Brendan T. Byrne State Forest

Brendan T. Byrne State Forest At A Glance...

Todays Sunrise: 6:39 am, Sunset: 7:05 pm
New Jersey Delaware River Region Burlington County

About Brendan T. Byrne State Forest

Formerly known as Lebanon State Forest, visitors are greeted by the fresh scent of pines. Today, hikers can follow the sandy trails and roads that crisscross the forest, sometimes passing near the remains of stone or brick structures.

Those forested acres are a strong contrast to the barren, cleared land that was here in the 1800s. This ground was cut over and worked out, and what you walk through now is what grew back.

Pure, iron-rich streams run through acres of swampy land covered with dense stands of Atlantic white cedar. It is flat, it is sandy, and it is quiet in a way that the Pine Barrens does better than anywhere else in the state.

Activities:
- Equestrian / Horseback
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Jogging / Running
- Mountain Bike
- Walking
Amenities:
- Picnic / Sitting Area
- Benches
- Grills / Firering
- Picnic shelter(s)
- Picnic tables
- Playground
Camping:
- 0-0 All Campgrounds and RV parks
- Drive-up camping
- Group Camping
- Medium sized lots (good for popups)
- Tent Camping Available
- Rentals Available
Trails:
- Flat / Easy
- Sandy
- Walking Paths
Park Type:
- State / National Forest
- State Parks
- Playground
Rules/Regulations:
- Alcohol Not Permitted

Contact / Location

Primary Address:

Get Directions P.O. Box 215
New Lisbon, NJ 08064P.O. Box 215,
New Lisbon, New Jersey 08064

Contact:

Related:

Camping in NJ State Parks and Forests

A Brief History

This was Lebanon State Forest before it was named for Brendan T. Byrne, and the older name points at what used to be here.

The Lebanon Glass Works was established in 1851 and ran successfully until 1867, when it shut down after depleting the supply of wood the furnace needed to operate. A glass works burns through forest, and when the forest was gone so was the business.

That is why the woods you walk through are young and the 1800s land was bare. Follow the sandy roads and you pass remains of stone and brick structures that mark where a bustling town stood. There is no monument and no visitor center version of this. It is ruins in the pines, and you find them by walking.

Trail & Path Info

The walking here is flat and sandy, on trails and old roads that crisscross the forest. This is Pine Barrens surface: no rock, no climb, and firm going except where it is soft.

The Batona Trail runs through this forest, which is the long-distance route threading the Pine Barrens, and the state's own campsite listings flag which sites sit on it.

The distinctive thing about walking Byrne is what you pass rather than what you climb. Stone and brick remains turn up along the sandy roads where the glass works town stood, and the streams running through the Atlantic white cedar swamps are stained iron-red, which is the Pines doing what it does.

Horseback riding and mountain biking both have a place here on the same flat network.

Admission & Guidelines

Alcohol is prohibited.

Quiet hours are 10pm to 6am. Unduly annoying conduct is prohibited at any hour, which is the state's own wording.

Pets. Except for service animals, pets are not allowed in camping areas unless the site is a pet friendly one. Where pets are permitted they must be on a leash of six feet or less.

Camping limits. Maximum six people per site, a maximum of two tents per site unless you are on a group site, and a maximum of two licensed vehicles, with a fee for extras. Campsite visitors are allowed between 8am and 8pm and day use fees apply to them. The maximum stay is 14 nights at a time and 40 nights total in a calendar year. Under-18 campers need one adult supervisor for every nine of them, and that supervisor must have transport available for emergencies.

Fires are permitted in campsites only in the fire rings and fireplaces provided, unless a fire restriction is in effect. Fire regulations depend on the weather and they change daily, so check on the day rather than on the booking.

Also prohibited: firearms; ATVs and off-road vehicles; diving; and damaging or removing any plant, animal or structure. Vehicles stay on established roads, at 35 mph on improved roads and 25 mph on sand or gravel. Life jackets must be worn when boating, and trash goes in the containers or home with you.

Facilities

The site types on the state's own reservation system for this forest include tent and trailer sites, cabins, shelters and group campsites, and the state notes that camping is currently permitted only in family campsites, so check what is actually bookable before planning around a group site.

Campsite features listed for this forest include fire rings, picnic tables, drive-up access and sites flagged as sitting on the Batona Trail.

Accessibility. The recreational facilities are partially accessible. Call the park office on (609) 726-1191 for specifics before you travel.