I am assuming you want to go the legal route here.Back in the day i would canoe and throw up camp anywhere I chose as long as i was sequestered from prying eyes but but of course being much older and wiser now I would never do that
Anyway going the legal route you will have to canoe one of four rivers in Wharton State Forest.You can canoe the Mullica either from jackson road (little low for that now) or from 206 (more like it) and camp at Mullica river camp about half way between 206 and the pleasant mills take out at 542 or you could canoe all the way to the forks if you know where that is.You could also camp at Goshen pond which is north of 206 and above Atsion lake and start from there.There should be enough water from Goshen Pond down.
If you do the Batsto You can start either at Hampton furnace or slightly higher on either the skit or upper batsto.the upper batsto is young maple swamp in old bogs while the skit is cedar lined beaver ponds and the skit has been done from carranza road,I did it many moons ago but may be low going now.Your camp would be at Lower forge.outhouse but no water pump.I think Mullica camp and goshen pond do have water but not sure about that..If you do the Oswego You will have to camp at the end of your trip at Bodines field and if you do the wading you can either camp at hawkins or godfreys bridge campsited or at Bodines field.If you start at speedwell,Onc again a bit low for that now. then your half way point would be between godfreys and hawkins bridge if you were taking out at bodines fields or beaver branch.You are legally allowed to put in or take out at the campgrounds if you are camping at therm.beaver branch is a public access for everyone.You can canoe further down and take out at charcoal landing if you know where it's at.below that on the wading it is tidal and increasingly brackish.
Once again these are your only legal alternatives in south jersey for canoe camping that i am aware of.There are many clandestine opportunities on these streams and others but there are no amenities if you do this and you must go in stealth mode,on the other hand you will not be bothered by screaming children,loud radios or firecrackers or worse.If you need maps I'd be glad to post em for you.The Mullica has some awesome beaver ponds and nice cedar swamps and bogs along it.The batsto is more cedar and ledd banks though some nice ones.The mullica has many steep sandy banks.The Oswego is cedar all the way and a fast little stream when the water is up with gravel bars and a sandy bottom where it's deeper.Not a lot of banks but martha Pond and old ore pond is absolutely stunning.This is a short trip from oswego lake to harrisville pond or below and you can paddle up from oswego lake but have to return the way you came.The wading in my opinion is the most beautiful of all but it is also the most heavily travelled.Don't go here on a summer weekend,you'll regret it.This river has it all.Cedar,maple swamps,bogs,medders,banks and bayous.when the water is up you can do a tewlve hour trip from speedweel to tidewater but much shorter trips are available.
Robert Parnes "Canoeing the New Jersey Pine Barrens is and excellent resource and so is Gertler's "Garden state canoeing"
We have a few very knowledgable paddlers on here so I'm sure more help and info will be forthcoming.If you pick a stream let us know and we can give you the low down on it.Once again crik levels appear to be down right now.
Al
