Camping opportunities near Pittstown, New Jersey range from lake-oriented sites to rustic forest settings within a 20-30 mile radius. The region features elevations between 400-1,500 feet with moderate humidity during summer months and temperatures that can drop into the 30s during spring and fall nights. Winter camping options remain limited with only select locations maintaining year-round operations.
What to do
Kayaking on reservoir waters: At Spruce Run Recreation Area, visitors can access the reservoir for water activities. "The overall park itself is very nice during the day. The sites had a fire ring with a cooking grate and a picnic table and were well spaced out from other sites. The views of the lake are nice, very peaceful," notes Catherine S.
Archery practice: Turkey Swamp Park offers designated archery facilities within its recreation area. "Plenty to do over a 2 night stay. Archery, boating, fishing, and hiking. Boat rental rates are acceptable and there are four different styles to choose from," explains Dan W.
Hiking local trail systems: Stokes State Forest provides extensive trail networks with varied difficulty levels. "There are 21 marked trails that cover over 63 miles within the boundaries of Stokes State Forest. Twelve miles are part of the Appalachian Trail," according to a visitor who also recommended the "Tillman Ravine trail" for its scenic views.
Wildlife observation: Mountainview Campground offers opportunities to experience local fauna. "Only shortly after we settled into our tent did we hear foxes fighting right outside our tent, the snorts of deer, and there were bats right above us all night making noise! I guess if you don't like that kind of stuff you should avoid an area like this," shares Christina H.
What campers like
Spacious, private campsites: Mountainview Campground receives praise for its site layout. "This place was actually fantastic, I don't really have anything negative to say about it. The whole scene was exactly what I love about camping, a nice little remote campground in the mountains," writes Christina H. Another camper adds, "The campsite was wonderful and isolated."
Clean facilities: Turkey Swamp Park maintains well-kept amenities. "Very clean. Soap and paper towels are provided. The only thing missing were hooks or shelves for toiletries but there was a large bench that could be used," notes Lee D. Another visitor mentions, "We went camping with our 2- and 3-year-old kids. We were worried about bugs, but we didn't even use mosquito repellent and didn't get a single bite! The campground was super clean too."
Waterfront camping: Spruce Run Recreation Area offers lakeside sites. "Stayed here 2 nights in May, Friday-Sunday. Our site was on the water and it was really nice. A duck visited us every morning," shares Jules T. Another camper mentioned, "You can bring a camper, tent, or use one of the cabins. Many sites have a lovely water view of the reservoir."
Wooded environments: Sites nestled among trees provide natural surroundings. "This is a smallish campground with many seasonal spots and some rental spots. Our spot was #27 and pretty spacious," comments one visitor to Mountainview Campground.
What you should know
Site conditions vary seasonally: Stokes State Forest has different experiences throughout the year. "We rented a cabin in November (#009) and again in December (#008) of 2021. You need that wood stove to heat up the cabin. Turning on the oven is a help, but not a good solution. The wood stove definitely heats the room up nicely. I went through two bundles of wood in one night," reports W L.
Wildlife encounters: Bears, ticks and snakes require precautions. "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 visitor. Another camper at Turkey Swamp Park noted, "I was so excited when we got here. The sites are spacious and it's really beautiful. But by the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me."
Weekend crowding: Expect more visitors during peak times. "There were a decent amount of people on Friday, but significantly more on Saturday. Park employees and park police drive around through the day. Some big groups of campers got a little rowdy at night," notes Jules T. about Spruce Run.
Bathroom limitations: Facilities vary widely between locations. "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," reports a visitor to Spruce Run.
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds available: Ocquittunk and other areas offer kid-friendly facilities. "Several playgrounds, boat launches, and life guarded swimming area," notes Jocelyn G. Another visitor adds, "You can bring a camper, tent, or use one of the cabins. Many sites have a lovely water view of the reservoir."
Cabin alternatives: For families new to camping, cabins provide comfort. "The campgrounds were just okay. 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 Douglas P.
Swimming options: Lake access varies by location. "There is a lake with a boat dock and a small boardwalk. Kayaking/Canoeing, fishing, and swimming. In the summer, canoe, kayak, paddle boats, and row boats are available for rental," explains a visitor to Turkey Swamp Park.
Noise considerations: Some sites experience more activity than others. "It was very loud and rowdy into the late night. There were campers making lots of noise, arming/disarming their car alarms, slamming doors, cars driving in/out, bright lights flashing, etc. all PASSED 2am!!" reports Douglas P.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Camp Mohican Outdoor Center and other facilities offer varying levels of services. "I would mostly recommend it for primitive camping, however, campsites with running water and electricity are available," advises Mario M. about Mountainview Campground.
Site access challenges: Navigate carefully when selecting campsites. "We just bought a small tear drop trailer and have begun taking it on weekend excursions. We took it to Mountain View this weekend, with a little trepidation on how we were going to get the trailer backed into the space. Not to worry, they gave us a nice drive through space," shares Robert J.
Road conditions: Prepare for varied terrain when approaching campsites. "As soon as you turn off the main road to the park, all roads are dirt, which was a bit surprising. They were well-maintained and in dry weather, not a problem, but probably not if it was rainy," notes Lee D. about Turkey Swamp Park.
Dump station access: Plan accordingly for waste disposal. "I can not speak to the condition of the bathrooms, I stopped going into them 6 years ago as soon as I bought a cassette toilet to avoid them. This review would be 5 stars if only they would knock the present facilities down and rebuild really nice ones," explains Ruette W. at Spruce Run.
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