Hope, New Jersey 07844
Tent, Trailer and Group Campsites are open from April 1st to Oct 31st. Shelters are open year-round.
Alcoholic Beverages are NOT permitted in any New Jersey State Park Service Area.
Pets are only allowed at certain sites. Rabies verification is required. Rabies certificates can be uploaded when making your reservation online. If you do not upload it, you must bring it to the office when you check-in. Please clean up after your pet.
Black Bears are present in New Jersey. During your stay keep all coolers and food-associated items in the trunk of your car, with the windows up, at all times. Garbage can be disposed of at the bear-proof dumpsters close to the main office; there are bins for recycling.
Hiking Trails are for foot-traffic only. Bicycles and motor vehicles are not permitted on trails.
Firewood is not furnished at campsites but can be purchased at the office during business hours.
Quiet Hours are observed between 10:00pm - 6:00am daily.
Visitors are allowed at camping facilities between 8:00am - 8:00pm. They may be subject to an extra car fee.
SHELTERS must be reserved for a minimum of 2 consecutive nights. (Same day bookings exempted). Shelters can accommodate 4 people—or up to 6 with Park Superintendent permission. 2 vehicles are permitted at each shelter. Shelters must be reserved by someone 18 years of age or older, and they shall occupy and be responsible for the site during the rental period.
CAMPSITES must be reserved for a minimum of 2 consecutive nights. (Same day bookings exempted). The maximum length of stay in a campsite is 14 consecutive nights. 2 vehicles are permitted at a site. There is a 6-person max per site. Campsites must be reserved by someone 18 years of age or older, and they shall occupy and be responsible for the site during the rental period.
GROUP CAMPSITES may be reserved for a minimum of 1 night up to a 14 night maximum length of stay. More than 2 vehicles are permitted at group campsites.
Group Site A accommodates a maximum of 25 people with a minimum of 7 people. It is located off the East Road. There is a compost toilet on site with shower facilities available at the comfort stations located on the East Road. There is a large fire ring on site, as well as a dual sided stand-up grill and lantern holder.
Group Site B accommodates a maximum of 40 people with a minimum of 7 people. It is located at the end of the East Road. There are two outhouses on site with shower facilities available at the comfort stations located on the East Road. There are two large fire rings as well as a dual sided stand-up grill and lantern holder.
For your convenience, you can register your vehicles when completing your reservation online. This will save you time at check-in.
**Please Note** As of January 16, 2019, the smoking of tobacco and use of electronic smoking (vaping) devices (outside of private vehicles) is prohibited in all State Parks, Forests, Historic Sites, and Recreation Areas including camping areas. For more information on this law, please visit https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/PL18/64_.HTM
Camping is a highlight at Jenny Jump State Forest. We offer quiet, peaceful enjoyment in a serene setting. We have been selected as second on the list of the most peaceful places in New Jersey. There are twenty-two family campsites, two group sites as well as eight shelters to choose from for your camping experience. Park visitors are welcome to bring their own canoes or kayaks to access Ghost Lake as there is a car-top boat launch. Ghost Lake provides access to excellent largemouth bass, sunfish and catfish fishing as well as boating and canoeing in the lake. (Boats are not provided). We also offer access to Mountain Lake for shoreline fishing. There is swimming available in Mountain Lake for cooling off during the summer season. A small picnic area is available in a quiet, shaded area of the park. Tables and grills are available for patrons. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited on NJ State Park property. Jenny Jump State Forest is a favorable habitat for deer, turkey, and small game that offers excellent hunting opportunities. Hunting is permitted in designated areas within the park and is subject to NJ Division of Wildlife regulations.
United Astronomy Clubs of New Jersey (UACNJ) leases a portion of Jenny Jump State Forest as an observatory and is located at 333 State Park Road, Hope, NJ 07844. Unaffected by light from large cities, this location provides excellent viewing and exploration of the night sky. In 1995, the UACNJ completed the Greenwood Observatory. In addition to this observatory, the Education Center and Astronomy Museum is open for public programs on Saturday evenings from April through October. (Pre-registration is required for programs). In early 1997, a 28 inch Newtonian-Cassegrain Telescope was donated to the UACNJ. Plans are under way to design and build a suitable observatory for this instrument, the largest equatorial mounted telescope in New Jersey. For more information, please call the Forest Office or visit the UACNJ's website.
Please see our Facebook page for hiking and camping updates!
In addition to camping, 11 miles of hiking trails and three miles of hiking/mountain bike trails offer magnificent views of the mountains and scenic Mountain Lake. The Summit Trail, at an elevation of 1,090 feet, offers a panoramic view of the Delaware Water Gap and the Pequest Valley. We have seven trails ranging from an easy .3 miles on the Swamp Trail and up to a 8.5 mile hike on the Jenny Jump Trail. Boating and fishing is available at Ghost Lake, and shoreline fishing is available at Mountain Lake.
In 1769, the Moravians, a group of artisans, builders, and manufacturers who started an early colonial religious community in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, traveled to New Jersey and settled in Hope. The Moravian community operated successfully for almost 40 years. In 1808, a smallpox epidemic killed many of the town's inhabitants, and the financial troubles of the mother church in Germany forced the group to sell off the entire village. When the Moravians abandoned the region, the people who moved into the village continued to operate some of the artisan enterprises. The village was converted from a self-supporting community to an agricultural service community that flourished with the support of the surrounding farms. Today, Hope's Moravian heritage is evident in the historic district where 16 limestone and wooden buildings remain from the original settlement.
Directions from Interstate Rt. 80: Take exit 12 off Rt. 80 and go South on Rt. 521 to Hope. Go left at the intersection (blinking traffic light) onto Rt. 519 North. Go approx. 1/2 mile and take the third right onto Shiloh Rd. Go approx. 1 mile, take second right onto State Park Rd. (watch for signs). Continue up the mountain, Park entrance is on the left. (See signs).
Directions from Rt. 31: Take Rt. 31 North to Rt. 46 West. At the traffic light intersection make a right onto Rt. 519 North. Continue on Rt. 519 North into the town of Hope, at the blinking light make a right turn, following 519 North. Go approx. 1/2 mile and take the third right onto Shiloh Rd. Go approx. 1 mile, take second right onto State Park Rd. (watch for signs). Continue up the mountain, Park entrance on left, see signs.