Cabin camping near New Vernon, New Jersey offers outdoor experiences in the northwestern uplands of Morris County, where elevations range from 450 to 1,000 feet. Winter cabin rentals typically require early booking, especially at year-round facilities like Stokes State Forest where temperatures can drop below 20°F between December and February. Most New Vernon area campgrounds remain closed from late fall through early spring.
What to do
Kayaking at Spruce Run: Paddle on the 1,290-acre reservoir where boat and kayak rentals are available during summer months. "The drive up to this place was literally jaw-dropping the whole way up into the mountains. You pass through beautiful, quaint little towns and go over aged bridges, along mountain streams and though open valleys," notes a visitor at Mountainview Campground.
Wolf preserve tours: Schedule a guided visit at the Lakota Wolf Preserve adjacent to Camp Taylor Campground. "The wolf preserve at the same location was just amazing - we learned so much and could hear the wolves howl from the campsite," shares a camper at Camp Taylor Campground.
Stargazing: Take advantage of darker skies in rural Morris County locations. "Great spot for stargazing. Owners are very nice," mentions a visitor at Mountainview Campground, where light pollution is minimal compared to more developed areas.
Hiking trails: Access over 63 miles of marked trails at Stokes State Forest, including 12 miles of the Appalachian Trail. A camper notes, "We hiked to Mt. Tammany from the campsite for the best view in NJ (9 miles round trip)."
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Many campgrounds offer secluded spots surrounded by trees. At Jenny Jump State Forest, "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."
Lake access: Waterfront locations provide swimming, fishing and relaxation opportunities. "Many sites have a lovely water view of the reservoir. Several playgrounds, boat launches, and life guarded swimming area," explains a visitor to Spruce Run Recreation Area.
Wildlife encounters: The region supports diverse animal populations. "We had our first bear encounter which was exciting. 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!" reports a camper at Swartswood State Park.
Clean facilities: Many parks maintain well-kept bathroom buildings. "The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting" contrasts with others who noted "The bathrooms/showers are clean and well maintained" at Camp Taylor Campground, highlighting the importance of checking recent reviews.
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds close during winter months. "Great Divide Campground operates seasonally from May 1 to October 14," while Spruce Run Recreation Area runs "April 1 to October 31." Stokes State Forest cabins remain available year-round.
Variable cell service: Reception can be unreliable throughout the region. At Great Divide Campground, "Like many of the sites in this area, Great Divide had a large pool which was used by many of the campers."
Wildlife precautions: This is active bear country requiring proper food storage. "Remember, this is bear country so proper food storage is a must. Bear lockers are not provided. The area also has ticks and rattlesnakes," notes a visitor to Stokes State Forest.
Reservation requirements: Booking ahead is essential, especially for cabins and summer weekends. "Our spot was #27 and pretty spacious. The showers were free and clean with hot water and decent pressure," reports a Mountainview Campground visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. At Swartswood State Park, "There was also a playground, beach, pavilion, and picnic tables, but we did not use any of that."
Swimming options: Lakes and pools provide cooling recreation during summer months. "Nice small lake with boats to use. Nice small beach. Lots of weekend activities," notes a visitor about Great Divide Campground.
Activity planning: Many locations offer organized weekend programs. "This is a beautiful campground with much to do around the grounds themselves. They had live music which was actually really good!!! A reggae band," mentions someone who stayed at Great Divide Campground.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds enforce quiet hours more strictly than others. "Unlike many other campgrounds we've been to, they are very good about actually enforcing the quiet hours at night, so you can have an actual peaceful and quiet night around the campfire."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose level locations with appropriate hookups. At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, "Very clean and quiet. 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."
Utility management: Water and electric availability varies by campground. "Easy to navigate our 38 ft. RV. Easy to dump and fill. Peaceful. Close to train to N.Y. City," shares an RVer at Mahlon Dickerson Reservation.
Access limitations: Some campgrounds have restrictions on RV size. "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 a Spruce Run Recreation Area visitor.
Seasonal considerations: RV sites with full hookups are limited during winter months. "There are some RV sites with water & electric which are not on the water, but in the parking lot. I would consider getting one on the water to enjoy the water and one in the parking lot to hook up the RV. It's kind of worth it."
