Round Valley Recreation Area offers primitive wilderness camping only accessible by a challenging 3-6 mile hike or by boat. Located near Tewksbury, New Jersey at 1,220 feet elevation, the area features a 2,350-acre reservoir that's 180 feet deep. Campsites sit on the southeastern corner of the reservoir, where visitors can enjoy waterfront views in a truly secluded setting.
What to do
Hiking to secluded sites: At Round Valley State Park Campground, expect a strenuous journey to reach camping areas. "It's a pretty strenuous hike, but you'll be rewarded for the effort! If you get a site on the water, you can take a boat across to your site," notes Agbi B.
Wolf preserve tours: Camp Taylor Campground provides direct access to Lakota Wolf Preserve. "There are moments by the fire you can hear them howl in the distance," reports Julie F. The preserve offers scheduled tours where campers receive discounts.
Paddling opportunities: Reservoir access allows for kayaking and canoeing at multiple sites. "We paddled in, the water is very clean and crystal clear," shares Riley K. about Round Valley. Spruce Run Recreation Area also offers boat rentals for day use.
What campers like
Private wilderness experience: Many campers appreciate the remote feeling at Mountainview Campground. "This place was actually fantastic... a nice little remote campground in the mountains. The drive up to this place was so breathtaking the entire way," reports Christina H.
Stargazing opportunities: Clear night skies make for excellent stargazing. "Very clean and quite. Great spot for stargazing. Owners are very nice," shares Scott A. about Mountainview Campground's primitive sites.
Wildlife encounters: The region offers abundant wildlife viewing. "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!" describes Christina H. at Mountainview Campground.
What you should know
Bathroom facilities vary significantly: Spruce Run Recreation Area receives mixed reviews about facilities. "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 Jules T.
Water access challenges: At Round Valley, despite proximity to water, restrictions limit swimming. "The thing I found odd about the place is that after hiking so far in to get to this location, you're not allowed to swim in the reservoir, which kind of defeats the entire point," notes Stuart K.
Road noise: Some campsites experience highway noise, especially at night. "The only con to this campground is it's proximity to the highway. You can hear 78, especially at night once the campground settles down," mentions Jules T. about Spruce Run.
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Great Divide Campground offers family-friendly amenities. "The common area, along with the pool, had a small soccer field and volleyball court. They also had scheduled activities for kids," shares Ethan K.
Water activities: Reservoir access provides swimming and boating options. "Kids had lots of fun on the free kayaks and pool. Staff was friendly and helpful," notes Jojo P. about Great Divide Campground.
Noise considerations: Campgrounds enforce different quiet time policies. "Unlike many other state parks, huge remote state forests, but I've never heard so much wildlife there as I did here," reports Christina H. at Mountainview Campground.
Tips from RVers
Hookup limitations: At Jenny Jump State Forest, camping offers basic amenities. "The showers were free and generally quite hot," notes Seth K., though many sites throughout the region offer only partial hookups.
Site selection: Choose sites carefully based on shade and terrain. "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. about Spruce Run.
Seasonal considerations: Most glamping near Tewksbury, New Jersey operates seasonally. "Mid week (July 4th)... My campsite was 34W, right next the reservoir. Nice location however the website said it was full shade. The picnic table was in shade. The spot for the RV was full sun," shares Frank J. about Spruce Run.
