Best Dispersed Camping near Mountainside, NJ
Dispersed camping options near Mountainside, New Jersey are limited but available within driving distance. The Appalachian Trail Designated Backpacker Campsite 2 in Columbia, NJ offers primitive camping approximately 50 miles northwest of Mountainside. This free site requires a hike-in approach and prohibits fires, alcohol, and pets. The site features bear boxes and suitable trees for hammock camping. Water is not available at the campsite; campers must collect water from Dunnfield Creek Natural Area or Sunfish Pond, which is approximately a one-mile round trip hike from the site.
Thunder Swamp Trailhead in Pennsylvania provides another dispersed camping option within 60 miles of Mountainside. This site requires permits and offers drive-in access. Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, NY presents an unusual urban dispersed camping experience about 30 miles east of Mountainside. These sites serve backpackers and those seeking primitive camping experiences without developed facilities.
According to reviews, the Appalachian Trail campsite is "small and sloped for tent camping" but works well for hammock users. The site can be difficult to locate as it is unmarked, though it's described as "the only pretty obvious camping spot on the trail." Several campers noted the site offers "a perfect balance of community and space" with both communal and secluded spots available. Worthington State Forest regulations designate this as the only legal camping area within the forest boundaries. Campers should note that camping is strictly prohibited around Sunfish Pond despite its proximity to the trail and use as a water source.
