Brendan T. Byrne State Forest: What to Know Before You Visit
Brendan T. Byrne State Forest is New Jersey’s second-largest state forest at roughly 38,000 acres, located in the Pine Barrens of Burlington County. Entry is free. It sits about an hour from Philadelphia and 30 minutes from the Jersey Shore, making it one of the most accessible large forests in the mid-Atlantic. Camping, hiking, fishing, mountain biking, birding, and hunting are all permitted.
Where is Brendan T. Byrne State Forest?
Brendan T. Byrne State Forest is located at Highway Route 72 East, Milestone Marker 1, New Lisbon, NJ 08064. The forest office phone number is (609) 726-1191. Trail use is permitted between dawn and sunset. The forest office itself is open Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The forest sits inside the New Jersey Pinelands, a 1.1 million-acre reserve protected by the Pinelands Protection Act of 1979 — legislation championed by Governor Brendan Byrne, for whom the forest was renamed in 2004. It was previously called Lebanon State Forest, after the Lebanon Glassworks that operated on the site between 1851 and 1867, producing window glass until the fuel supply of surrounding forest was exhausted.
What trails are in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest?
Brendan T. Byrne State Forest has more than 40 miles of marked trails across seven official routes, plus 50 miles of unmarked gravel and sand roads open to road-legal vehicles.
- Batona Trail (10 miles within BTB, 50 miles total) — The signature long-distance trail of the Pinelands, marked in pink, linking Brendan T. Byrne, Wharton, and Bass River State Forests. Hiking only. A through-hike of the full trail takes roughly three days.
- Mount Misery Trail (8.6 miles) — Hiking and mountain biking permitted. Loops through wetlands and pine woods.
- Lebanon Trail (10.7 miles) — Multi-use: hiking, biking, horseback riding.
- Glassworks Trail (8.4 miles) — Multi-use.
- Cranberry Trail (3.2 miles) — Wheelchair accessible. The only paved accessible trail in the forest.
- Cranberry Dot Trail (2 miles) — Multi-use connector.
- Nature Trail (0.65 miles) — Short loop near the forest office.
The Batona Trail intersects with other trails to create loops of roughly 6 and 14 miles for day hikes. ATVs are prohibited throughout the forest. Insect repellent and light-colored clothing are recommended — ticks and chiggers are active.
What wildlife and plants will I see?
The Pine Barrens ecosystem is built on sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil that supports species found almost nowhere else in New Jersey. The Cedar Swamp Natural Area within the forest covers 735 acres of Atlantic white cedar, with carnivorous plants — sundews and pitcher plants — growing at their base alongside orchids and curly grass ferns. The forest’s freshwater lakes and streams hold perch, sunfish, and chain pickerel. eBird logs nearly 200 bird species observed in the forest.
Can I camp at Brendan T. Byrne State Forest?
Yes. The forest has 82 campsites supporting both tents and trailers, plus three group sites and three furnished cabins. Campsites have picnic tables, fire rings, showers, and flush toilets. Most sites are pet-friendly with proper registration and up-to-date vaccination records. Reservations can be made at njportal.com/DEP/NJOutdoors.
Camping fees (per night):
| Accommodation | NJ residents | Non-residents |
|---|---|---|
| Campsite | $20 | $25 |
| Group campsite | $60 | $120 |
| Cabin | $55 ($385/week) | $65 ($455/week) |
A non-refundable $5 service fee applies per reservation. Alcoholic beverages, smoking, and vaping are not permitted in the park except inside a personal vehicle. Campfires must stay within designated fire rings.
What is Whitesbog Village?
Whitesbog is a historic site within the forest, open to the public. At the turn of the 20th century, J.J. White established a cranberry plantation here, and in the early 1900s Elizabeth White partnered with botanist Frederick Coville to develop the first commercially cultivated blueberry — making Whitesbog the birthplace of the modern blueberry industry. Sand roads connect 3,000 acres of bogs, fields, wetlands, and forest. The Whitesbog Preservation Trust runs the site and can be reached at (609) 893-4646 or whitesbog.org.
Blueberry season runs from late June through early August. U-pick is available for a suggested $5 donation per person. Cranberry season runs late September to the first week of October.
How do I get there?
The forest entrance is on Highway Route 72 East at Milestone Marker 1, New Lisbon, NJ 08064. Visitors flying in have two airport options: Philadelphia International Airport and Atlantic City International Airport, each roughly an hour away. No entrance fee is charged.
Source: NJ DEP Division of Parks and Forestry — Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
Published September 2026.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only. Information and conditions are subject to change. Verify current details directly with the relevant source before making any decisions.
