair accessible. Some of the others are not," notes a visitor who stayed in shelter #2, which is located just one minute from restrooms with showers.
Kid-friendly layouts: Playground access. Panther Lake Camping Resort offers multiple recreational facilities specifically for children. "The lake and pool were a big plus, especially for hot days. The welcome center has a store where you can buy essentials you may have forgotten and then some," comments a family visitor. The campground includes an arcade room near the welcome center.
Safety considerations: Water activities. Turkey Swamp Park provides controlled water access for younger visitors. "We barely touched my phone," notes a camper who enjoyed disconnecting while participating in various outdoor activities including kayaking and canoeing in designated areas.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Avoid low-hanging branches. Spruce Run Recreation Area requires careful site selection for RV camping. "If bringing your RV, the safest bet is to reserve a spot with no shade as the other spots often times have very low hanging tree limbs," advises an RVer who experienced difficulty with site access.
Noise factors: Highway proximity. Several locations report highway noise concerns. "At night there is a drone of a major highway," notes a visitor to Spruce Run. For quieter options, Mahlon Dickerson Reservation offers more secluded RV sites. "Our site is easily the nicest- all the way in the back with only one neighbor. It is so quiet here," reports a family who appreciated the peacefulness.
Hookup variations: Water connection lengths. Mahlon Dickerson provides water hookups but requires planning for distance. "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," notes an RV camper who appreciated this logistical solution.
