Last updated/Reviewed on June 27, 2025
OVERVIEW
Following a multi-year public engagement process and thorough review, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection released an official map to clarify which roads within Wharton State Forest are legally open to vehicle use—an important step in protecting sensitive habitats from damage. While broadly supported by conservationists and responsible forest users, the map has faced opposition from a vocal minority, primarily off-road vehicle enthusiasts who wish to continue accessing wetlands and fragile areas without oversight. This group has launched a disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting the effort and has successfully influenced a handful of elected officials who have been attempting to undermine the Park Service’s recent progress in safeguarding Wharton’s ecological integrity.
CURRENT STATUS
The Visiting Vehicle Use Map is enforceable, as of November 25, 2024.
A vocal minority of opponents are urging legislators to backtrack on this progress.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Millions of people prize Wharton State Forest for its vast wilderness areas, protected rare species habitat, historic sites, and recreational opportunities, including paddling, hiking, and horseback riding across 125,000 acres. Wharton is the largest state park in New Jersey and the keystone of the Pinelands National Reserve.
Wharton State Forest has seen increasing rates of issues like illegal dumping, vehicle break-ins, illegal off-road vehicle use, and vandalism. The public has been pressing the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to find a solution for many years.
In 2022 the DEP announced a process to improve the visitor experience in Wharton State Forest that would also protect culturally and ecologically sensitive areas. They gathered public input through stakeholder meetings and conducted a web-based survey that leveraged mapping tools. Over 1,600 people submitted feedback through this process. Survey results were then compared to the known location of wetlands, threatened and endangered plant and animal species of conservation concern, historic/cultural resources, and other critical conservation information. All of these factors were considered to create a visitor use plan and map for Wharton that balances conservation needs while optimizing recreational opportunities.
In February 2023 the DEP shared survey results with the public and prepared a Wharton State Forest Visiting Vehicle Use Map. The map was released on January 24th and clearly delineated safe, legal routes through Wharton State Forest, on which a licensed driver can drive their street-legal, registered, and insured vehicle. Preexisting motor vehicle regulations will remain unchanged with ATVs, side-by-sides, non-street-legal enduros, and other illegal off-road vehicles restricted from all areas of the forest.
TIMELINE
- 1954–56: NJ acquires the Joseph Wharton estate (approx. 96,000 acres) and establishes Wharton State Forest to preserve the Pinelands after thwarting Wharton’s water export plans.
- 1966: The last official State Park visitor map is issued; it depicts historic routes for vehicles, but lacks legal enforceability.
- 1980s: Rise of ORV (off-road vehicle) activity prompts Pinelands Commission to regulate ORVs and highlight the outdated map’s limitations.
- 2017: Pinelands Commission authorizes the State Park Service to define and enforce vehicle-use regulations and update the map .
- 2022: NJDEP (Murphy Administration) begins a public input process—including stakeholder meetings and web-based GIS survey with over 1,600 respondents—to map safe vehicle routes.
- Feb 2023: NJDEP shares survey results and a draft Visiting Vehicle Use Map delineating legal, street-legal vehicle roads; ATVs and ORVs remain restricted .
- Jan 24, 2024: Draft map officially released, with an open-house event and media meeting; towns begin passing resolutions supporting or opposing the plan.
- Nov 25, 2024: Final updated Wharton State Forest “Visiting Vehicle Use Map” released—now enforceable—balancing legal vehicle access with conservation protection.
- Early 2025: NJDEP and stakeholders distribute and promote the map widely (online, park offices, variety of news & park outlets) .
learn more
There is a very complete FAQ section at the bottom of their webpage which we recommend you review.
Listen to The Pine Barrens Podcast
The January 9, 2024 episode is called Wharton State Forest – Navigating the New Visitor Use Map with Russell Juleg of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.
Read our blog post “Why do we want a Visitor Map for Wharton State Forest.“