News and Events from Wharton State Forest

Historic walking tours, bird watching, guided hikes, a star watch and an open house at the Batsto Mansion. Get your summer started off right and attend a program in Wharton State Forest!  

ATTENTION: Entrance fees to Batsto Village will be charged weekends and holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. 

 

June 5, 12, 19 & 26: Free "Revolutionary Batsto” Walking Tours of Batsto Village  

Celebrate 2026 and start your summer by exploring Batsto Village and learning about its 18th and 19th century history! These all-ages tours begin behind

the Batsto Visitor Center, with planned stops throughout the village. Sharing stories from Batsto’s iron era to the present, interpreters will lead visitors through

the various ways in which Batsto participated in the American Revolution, Industrial Revolution, and more. 

Tours are approximately 75-90 minutes and begin behind the Visitor Center promptly at  2 p.m. each Friday in June. Reservations are not required, and tours

are free and open to the public.   

The Batsto Visitor Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village. For more information or to confirm, please call the

Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. 

 

June 7: Beginner Bird Watching Walk 

Do you want to start birding? Join Wharton’s nature interpretive staff for a slow-paced, laid-back walk in lower Batsto Village to observe the birds in Wharton

State Forest. This walk begins in front of the Batsto Visitor Center at 9:30 a.m. and lasts about 45 minutes. It is free and no registration is required. We will

simply walk and observe the birds we see. Walks in this NEW series are geared toward beginners. Attendees can borrow binoculars, as supplies last, but are

encouraged to bring their own if they have them. This month’s walk will cover lower Batsto Village. This program will be cancelled with heavy rain,

high winds or thunderstorms. Please wear sneakers and insect repellent, bring lots of water, and dress for the outdoors! 

The Batsto Visitor Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village. For more information or to confirm, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.

 

June 12: Red, White & Blue Hike 

Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary (the nature way) with a hike on portions of Batsto’s Red, White and Blue Trails! Join Wharton State Forest staff on a moderately paced,

approximately four mile hike. This hike will be offered once a month this summer. 

You can use this hike in your progress of any of the New Jersey State Parks Celebrate 250 Challenge! You can read more about the challenge and how to participate here!  

This hike is free, no registration is required, and it begins in front of the Batsto Visitor Center at 10 a.m. before traveling on mostly the Batsto White Trail. We will travel over

shallow roots and some bridges. The route is mostly sandy forest. This hike is not ADA accessible. This program is free and open to all ages, but recommended for adults and

children age 12 and older. This program will be cancelled with heavy rain, high winds or thunderstorms. Please wear sneakers and insect repellent, bring lots of water, and

dress for the outdoors! 

The Batsto Visitor Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village. For more information or to confirm, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. 

 

June 13: Public Star Watch & Batsto Village Evening Walking Tours 

Star Watch 

You’re invited to a Free Public Star Watch at Batsto, organized by the West Jersey Astronomical Society (WAS). Members of the Society will have telescopes available for the public to view objects in the night sky. The event is weather permitting, and visitors are encouraged to check the WAS website (https://www.wasociety.us) after 1 p.m. the day of the event to confirm it is still happening should there be cloudy skies. 

The Star Watch begins at 8 p.m. At 8:15 p.m. in the Batsto Visitor Center auditorium there will be a Comet Demonstration and at 9 p.m. there will be a Laser-Guided Constellation Tour in the telescope observation field.

This month, just four evenings after their closest approach this spring, Venus and Jupiter can be found about 4.5° from each other in the western sky. Venus and Jupiter lie along the borders of the constellations Cancer and Gemini respectively. Northwest of Venus, one can find the bright star, Regulus, at the bottom of the Sickle asterism in the constellation Leo. Also in Leo’s Sickle, one can find the double star Algieba (Gamma Leonis) which is a binary star system with two red giants. 

Batsto Village Evening Walking Tours 

Historic Interpreters will also be on hand to lead evening walking tours through the village. Tours are open to all ages and are free of charge. Visitors interested in walking the village should meet behind the Visitor Center (near the Ore Boat). Tours are 45-55 minutes and are offered at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

For more information on both these events, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. Batsto Village Historic Site is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037. 

 

June 21: Father’s Day “Open House” 

Celebrate Father's Day with a relaxing stroll through the historic village and a chance to see its impressive Victorian vacation home from the inside!   

Batsto Mansion will be open for a special Father’s Day “open house,” Sunday, June 21 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Historians will be inside to answer questions, tell

stories about the village’s history, and to show off the first two floors of the home. Entry is free and tickets are not required.    

Historic Batsto Village is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037. For more information or to confirm Batsto Mansion Tour availability, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. 

 

 

Happening Throughout June

Visit the Annie M. Carter Nature Center

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center will be open to the public from 12 to 3 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in June!    

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center, located on the banks of Batsto Lake in Batsto Village, offers interpretive exhibits about Pine Barrens ecology including preserved wildlife specimen and interactive displays. Stop by and grab a coloring page, borrow a children’s book, or take a closer look at some nature artifacts at our study station.   

