Belleplain State Forest - Woodbine, NJ
N 39° 14.909 W 074° 50.546
18S E 513596 N 4344363
Established in 1928, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) set up camps here in '33, converted Meisle Cranberry Bog into Lake Nummy & constructed the original forest headquarters, maintenance
Waymark Code: WM7Z3W
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 12/26/2009
Views: 5
For forest development as well as recreation the State maintains 8 forests, with a total acreage of 54, 374, and 14 parks. The State forests range in size from 21,555 (Lebanon to 43 acres (Jackson). Between these limits are the Bass River, Belleplain, Jenny Jump, Penn, and Stokes Forests. Forestry work includes investigations and experimentation, reforestation, cooperation with private landowners in forest problems, and - most important of all - the prevention and fighting of forest fires. --- New Jersey, a Guide to Its Present and Past, 1939; page 23
Belleplain State Forest Information
This state forest is the most southernmost we have in NJ, near Cape May. It is just beyond the Pine Barrens so it has much better soil and a much better diversity of flora. I saw lots of pine trees like the Barrens, but also ran into some white cedar and oak trees of all things. Although the CCC was responsible for the construction and development of this park, I did not see any signs of there presence. Our other parks have interpretives and memorials; I saw none here.
When I visited, there were lots of geocaches and I planted one of my own back in '06. There were lots of trails, horseback riders, dirt roads, a cool lake and damn too. There are camp sites, lean-tos, cabins for groups and of course kayaking, canoeing, and swimming. I think what is unique, compared to our other parks, Belleplain offers Winter sports like ice fishing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. The only down side for some might be the allowance of hunting in certain areas during certain times.
I checked the website for the park and it seems there is a $5 charge during the week and $10 on the weekend between Memorial Day and Labor Day. I remember not paying a cent the few times I went so I guess I am not sure.