Worthington State Forest

05/29/2026

Hiking isn’t just great exercise — it’s a great way to bond with your dog, explore new places together, and enjoy the outdoors side by side 🐾

And let’s be honest… it’s also the perfect way to get those zoomies out before they happen in your living room later!

When hiking with your pet:

💧 Bring plenty of water & treats to keep them hydrated and motivated.

🐶 All dogs must be on a leash, it's the law! Keeping your dog leashed helps protect wildlife, other hikers, and your pup too.

☀️ If the ground is too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for their paws!

🗑 Bring waste bags! Cleaning up after your pet keeps the park clean. Leave nothing but paw prints 🐾

Here’s to happy trails, happy tails, and unforgettable adventures with your four-legged companion! 🌿

05/22/2026

It’s Memorial Weekend! We want everyone to have a safe and fun visit, so please keep the following in mind:
⏰ARRIVE EARLY — Once parking lots are full, they will be closed until parking becomes available!

🚙ARRIVE TOGETHER — Carpooling is highly recommended. Parking is limited. If a member of your party arrives late, they may not be able to get in!
• Have a back-up plan, or two, if areas are full when you arrive.
• Park only in designated areas. Do not block other cars, roads, or emergency access gates.

Illegally parked vehicles will receive a summons from New Jersey State Park Police and may be towed away at the owner’s expense.

🍉ARRIVE PREPARED — Bring everything you need with you for the day. Parking lots will be closed once they fill up. If you leave to get food, drinks, etc. you may not be able to reenter the park!

🗑️CARRY-IN/CARRY-OUT! — NJ State Parks & Forests are Carry-in/Carry-out. If you bring trash into the park, you are responsible for bringing your trash out with you when you leave! Discarded food and trash can attract and harm wildlife and ruins the experience for other visitors. Practice principles and help keep our parks clean and green!🌿

🚫Alcohol is prohibited in NJ State Parks & Forests.
🚫Swimming is prohibited at Worthington.

❓Questions? Give us a call at the office: 908-841-9575

Our campground is fully booked this weekend! If you have a reservation, please remember:

🕛Check-in & check-out is at 12 noon.

⛺️Family campsites have a maximum of 6 people and 2 cars. Group campsites have a maximum of 35 people.

🤫Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 6 am. If a neighboring campsite is loud at night, please call NJ State Park Police right away! Do not wait until morning to report it! 877-927-6337

🐻Black bears are active in this area! All food & coolers must be packed up in the car when you are done eating to avoid attracting bears to your campsite. Keep a clean site and dispose of trash at the dumpsters by the office.

🦮Pets are not permitted in the campground. Service dogs trained to perform a task directly related to a disability are welcome!

🥾Hiking: Know your route and about how long it will take before you set out. Plan to be off the trails by dark. Bring plenty of water and snacks. Trail maps are available at the office. If you’re bringing your dog, make sure you bring enough water and a bowl!

En español:

¡Es el fin de semana del Memorial Day! Queremos que todos tengan una visita segura y divertida, así que, por favor, tengan en cuenta lo siguiente:

⏰Llegue temprano: una vez que los estacionamientos estén llenos, permanecerán cerrados hasta que haya espacio disponible.

🚙Llegar juntos: se recomienda encarecidamente compartir el vehículo. El estacionamiento es limitado.

• Tengan un plan de respaldo por si las áreas de estacionamiento están llenas a su llegada.

• Estacione únicamente en las áreas designadas. No bloquee otros vehículos ni las vías de circulación.

Los vehículos estacionados ilegalmente recibirán una infracción de la Policía de Parques Estatales de Nueva Jersey y podrán ser remolcados.

🍉Llegue preparado: traiga consigo todo lo que necesite para el día. Los estacionamientos cerrarán una vez que se llenen. Si sale para comprar comida, bebidas, etc., ¡es posible que no pueda volver a entrar al parque!

🗑️Si traes basura al parque, ¡eres responsable de llevártela contigo al marcharte! Los restos de comida y la basura pueden atraer a la fauna silvestre y perjudicarla, además de arruinar la experiencia para otros visitantes. ¡Aplica los principios de . 🌱

🚫Prohibido nadar
🚫No alcohol

Si tiene una reserva de camping:
🕛La entrada y la salida son a las 12 del mediodía.

⛺️Las parcelas familiares tienen un máximo de 6 personas y 2 coches.

