Parvin State Park

Parvin State Park At A Glance...

• The cabins you can rent were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s and most are still in use, each with a fireplace or wood stove.
• A 4.6 mile flat loop joins the Parvin Lake Trail, the Long Trail and the Thundergust Lake Trail.
• Over 200 kinds of flowering plants bloom here, including wild azalea, mountain laurel and dogwood.
• The park was a summer camp for the children of displaced Japanese Americans in 1943, a German POW camp in 1944, and temporary housing for Kalmyk refugees in 1952.
• Todays Sunrise: ,   Sunset:  
• New Jersey Delaware River Region Salem County

• Activities:

  • Equestrian / Horseback
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Hunting
  • Jogging / Running
  • Paddling - Kayak, Canoe, row boat
  • Playing in the playground
  • Swimming
  • Picnicking
  • Walking

  Amenities:

  • Sports / Athletic Fields
  • Restrooms/Bathrooms
  • Beach
  • Boat launch
  • Parking Lot(s)
  • Picnic / Sitting Area
  • Grills / Firering
  • Picnic shelter(s)
  • Picnic tables
  • Playground

  Camping:

  • Multi-use Trails

  Shop/Services/Rentals:

  • Kayak / Canoe / Rowboat Rentals

  Trails:

  • Boardwalks
  • Flat / Easy
  • Sandy
  • Walking Paths

  Park Type:

  • State Parks
  • Historic Area
  • Playground

  Rules/Regulations:

  • Alcohol Not Permitted
  • Must be Leashed

Contact / Location

A Brief History

The Civilian Conservation Corps developed Parvin from 1933 to 1941. Company 1225 cleared the forest for campsites, cut trails and roads, and built the main beach complex, including the brick buildings at the beach entrance, along with bridges across Muddy Run. A later company finished Thundergust Lake and built the rental cabins, most of which are still in use. Three pavilions at Jaggers Point, Island Point and Second Landing and the White Bridge also date from this era.

The park had several lives after the CCC. In 1943 it was a summer camp for the children of displaced Japanese Americans, in 1944 a prisoner of war camp for German soldiers, and in 1952 temporary housing for the Kalmyks, who had fled their homelands in Eastern Europe.

Trail & Path Info

The Parvin Lake Trail is a flat loop of about 3 miles around the lake that starts at the Parvin Grove day use area. It follows gravel and sand along the shore and crosses a small bridge on the east side. The Thundergust Lake Trail is a loop of about 1 mile around the other lake, starting at the Thundergust Lake day use area. Put the Parvin Lake Trail, the Long Trail and the Thundergust Lake Trail together for a 4.6 mile walk.

The paths are mostly flat sand and packed gravel with no rocks. A plank boardwalk was added in 2024 through the white cedars at the lake edge, and it can be muddy after heavy rain.

Things to See & Do

Walk the lake loops, fish from the docks, or paddle one of the two lakes. A lifeguard staffed swimming beach is on Parvin Lake at Parvin Grove, with a bathhouse, canoe rentals and a seasonal snack stand nearby. Bring a picnic to the groves on either side of the beach. Birders watch for barred owls in the Natural Area, and hunting is allowed in large parts of the park in season.

Tips and Tricks

Parvin runs a carry-in, carry-out program, so pack out your trash. Inner tubes, rafts and other floats are not allowed in the swimming area, and pets are not allowed on the beach or in the camping areas unless a campsite is marked pet friendly. Bears and raccoons live in the area, so do not leave food out.

Picnics / Lunches / Eating

Picnic areas with tables and grills are at the beach area, with playgrounds on either side. Two pavilions at Thundergust Lake hold 100 people each, with flush toilets, water, grills, ball fields and activity fields. A food concession runs seasonally.

Admission & Guidelines

A public boat launch ramp is at Fisherman's Landing. A daily launch pass is $12 per launch for New Jersey residents and $20 for non-residents, and an annual pass is $60 for residents and $80 for non-residents. From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, permits are sold at the park office. Fishing is covered by New Jersey fishing laws and a license is needed.

The two Thundergust Lake picnic pavilions can be reserved by groups of 20 or more, at least five days ahead, for $125 a day for New Jersey residents or $175 for non-residents.

Hours / Season of Operation

The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and the park office is open 8:30am to 4pm. The swimming beach is open 10am to 6pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day when it is open for the season. The boat launch at Fisherman's Landing is open sunrise to sunset year round.

Directions

The park is on Almond Road (Route 540) between Centerton and Vineland, about two miles east of Route 553. From Route 55 north or south, take exit 35B and follow the signs to the park office. From the Garden State Parkway, take Route 40 west to Route 55 south to exit 35B.

In nearby Elmer, Appel Farm Arts and Music Campus is a short drive away, and Albert Giampietro Memorial Park is in Vineland.

Here are 10 places near Parvin State Park