Best Tent Camping near Pompton Lakes, NJ
State parks and forests surrounding Pompton Lakes, New Jersey offer diverse tent camping options within an hour's drive. Wawayanda State Park Campground, located 15 miles northwest in Hewitt, provides walk-in tent sites in a forested setting from April through October. Stonetown Circular Trail in nearby West Milford features two primitive tent camping areas along its 11-mile loop. The Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Harriman Outdoor Center in Harriman State Park, just across the New York border, offers tent-only sites with more amenities than most backcountry options. Campgaw Mountain Reservation, only 5 miles from Pompton Lakes, provides permit-required tent camping with basic facilities.
Most tent campsites in the region feature dirt or gravel pads with minimal grading. Fire rings are standard at established sites, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply during dry periods. Primitive tent camping areas like those along Stonetown Circular Trail require hikers to pack in all supplies, including water for drinking and cooking. According to a camper review, the Stonetown sites are "about 4 miles into the hike" with "plenty of level space to set up multiple tents." Bears are present throughout the region, particularly at Harriman State Park and Wawayanda, requiring proper food storage. Vault toilets are available at established campgrounds, while primitive sites typically lack facilities.
Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for day hiking or multi-day backpacking loops. The Appalachian Trail passes near several campgrounds, providing access to extended hiking opportunities. One visitor to Steam Mill Campground noted the "short walk to the blue trail for hiking" and abundant wildlife including "deer, doves, robins, woodpeckers, chipmunks, and squirrels." Sites at Round Valley Recreation Area, though farther from Pompton Lakes, offer what one camper described as "perfectly secluded" tent camping with "plenty of trees to set up a hammock." Weekday camping typically provides greater solitude, with one reviewer mentioning they "went midweek and had peace and quiet" at their site.