Voorhees State Park

- 251 County Rd 513, Glen Gardner, NJ 08826

For New Jersey residents seeking a peaceful, traditional camping experience close to home, Voorhees State Park in Glen Gardner stands as an exceptional choice. Spanning over 1,040 preserved acres in picturesque Hunterdon County, this state park offers a quiet, forested escape that feels wonderfully remote while remaining easily accessible from central and northern parts of the Garden State. Unlike some larger, commercially-focused campgrounds, Voorhees provides a back-to-basics state park camping environment, where the focus is on natural beauty, extensive trails, and a peaceful atmosphere. The park's history is rooted in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which established the current roads, shelters, and trail systems, giving the area a rustic, maintained feel.

Voorhees State Park Campground operates seasonally, welcoming campers from April 1st through October 31st. It offers a variety of site types to suit different needs, from family tent and trailer sites to large group areas and rustic shelters. Customer feedback consistently highlights the clean facilities, noting that the bathrooms and hot showers are well-maintained, which is a major comfort for any camper. Visitors also appreciate that each site is generously equipped with a picnic table and a fire ring, making it easy to enjoy traditional campfire cooking and fellowship. While the park is dog-friendly on its extensive network of hiking trails (provided pets are leashed), it's important for local users to note the specific rules: pets are generally not permitted in the campground overnight, which helps maintain a pristine and quiet sleeping environment for all guests.

Voorhees State Park is conveniently located at 251 County Rd 513 in Glen Gardner, NJ 08826. Its position in the heart of Hunterdon County makes it an ideal destination for New Jersey locals looking for a quick and straightforward weekend trip. Access to the park is generally excellent, situated close to major routes:

• Highway Access: The park is easily reachable via Interstate 78. Traveling west, you would typically take Exit 17, and traveling east, Exit 16, connecting to Route 31 North and then Route 513 North to the park entrance.
• Proximity to Attractions: Voorhees is centrally located to several popular local landmarks. It offers scenic overlooks of both the Spruce Run Reservoir and the massive Round Valley Reservoir. Furthermore, the park is administered by the nearby Spruce Run Recreation Area office in Clinton, which is where campers must register.
• Campground Entrance Note: The campground entrance itself is located on Observatory Road, approximately one mile south of the main park entrance on Route 513. This slightly secluded entrance adds to the sense of quiet and separation from the main day-use areas.
• Local Day Trip Options: Being in the Skylands region of New Jersey, the park is a gateway to other regional highlights, including the Ken Lockwood Gorge, the historic town of Clinton, and the Columbia Trail, making it a perfect basecamp for exploring the natural beauty of Central and Northwest New Jersey.

As a New Jersey State Park, Voorhees offers essential, clean, and well-managed services focused on a quality outdoor experience:

• Variety of Campsites: The park provides 47 family sites for tents and trailers, each accommodating up to six people and two vehicles. There are also two larger group campsites (with capacities for 30 and 50 people) and three rustic shelters.
• Modern Sanitation: Campers have access to modern bathhouses with flush toilets and complimentary hot showers, which are frequently cited by users as being clean and well-maintained.
• Essential On-Site Amenities: Every campsite includes a picnic table, a fire ring with an attached grill grate, and a lantern hook. Extra vehicle parking is available in a designated lot for a small nightly fee.
• RV Services: While campsites do not offer utility hook-ups, a sanitary dump station is conveniently available for registered Voorhees campers at the nearby Spruce Run Recreation Area.
• Park Administration: All registration and advanced reservations must be completed online or at the Spruce Run Recreation Area office, simplifying the check-in process for arrival at Voorhees.
• Firewood: Firewood is available for purchase at the Spruce Run Park Office, ensuring campers can easily follow park rules regarding outside wood sources.

The primary appeal of Voorhees State Park lies in its unique combination of natural features and specialized educational attractions:

• Extensive Multi-Use Trail System: The park boasts over nine miles of well-marked trails, ranging from dirt and root paths to wide gravel roads, suitable for hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing in the winter. The trail system includes a 2.3-mile section of the long-distance 150-mile Hunterdon Highlands Trail.
• The Paul Robinson Observatory: Home to the New Jersey Astronomical Association (NJAA), the park features the largest working public telescope in New Jersey. The NJAA runs programs and star-gazing events between March and November, offering a truly unique activity for campers and visitors.
• The Solar System Trail: A unique, quarter-mile interpretive path that connects the scenic overlook to the observatory, featuring signs spaced to scale to show the distance of the planets from the Sun—an engaging educational experience for all ages.
• Parcourse Trail: A dedicated one-mile fitness circuit with 15 exercise stations, combining jogging and walking with opportunities for stretching and strength conditioning, designed for various fitness levels.
• Scenic Overlooks: The park’s highest elevation provides breathtaking views, including dedicated scenic overlooks of the massive Round Valley Reservoir and the Spruce Run Reservoir, providing great photo opportunities.
• Family Play Area: A communal playground is located near the group picnic area, providing a safe and engaging space for children to play during the day.

Voorhees State Park is administered by the nearby Spruce Run Recreation Area. For reservations, information, or general inquiries, please use the contact details provided below:

Physical Address (Park Entrance): 251 County Rd 513, Glen Gardner, NJ 08826, USA

Park Office Phone: (908) 638-8572

Voorhees State Park Campground is perfectly suited for New Jersey locals because it offers a vital balance of accessibility and genuine wilderness immersion. For families in Central and Northern New Jersey, it requires minimal travel time, maximizing weekend enjoyment. It provides a peaceful, natural environment—a necessity for escaping the high-density life of the Garden State—where campers can truly adhere to good camp etiquette and enjoy low-volume, respectful relaxation, as valued by the community.

The park delivers far more than just a place to sleep; it offers a rich menu of activities that cater to diverse interests, from moderate uphill hikes and mountain biking on well-maintained trails (with the added excitement of possible wildlife sightings, like black bears) to the unique educational thrill of star-gazing at the observatory. It provides a clean, safe, and family-friendly setting where the simple pleasures of a picnic table, a fire ring, and a communal playground create an ideal backdrop for lasting family memories. As an officially preserved New Jersey State Park, its continued maintenance and protection guarantee a beautiful, natural retreat that will remain a quality local destination for years to come.

Voorhees State Park

251 County Rd 513, Glen Gardner, NJ 08826, USA