New Jersey may be a mostly urban state but we’re not all sprawl. Not at all! We’ve got over 715,000 acres of farmland and over 430,000 acres of parkland. This number is based on our state parks – if you factor in our county and local parks, along with non-profit nature preserves, we’d probably top 500,000 acres! This is something to be proud of as a New Jerseyan, and our parks are a big part of what makes our state so great. We’ve got forests to hike through, sandy shores to explore, and so much more. Check out a few vintage photos of Garden State parks below for some inspiration about what state parks to visit in New Jersey next!
Allaire State Park is home to the New Jersey Museum of Transportation. It focuses on railroad history and even offers rides. Here’s a family enjoying a train at Allaire in the 1960s.
NJ.gov
The Atlantic City State Marina, now the Frank S Farley State Marina, in 1969.
NJ.gov
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park in 1963. The surrounding area has changed significantly since.
NJ.gov
This photo of Bass River State Park in 1962 could just as easily have been taken today.
NJ.gov
Family camping at Belleplain State Forest in 1968.
NJ.gov
The Picnic Grove at Cheesequake State Park in the 1960s.
NJ.gov
The Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park in Franklin Township. This photo is undated.
NJ.gov
Tocks Island, Worthington State Forest. In the 1950s, a dam was proposed at the site. There was a significant amount of protest and the dam was never built.
NJ.gov
Bridge over Trout Brook. Hacklebarney State Park, 1958.
NJ.gov
Though the New Jersey state archives list this as Hacklebarney State Park, I’m not so sure. There is no swimming allowed at the park in the present day and I can’t imagine where this would be - does anyone have an idea of where this is? Let us know!
NJ.gov
An aerial view of High Point State Park in 1958. Though not visible in this photo, the monument did exist at the time - it was completed in 1930.
NJ.gov
Lifeguard station at Island Beach State Park, undated.
NJ.gov
Administrative buildings at Jenny Jump State Forest, 1937.
NJ.gov
Lake Hopatcong State Park was once a popular resort destination for vacationing New Yorkers. A playground for the rich, “The Isles” are pictured here in 1910.
Library of Congress/Wikipedia
The main building and concession stand at Parvin State Park in the 1960s.
NJ.Gov
Share your New Jersey state park stories and photos in the comments, and let us know if you’d like to see more vintage state park photos in a future article! What are your favorite state parks to visit in New Jersey? Tell us about those as well! For more amazing Jersey history, you can’t miss this fascinating article about the history of New Jersey’s oldest towns.
NJ.gov
Library of Congress/Wikipedia
NJ.Gov
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The OIYS Visitor Center
State Parks to Visit in New Jersey April 06, 2022 Tori Jane What are the best state parks in New Jersey? There are more than 50 awe-inspiring state parks and recreation areas scattered all over our little state – don’t let its tiny size fool you! We think you should add ALL of them to your bucket list, but there are some that we just can’t get enough of (and we think you won’t either). Among our favorite state parks in New Jersey are gems like Cheesequake State Park, which offers up more than 1200 acres of trails, boardwalks, awesome forests, and so much more. Allaire State Park, in Farmingdale, includes an old historic village, hiking, fishing, and camping. The Wharton State Forest is a great place to go if you’re into places that feel like they’re something out of a storybook. Oh, and you can’t miss High Point State Park, in Sussex; it features – you guessed it – the highest point in all of New Jersey, and it’s well worth the views! What are some great things to do outside in New Jersey? New Jersey is an excellent place to be if you’re a fan of the outdoors; after all, with more than 50 state parks and recreation areas alone, how could you NOT fall in love with New Jersey’s natural beauty? Head to Columbia and visit the Lakota Wolf Preserve to learn about some of the most beautiful (and tragically misunderstood) creatures of the woods. If you enjoy learning, maybe a trip to the Wetlands Institute at Stone Harbor is in order, where you can learn about the wetlands and natural world around you (there’s also some awesome bird watching there, too). Tube the Delaware River. Go camping, hiking, or kayaking at our state parks. Get a park pass and visit all the National Parks, too! The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination, so if you can dream it, you can probably do it outdoors in New Jersey.
The OIYS Visitor Center
State Parks to Visit in New Jersey
April 06, 2022
Tori Jane
What are the best state parks in New Jersey? There are more than 50 awe-inspiring state parks and recreation areas scattered all over our little state – don’t let its tiny size fool you! We think you should add ALL of them to your bucket list, but there are some that we just can’t get enough of (and we think you won’t either). Among our favorite state parks in New Jersey are gems like Cheesequake State Park, which offers up more than 1200 acres of trails, boardwalks, awesome forests, and so much more. Allaire State Park, in Farmingdale, includes an old historic village, hiking, fishing, and camping. The Wharton State Forest is a great place to go if you’re into places that feel like they’re something out of a storybook. Oh, and you can’t miss High Point State Park, in Sussex; it features – you guessed it – the highest point in all of New Jersey, and it’s well worth the views! What are some great things to do outside in New Jersey? New Jersey is an excellent place to be if you’re a fan of the outdoors; after all, with more than 50 state parks and recreation areas alone, how could you NOT fall in love with New Jersey’s natural beauty? Head to Columbia and visit the Lakota Wolf Preserve to learn about some of the most beautiful (and tragically misunderstood) creatures of the woods. If you enjoy learning, maybe a trip to the Wetlands Institute at Stone Harbor is in order, where you can learn about the wetlands and natural world around you (there’s also some awesome bird watching there, too). Tube the Delaware River. Go camping, hiking, or kayaking at our state parks. Get a park pass and visit all the National Parks, too! The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination, so if you can dream it, you can probably do it outdoors in New Jersey.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
There are more than 50 awe-inspiring state parks and recreation areas scattered all over our little state – don’t let its tiny size fool you! We think you should add ALL of them to your bucket list, but there are some that we just can’t get enough of (and we think you won’t either). Among our favorite state parks in New Jersey are gems like Cheesequake State Park, which offers up more than 1200 acres of trails, boardwalks, awesome forests, and so much more. Allaire State Park, in Farmingdale, includes an old historic village, hiking, fishing, and camping. The Wharton State Forest is a great place to go if you’re into places that feel like they’re something out of a storybook. Oh, and you can’t miss High Point State Park, in Sussex; it features – you guessed it – the highest point in all of New Jersey, and it’s well worth the views!
What are some great things to do outside in New Jersey?
New Jersey is an excellent place to be if you’re a fan of the outdoors; after all, with more than 50 state parks and recreation areas alone, how could you NOT fall in love with New Jersey’s natural beauty? Head to Columbia and visit the Lakota Wolf Preserve to learn about some of the most beautiful (and tragically misunderstood) creatures of the woods. If you enjoy learning, maybe a trip to the Wetlands Institute at Stone Harbor is in order, where you can learn about the wetlands and natural world around you (there’s also some awesome bird watching there, too). Tube the Delaware River. Go camping, hiking, or kayaking at our state parks. Get a park pass and visit all the National Parks, too! The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination, so if you can dream it, you can probably do it outdoors in New Jersey.