Staffing availability, inclement weather, and other unforeseen circumstances could affect open hours. We encourage you to call, day-of, to confirm hours.    

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037, in historic Batsto Village, along Batsto Lake, across from the sawmill. For more information or to confirm open hours, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at (609) 561-0024.  

 

Guided Tours of Atsion Mansion 

Have you ever wanted to see inside the Atsion Mansion? Guided tours are available each weekend in June! Come see one of the most significant examples of

Greek Revival architecture in South Jersey. Never “modernized” with plumbing or electricity, the house stands largely as it did when it was constructed in 1826. 

Tours of Atsion Mansion are offered on Saturdays and Sundays, beginning at 1 and 2 p.m. Each tour is approximately 45-55 minutes long and begin outside,

between the mansion and office.  

Tour tickets can be purchased at the Atsion Office and are $3 for visitors over the age of 12, $1 for visitors ages 5-11 and free for visitors under 5-years-old.  

Atsion Mansion is located at 744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088. For more information or to confirm Atsion Mansion Tour availability, please call the Atsion Office at 609-268-0444. 

 

Guided Tours of Batsto Mansion

Enjoy the summer breeze this June on Batsto Mansion’s porch and then step inside for a guided tour! Originally built in the eighteenth century as a small ironmaster’s house, the mansion now stands as it appeared after Joseph Wharton renovated the home in 1878. Serving as a vacation home for his family, the Batsto Mansion is an excellent example of the Italianate and Eastlake styles, both popular with the Victorian upper-class.

Tours of Batsto Mansion are offered at the following times throughout June:

• Wednesday through Friday: 11 a.m., 1 and 2 p.m.

• Saturday and Sunday: 10 and 11 a.m.; 1, 2 and 3 p.m.

Tours are approximately 45-55 minutes long and begin on the mansion porch. Scheduled events and public programming may impact Batsto Mansion’s tour schedule, so visitors are encouraged to call ahead on the day of their visit to confirm tour times and availability.    

Tickets can be purchased at the Batsto Visitor Center and are $3 for visitors over the age of 12, $1 for visitors ages 5-11 and free for visitors under 5-years-old.    

Batsto Mansion is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village. For more information or to confirm Batsto Mansion Tour availability, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.

Shopping at Wharton State Forest

This month in the Batsto Museum Shop... 

• The Batsto and Jersey Devil Sodas are back in stock. Pick yours up before we sell out again!
• We’ve got a new flavor of coffee along with your standard favorites.
• We’ve restocked our most popular stuffed animals including river otters, opossums, purple martins and eastern blue birds.
• We’re featuring a new stock of beautiful, handmaid baskets by Lisa Dealey.
• Bring the outdoors in with our colorful glass birds representing your favorite local species including the ruby-throated hummingbird.

If you missed the unveiling of the NEW Kingfisher Mandala by artist Allen Crawford, we have copies available! This brand-new print from Allen was revealed last month during his author visit and signing at the Batsto Museum Shop. Purchase it before it’s gone, along with any of his other beautiful artwork featuring local plants and animals!  

Batsto Museum Shop is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village. The Atsion General Store is located at 744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088. For more information or to confirm inventory availability, please call the Atsion General Store at 609-268-0444 or the Batsto Museum Shop at 609-561-0024.

New Batona Trail and Wharton State Forest Trails brochures now available!

The Batona Trail brochure has been updated and can be viewed online at our website here. The Wharton State Forest Trails brochure has also been updated! Check out the new brochure on our website here. Stop by the Batsto Visitor Center from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. to grab printed copies of along with other helpful information so you can safely explore Wharton State Forest.

 

 

Camping & Cabins

Camping in Wharton State Forest is available year-round! Summer camping in the New Jersey Pine Barrens is filled with interesting evening sounds!

Camping is permitted in developed campgrounds with a permit at Atsion Family, Batona, Bodine Field, Buttonwood Hill, Godfreys Bridge, Goshen Pond, Hawkins Bridge, Lower Forge and Mullica River.

Atsion Cabins are open for the season. It’s now time to plan a trip and reserve your cabin! Availability is limited.

Make your camping or cabin reservations here.

 

About Wharton State Forest

Located in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, Wharton State Forest is New Jersey's largest state forest. It encompasses approximately 125,000 acres covering parts of Atlantic,

Burlington and Camden

counties providing a variety of recreational activities including hiking, biking, swimming and horseback riding. It is home to historic Batsto Village, Batsto and Atsion Mansions, and

the Atsion Recreation Area.

You can find more information about Wharton State Forest and other New Jersey state parks on our website at https://dep.nj.gov/wharton.

Wharton State Forest Office Locations

Atsion Office
744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088, (609) 268-0444

Batsto Office, Museum and Store
31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ  08037, (609) 561-0024