It only takes a few bad apples to ruin the fun for everyone – and if I can read between the lines and emotionally heated chatter, that’s what it sounds like is happening up in New Jersey in the Wharton State Forest.
Some Background
Wharton State Forest is located in Central NJ, about 45 minutes southeast of Philadelphia, and about 3 hours Northeast of DC. There are over 115,000 acres to explore and at least 225 miles of primitive roads. It’s a really cool and really popular spot for 4×4 enthusiasts with mostly sandy soil and low-lying terrain that is often wet/flooded.
While I haven’t made it up to Wharton and the Pine Barrens area personally, I know that a lot of our readers, friends, and acquaintances in NJ, PA, and NY all have spent time exploring the sandy roads and unique landscape that the Pine Barrens provide.
What’s Happening at Wharton State Forest?
Unfortunately, it sounds like a familiar story at Wharton – with small enforcement budgets and limited oversight – the existing rules and legal roads in Wharton haven’t been strongly enforced and irresponsible wheelers have been taking advantage and leaving all kinds of evidence in the form of trash, deeply rutted tracks on both legal roads as well as illegal offshoots.
In terms of what action is being taken – the story is continuing to evolve. There are many more connected folks than us sharing what they know, and what they think. Instead of fabricating my own uninformed opinion, I’ll paraphrase and link out to a few:
First, a 4×4-biased access piece – the main rub here is the lack of input and transparency in the decisions to close roads:
Your Forest Under Attack: Road Closures in Wharton State Forest
Second, the perspective of the anti-4×4 crowd – interesting read and share-out of the opinion that 4WD operators are ruining the forest for everyone else:
At last, 2 articles that appear more fact-based about what the Park System is doing, and why:
Pinelands is Urging Responsible Off-roading
Wharton State Forest Officials Weigh Motor Access vs. Conservation
The common thread you see in all of the articles/opinions is that there is a pretty rampant 4×4-based abuse problem in Wharton and there has been for many years. It sounds like the Forest Service is taking not-unreasonable steps to stem abuse, more clearly mark on and off-limit areas, and most recently, solicit some broader feedback from the community.
I’m hopeful that the responsible 4x4ers that visit the forest can help foster a culture of self-policing and close relationship with the Forest Service, similar to the healthy model that seems to be working well at Uwharrie National Forest in North Carolina.
[…] Back in September we ran a story on trail closures in Wharton State Forest – it was a familiar story: irresponsible wheelers going off the trail, digging out big mud holes and ruts, leading to the Park Service closing trails in a poorly-communicated attempt to stem the damage (see our original story here). […]