Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area
Directions
Take Exit 58 [Tuckerton/Warren Grove] of the Garden State Parkway and turn north onto County 539. Proceed 0.3 mile and turn right onto Forge Road [County 606]. The southernmost of the ponds is at 1.3 miles along the left side of Forge Road. Old Forge Rd., West Creek, NJ 08092 – GPS Coordinates: 39.667184, -74.319307
Park Overview
Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area is home to several former cranberry bogs -- where birds congregate and birders peer.
Trail Overview
Access is via sand roads, some of which go the length of the wildlife management area. Dense underbrush and pitch pines make bushwhacking through some of the terrain extremely difficult. Both bird and birders alike find the series of four ponds along dammed Westecunk Creek attractive. Sand roads go along both sides of the southernmost and largest pond. It is possible to cross the dikes between the ponds on foot. There are numerous sand roads leading away from the ponds.
Topographical maps can be found at: Table of Wildlife Management Areas. Hikers can also purchase the West Creek and Oswego Lake USGS topographic quadrangle maps; free scanned copies are available at the USGS web site.
Hunters frequent the area in the fall, so hikers should take precautions during that season or visit the area on Sundays, when hunting is prohibited.
Park Description
Easily reached via the Garden State Parkway, the Stafford Forge WMA is used by hikers, birders, hunters, and fishermen.