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Kayaking on the Mullica River

Taken from a campsite at Atsion Recreation Area

Wharton State Forest is a state park in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The largest single tract of land in the state park system of New Jersey, it encompasses approximately 115,000 acres (46 km²) of the Pinelands northwest of Hammonton, in Burlington, Camden, and Atlantic counties. The entire park is located within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve. The park is located in the forested watershed of the Mullica River, which drains the central Pinelands region into Great Bay. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry.

The park is also the location of the historic Batsto Village, a former bog iron and glass manufacturing site from 1766 to 1867. The park includes extensive hiking trails, including a section of the Batona Trail, which connects the park to nearby Brendan T. Byrne State Forest and Bass River State Forest. It also includes over 500 miles (800 km) of unpaved roads. The rivers, including the Mullica, are popular destinations for recreational canoeing.

The forest is named for Joseph Wharton, who purchased most of the land that now lies within the forest in the 19th Century. Wharton wanted to tap the ground water under the Pine Barrens to provide a source of clean drinking water for Philadelphia; however, the New Jersey Legislature quashed the plan by passing a law that banned the export of water from the state. The state bought the vast tract from Wharton's heirs in the 1950s.

In the park is a monument marking the location where Mexican aviation pioneer Emilio Carranza crashed while returning from a historic goodwill flight to New York City on July 12, 1928.

The forest has ten campgrounds, ranging from family camping at Atsion Recreation Area, with showers and a guarded beach, to wilderness camping that can be reached only by hiking or canoe/kayak.

• List of New Jersey state parks

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New Jersey State Parks

State Parks

Abram S. Hewitt State Forest | Allaire State Park | Allamuchy Mountain State Park | Atsion Recreation Area | Barnegat Lighthouse State Park | Bass River State Forest | Belleplain State Forest | Brendan T. Byrne State Forest | Bull's Island Recreation Area | Cape May Point State Park | Cheesequake State Park | Corson's Inlet State Park | Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park | Double Trouble State Park | Senator Frank S. Farley State Marina | Farny State Park | Forked River State Marina | Fortescue State Marina | Fort Mott State Park | Hacklebarney State Park | High Point State Park | Hopatcong State Park | Island Beach State Park | Jenny Jump State Forest | Kittatinny Valley State Park | Leonardo State Marina | Liberty Landing Marina | Liberty State Park | Long Pond Ironworks State Park | Monmouth Battlefield State Park | Norvin Green State Forest | Parvin State Park | Penn State Forest | Princeton Battlefield State Park | Ramapo Mountain State Forest | Rancocas State Park | Ringwood State Park | Round Valley Recreation Area | Spring Meadow Golf Course | Spruce Run Recreation Area | Stephens State Park | Stokes State Forest | Swartswood State Park | Voorhees State Park | Washington Crossing State Park | Washington Rock State Park | Wawayanda State Park | Wharton State Forest | Worthington State Forest