New Jersey's Skylands region surrounds Summit with rolling hills, dense forests, and elevation changes ranging from 380 to 1,803 feet above sea level. The area's rich glacial soil supports diverse woodland ecosystems where glamping sites operate primarily between April and October. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing while summer days can reach the mid-90s with moderate humidity levels.
What to do
Hiking at Round Valley State Park: This recreation area offers multiple trails with varying difficulty levels around its 2,350-acre reservoir. One visitor noted, "The view was KILLER. 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."
Kayaking on Spruce Run Reservoir: Spruce Run Recreation Area provides water access and boat rentals. "You can launch your kayak easily from the shore," mentions a regular visitor, while another adds the "park is very nice during the day" with "beautiful water views" from many campsites.
Archery practice: Turkey Swamp Park maintains dedicated archery facilities with hay bale targets. A visitor recommends to "bring your bow and shoot at the hay barrels" as part of a complete outdoor experience, noting the park "has everything the outdoorsman could ask for."
Sunset viewing: Several glamping locations provide excellent sunset vantage points. A camper at Spruce Run notes that the "grounds are full of grass which makes my tent easy to pitch. Most campsite has a view of the Reservoir when sundown has amazing sunsets."
What campers like
Private, wooded sites: Jenny Jump State Forest receives praise for its secluded settings. "The camp sites are nicely laid out to ensure privacy. This park is high up on a mountain and affords lovely views," writes one visitor, while another mentions "really enjoyed this campground. Primitive, has bathrooms and water spigots. Good hammocking trees and wasn't crowded at all."
Clean facilities: Glamping near Summit often includes well-maintained bathrooms and shower facilities. A Turkey Swamp visitor noted, "The bathrooms and showers are clean and well maintained," and another mentioned the grounds themselves are "super clean too."
Flat, level sites: Several parks maintain level platforms ideal for pitching tents. At Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, "They have these 12x12 platforms to put your tent on. This was pretty cool especially since some of the sites are all gravel with surrounding dirt."
Diverse accommodation options: From luxury canvas tents to platform cabins, the region offers various glamping styles. Great Divide Campground features unique "covered wagons which I believe you can sleep in" according to one visitor who included photos.
What you should know
Bear safety precautions: The region requires proper food storage. At Stokes State Forest, "This is bear country so proper food storage is a must. Bear lockers are not provided."
Limited cell service: Many glamping sites have minimal connectivity. At Panther Lake, "Even though they say they have wifi, you can't hook up to it unless you are at the pavilion. And good luck getting cell service! It's like a black hole of signals there."
Seasonal restrictions: Most glamping accommodations operate April through October. Round Valley State Park's season runs "April 1 to October 31," while Great Divide Campground operates "May 1 - Oct 14."
Variable weather conditions: Stokes State Forest campers report unexpected weather changes. One visitor experienced "a light rain that turned into a thunderstorm with hail and sleet!" Making advance preparations essential.
Tips for camping with families
Activity variety: Many sites offer scheduled children's activities. Great Divide Campground features "a small soccer field and volleyball court. They also had scheduled activities for kids," making it ideal for family outings.
Easy water access: Great Divide Campground provides complimentary watercraft. A camper noted, "Kids had lots of fun on the free kayaks and pool. Staff was friendly and helpful," creating a budget-friendly family activity.
Playground options: Turkey Swamp Park has "age-appropriate playgrounds both in the campground and by the office," providing entertainment for different age groups.
Tick precautions: A Turkey Swamp visitor warned, "By the 2nd day I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2," emphasizing the importance of tick checks and repellent for family camping.
Tips from RVers
Water hookup logistics: At Mahlon Dickerson, "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."
Dump station amenities: Look for parks with quality dump stations. Mahlon Dickerson features a "dump station has a flush hose point. Nice and easy little campground."
Site limitations: Some glamping sites restrict RV parking. Great Divide Campground requires that "you are not allowed to keep your car at your site. You have to drop your supplies off and drive it back to the parking lot."
Road conditions: Access roads can be challenging in wet conditions. Turkey Swamp Park features "dirt roads, which was a bit surprising. They were well-maintained and in dry weather, not a problem, but probably not if it was rainy."