🤫El horario de silencio es de 10:00 p. m. a 6:00 a. m. Si un sitio de acampada vecino hace ruido por la noche, ¡por favor, llame de inmediato a la Policía de Parques Estatales de NJ! ¡No espere hasta la mañana para reportarlo! 📞 877-927-6337

🐻Hay osos negros activos en esta zona! Toda la comida y las hieleras deben guardarse en el automóvil una vez que haya terminado de comer, para evitar atraer a los osos a su sitio de acampar. Mantenga limpio su sitio y deposite la basura en los contenedores ubicados junto a la oficina.

🦮No se admiten mascotas en el camping. Los perros de servicio entrenados para realizar una tarea directamente relacionada con una discapacidad son bienvenidos.

🥾Senderismo: Conozca su ruta y el tiempo aproximado que le tomará completarla antes de emprender la marcha. Lleve abundante agua y refrigerios. Los mapas de los senderos están disponibles en la oficina.Si trae a su perro, ¡asegúrese de llevar suficiente agua y un cuenco!

¿Tiene preguntas? Llámenos. 908-841-9575

05/11/2026

Want to spend a day by the river but don't want to camp overnight? The Douglas Picnic Area might be the place for you! Get your picnic reservations in now for 2026! Reservations are required on weekends and holidays from Memorial Weekend to Labor Day Weekend. (5/23/26 through 9/7/26) Please call or visit the office to make your reservation. 908-841-9575.

No reservation needed on weekdays unless the day is a holiday.
Once you’ve made a reservation, we will hold your permit here at the office. On your reservation date, check-in and pick up your permit at the office. Rental period will be 8 AM to 8 PM. Your reservation includes the use of the tables and grills for up to 20 people, as well as up to 10 parking spots.

Reservation fees:
$25 for NJ residents
$30 for out-of-state residents

Please note the following regulations before making a reservation:
🚫No alcohol or swimming.
🚗Group size must not exceed 20 people and 10 vehicles. You must park all vehicles in the lower lot, the upper lot is for hiking access only.
🎼Keep a reasonable noise level. No amplified music.
🐶Pets are allowed on a leash.
🔥No ground fires.
🚫Do not set up tents or other structures. Free-standing or tree-saver strap hammocks are OK.

🗑There are no trash receptacles at the picnic area—please bring all trash to the dumpsters at the Forest Office for disposal. Thank you!

05/09/2026

Whether you are casually birdwatching or participating in the World Series of Birding, Worthington is a great place to spot (and listen to!) those beautiful migratory songbirds. Each May birders flock to the forest to see many different species of warblers, indigo buntings, wood thrushes, and more! 🐦

While birding in the park, please ensure you are not blocking the road with your vehicle. There are several pull-offs and parking areas. Old Mine Road is an active and at times busy road for other sightseers, campers, and hikers. Thank you!

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day! 🌱🌎
This year is the 56th anniversary of Earth Day, a global celebration of our natural world and a promise to protect it.

Take a moment to unplug! Worthington has endless ways to connect with nature. Take a hike on one of our 10 trails, spend an evening stargazing, go for a float down the Delaware River, listen to the early morning birdsong, or relax by the campfire.

While you visit, think of the future generations who will enjoy the forest after you. Help us keep it beautiful for those still to come by minimizing your impact: Pack out what you packed in and leave everything as you found it. Thank you!🌳

04/18/2026

Here at Worthington, we always support Leave No Trace. Help us keep the area beautiful for this and future generations to enjoy! Take only pictures, leave only footprints. 👣

Earth Month is a habit, and not a holiday. Show us how you're practicing Leave No Trace this April.

Share your story and tag .

04/07/2026

It’s almost shad season! 🎣 We’ve had reports of anglers catching shad north of the Delaware Water Gap. Every spring, Worthington provides access for anglers aiming for this popular sport fish. You can find parking in several locations including: the boat launch, Douglas parking lot, and downriver campsites. The downriver campsites (1-23) are currently still closed for camping, and you can use them for fishing access until April 15th. Campsites 1-4 can be used for fishing access until May 15th.

American shad are an anadromous fish. They spend most of their lives in saltwater. However, like salmon, they swim up freshwater rivers to spawn. Also known as the Poor Man’s salmon, their quick runs and high leaps make them an exciting fish to catch! Every spring anglers are drawn to rivers and streams used by shad. The Delaware River attracts anglers from all over the Northeast!

Each spring, rising water temperatures prompt the American Shad to swim up the Delaware River to the waters where they were born. They find their natal stream or river with their excellent olfactory abilities to taste and smell the familiar chemical make up of each river.

