Round Valley State Park Campground offers wilderness camping near Pittstown, New Jersey with sites accessible only by hiking 3-6 miles or boating across the reservoir. The primitive campsites provide a more rustic experience than many other options in the region, with limited facilities and true isolation. Water depths reach 180 feet in the middle of the 2,350-acre reservoir, making it a significant natural feature in the area.
What to do
Watercraft activities on the Delaware River: Several campgrounds provide access to local waterways for kayaking, canoeing, and tubing. Driftstone Campground offers direct river access where "there is a boat ramp that can accommodate small boats and kayaks for rent." Nearby attractions include "tubing, kayaking, rafting on the Delaware, hiking, breweries and Hardball Cider."
Reservoir fishing and boating: The clear waters at Round Valley State Park Campground provide excellent fishing opportunities. One camper notes, "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." Some sites require effort to access but reward visitors with "waterfront bliss with a crystalline bevy of trout-infused reservoir water."
Ringing Rocks exploration: Located just across the Pennsylvania border, this unique geological site allows visitors to create musical sounds by striking specific rocks. A visitor to Colonial Woods Family Resort mentioned, "Just past the Delaware River through Milford NJ, into PA, is a park called Ringing Rocks County Park. Some waterfalls to see and hiking to do. If you strike certain rocks with a metal hammer they ring, hence the name of the park!"
What campers like
Privacy and isolation: The tent sites at many campgrounds offer seclusion that's hard to find in New Jersey. At Mountainview Campground, "our site was fully private (could not see or hear neighbors). Beautifully secluded and quiet. Pretty rare for campgrounds in NJ." The campground has "some open fields, some hunting trails with tree stands, and some remains of old structure foundations, chimneys, and farm equipment."
Clean facilities: Many reviews highlight the quality of bathhouses and facilities. Ringing Rocks Family Campground maintains "clean bathrooms and showers," while Mountainview Campground features "porta-potties [that] were super clean and...actually smelled good??? Maybe they were just cleaned or they are just really well cared for. Either way, it was unusual for a campsite."
Scenic waterfront camping: Riverside sites offer peaceful natural settings. At Camp Carr Campground, "all the sites are along the river so the view and peaceful sound of the river are wonderful." One camper described it as "extremely relaxing. Only negative was the rest rooms closed sometime soon after the day camps let out."
What you should know
Access challenges: Some campgrounds require significant effort to reach. At Round Valley, "the hike is a 3 mile minimum 6 max," and "the reservoir can turn into the Bermuda Triangle at any moment-- be careful." For RV campers at Ringing Rocks Family Campground, "if you're tent camping the bathrooms are FAR and I highly doubt no one has ever peed outside at night instead of navigating through the night to them."
Weather considerations: Local terrain can become problematic during wet conditions. Multiple campgrounds report issues with drainage and mud. According to one camper at Mountainview, "the ground is moderately rocky, so there may be some slight troubles getting tent stakes in the ground."
Noise levels vary: Campgrounds have different atmospheres regarding noise and activity. Some emphasize quiet, while others have more social settings. At Ringing Rocks, "the RV campers get really rowdy at night past quiet hours (10pm) which sucked having our 7 year old with us trying to sleep. RVers with golf carts would periodically drive by too."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities for children: Many campgrounds offer swimming options during summer months. Colonial Woods Family Resort provides "the pooL and splash pool for toddlers was clean with a lifeguard on duty at all times." The resort also offers "a playground, lake where you could fish, cornhole, and minigolf."
Wildlife encounters: Many campgrounds provide natural wildlife viewing opportunities. At Mountainview Campground, "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!" For those who appreciate nature, "this is what camping is all about."
Holiday events: Several campgrounds host special activities during holidays. Ringing Rocks Family Campground offers Halloween festivities where "they had so much for the kids to do! Friendly staff and clean sites!" Colonial Woods hosts events where "they had a few activities the one we did go to was the casino night where they had separate play areas for kids and adults."
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: Choose sites based on your specific needs and rig size. At Nockamixon State Park Cabins, "the cabins are full electric with heat and are well appointed." For those with pets, "the only thing I wish the DCNR would do is expand the dog friendly cabins. While we managed to get one of the dog friendly ones here, they are limited in number."
Hookup variations: Campgrounds offer different utility options. At Camp Carr, "sites are water and 30 amp electric only no sewer so I recommend bringing your own portable dump tank. They have a dump station for use when leaving." Many locations have specific hookup configurations, as at Mountainview, where "the power station was well intact with 15/20, 30, and 50amp."
Navigation warnings: Some campgrounds have challenging access roads. At Driftstone Campground, "if you are towing or have a motorhome, make sure you follow the directions on the website. Coming in from the wrong road could lead you to a hairpin turn and steep hill."
Legend
