Yes, New Jersey Has Countryside: Mountains, Forests, Farms & Pine Barrens

Beyond the Turnpike: NJ's Rural Landscapes

1. Northwest: Skylands & Highlands

• Sussex County – Kittatinny Mountain, High Point (1,803 ft, state high), Delaware Water Gap NRA, Appalachian Trail.
• Warren County – Delaware River Valley, Jenny Jump State Forest, historic towns (Belvidere, Hackettstown).
• Highlands Region – 800,000 acres protected watershed; ridges, reservoirs, forests.

2. South: Pine Barrens (Pinelands)

• 1.1M acres (22% of NJ) — largest open space on Mid-Atlantic seaboard.
• Unique ecology: Pitch pine, oak, cedar swamps, rare plants (orchids), Pine Barrens treefrog.
• Wharton State Forest, Batsto Village (historic iron town), canoeing (Mullica, Batsto Rivers).

3. West: Delaware River Corridor

• Scenic farms, cliffs, islands (Bull's Island), bald eagles.

4. Preserved Land

• 38 state parks, 11 state forests, 120+ WMAs.
• Farmland Preservation Program: 240,000+ acres saved.

New Jersey = most densely populated state and surprisingly wild. "Garden State" is literal.