Male shad make the journey first, followed shortly by the females. They may travel up to 300 miles to reach their spawning grounds! Once in freshwater, the shad do not eat. The male shad, also called bucks, are generally smaller than the females, averaging 2 to 6 pounds. When the females, called roes, reach the spawning ground, each will release 100,000 to 600,000 eggs to be fertilized by several males. Spawning typically peaks when water temperatures reach around 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

After spawning, many of the shad die from the stress of their upstream journey. Those that survive return to the ocean. You may see dead or dying shad drifting down the Delaware River in the months of May and June. This is a normal yearly occurrence, part of the shad life cycle, and no cause for concern.

Eggs hatch about 4 to 12 days after fertilization. Young shad remain in the river until the fall. In August and September, keep an eye out for silver flashes above the water surface in the early morning—these flashes are the baby shad catching insects! When water temperature and light intensity is right, the young shad will school up and make their own journey to the ocean. There they will remain and grow until about 5 years of age and are ready to complete the cycle over again. 🐟

03/27/2026

Burr, that was a cold winter! We can’t wait for the spring camping season! 🎋🌱 Our campground opens on April 1st, 2026!🎉

Like every year, the campsites will have a staggered opening to allow us to get seasonal staff hired and trained. Campsites 29 through 82 and group sites A, B, & C will open on April 1st. Campsites 5 through 23 will open on April 15th, and sites 1 through 4 will open on May 15th.

You can make reservations for the 2026 season online here: https://www.njportal.com/DEP/NJOutdoors/Park/Details?locationId=20

There’s a minimum of 2 nights for advanced reservations. To book just 1 night, the reservation must be made the day of, pending site availability.

Group campsites and family sites 30 through 82 can accommodate tents, trailers, pop-ups, UFOs🛸, whatever you have! Some sites are smaller than others, and some are wooded while others are open and grassy (great for stargazing!). Sites 1 through 29 are smaller, wooded, and for tents only, no trailers or pop-ups. Feel free to give us a call to see what site will work best for you!

Please note that we do not have electric/water hook ups or a dump station, but water is available to fill up your tank.

Some reminders:
⌚️Check-in & check-out is at 12 noon.
🚗There is a 6-person and 2 vehicle max per site.
🤫Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
🚫Alcohol and swimming are not permitted.
🐶Pets are not permitted in the campground. ADA certified service animals are welcome.
*Our group campsites accommodate up to 35 people and 10-12 vehicles.

We highly recommend you secure your summer and fall reservations sooner rather than later. Weekends and holidays from May through October fill up fast!

We look forward to seeing you! Happy Camping! 🏕️

02/25/2026

Visiting the park this week? Try your hand at winter tree identification! 🪾 Without their leaves, identifying trees in winter provides a whole new challenge, one that the entire family can enjoy! Use your powers of observation to enhance your winter hiking experience!

One way to identify tree species in winter is by looking at their twigs, the most recent tree growth from the previous year. The arrangement and shape of the buds on twigs are a good clue as to what type of tree you’re looking at. If you can’t see any buds, try looking at the branch arrangement—bud arrangement will be the same as the branch arrangement. Maples, ash, and dogwoods have an opposite arrangement, while oaks have an alternate arrangement.

The occurrence of thorns on twigs can also be a giveaway, as there are fewer trees with thorns than without them!

Aside from twigs and buds, you can look at a tree’s bark to help identify it. Going by the bark isn’t always obvious, as older trees may look different than younger trees of the same species. Consider the color, roughness, and furrowed—or smooth—appearance of the bark. For example, the oak trees typically have furrowed bark and maples have smoother bark.

A tree’s fruit can help identify it too. Don’t just think about apples or oranges—think nuts and berries too! Some fruits will cling onto the tree even in winter, but if you can’t see any on the tree, try looking under it. You may see the prickly husks of beech nuts under a beech tree, or acorns under an oak tree.

Evergreens can be easier to identify than deciduous trees in winter, as they keep their needles or scales (leaves) year-round. The tall eastern white pine will have gray bark and long needles that grow in clusters of 5. An eastern red cedar (a type of juniper) has reddish-brown bark and their leaves are actually tiny scales that may appear purple-ish in winter. Virginia pine, or scrub pine, has 1.5—3 inch yellow-green needles that grow in pairs and flaky, dark brown or gray bark. 🌲

If you want to get serious about tree identification, we highly recommend bringing a field guide with you on your hike.

02/10/2026

Spring is coming up fast! The New Jersey Fish & Wildlife 2026 Freshwater Fishing Digests are now available online! https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/digests/freshwater-fishing/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

We will have printed copies here at the Worthington office when they become available in a couple weeks. 🐟

The 2026 Freshwater Fishing Digest is available now online: https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/digests/freshwater-fishing/