Map: | USA New Jersey#USA |
Location: | Cape May County |
Area: | 21320acres |
Belleplain State Forest is a 21320acres New Jersey State Forest in northern Cape May County and eastern Cumberland County. It has many young pine, oak and Atlantic white cedar trees, having better soil than the northern Pine Barrens. It was established in 1928 and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) set up camps in 1933, and converted Meisle Cranberry Bog into Lake Nummy, and constructed the original forest headquarters, maintenance building, a road system, bridges, and dams.
The forest includes recreational facilities for picnicking, boating, camping, hunting and fishing, swimming, and over 40miles of walking trails. A fee is charged for camping and picnicking.
On June 7, 2002, the Green Acres Program added 230acres of privately owned land to Belleplain. Donated by the Brewer family, the property comprises approximately 200acres of woodlands - including Atlantic white cedar trees - surrounding 30acres Cedar Lake (also known as Hands Mill Pond) on West Creek in Maurice River Township, Cumberland County.
Former Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitarist Ed King resided on a Property within the Forest.