The heart of the Park is Lake Absegami and the Lake Absegami Natural Area. The tea-colored waters are a result of the cedar that is so prevalent in the Pinelands. During the summer months, the Lake is a popular spot for a cool dip and with playground equipment nearby, kids have another option when they are done swimming. Boating and canoeing are also permitted in areas of the lake. The Natural Area surrounding the Lake is a nature-watcher’s dream, especially for birders who want to add songbirds to their life list. Nature trails wind through the Absegami wetlands forest, thick with Atlantic white cedars.

Deep in the Pygmy Forest, you’ll find several endangered species of plants and insects. What’s a Pygmy Forest? It is one of those extremely rare phenomenon where the ecosystem is pint-sized. Around the globe there are only a handful and the one in Bass River, where fully-grown pine and oak trees only reach a height of four feet, has the largest acreage in the world. If you can take your eyes off the midget trees long enough, you can spot rare species, too, including the endangered broom crowberry.

Hikers know Bass River because the famous Batona Trail winds through it, but the Park has numerous other trails, too – eight in all – with distances of 1 to 3.2 miles. During the winter months, the trails are a big hit with cross country skiers and snowshoers.

With so much to do, you might want to spend the night and Bass River has lots of ways for you to camp with facilities ranging from campsite for tents and trailers to lean-tos to cabins that are equipped with furnishings, electricity and indoor plumbing. There’s a lot of demand for the cabins so contact the NJ Department of Parks and Forestry to reserve your spot.