Summer is an amazing time to explore the great outdoors, and its in ample supply in New Jersey's state parks - as are lots of tourists! During the summer, it often feels like state parks are a little more like theme parks. That can be a lot of fun, but when I need to beat the heat and the crowds, I find it's the perfect time to visit one of New Jersey's state forests. These are often bigger and more rural than the state parks, with lots of opportunities for outdoor recreation far away from the crowds. The best state forest in New Jersey, as well as the oldest and the third-largest, is Bass River State Forest near Tuckerton not too far from some popular beach towns. Spanning over 29,000 acres, this place is a natural paradise where it's possible to spend days just fishing, hiking, sunbathing, camping, and loving every minute of it.

Bass River State Forest is a massive recreation destination, with one of the highlights being the massive Lake Absegami, which features a charming sandy beach.

While the forest is rarely too crowded, most of the groups will be here - enjoying the opportunities for swimming and boating far away from the shore.

This is a modern park with facilities for events and picnics, even though it's a little more out of the way than most.

This is one of the best spots for hiking in the state, with fifteen trails to explore. The most famous are the Orange CCC Loop and the Yellow "Poppy Allen" Trail, which are both easy and come in at 4.6 and 3.3 miles respectively.

The trail system here is well-maintained, and dogs are welcome as long as they're on a leash.

Nature lovers will be in heaven - this is a perfect place to see flora and fauna in a natural habitat.

This is also an amazing spot for camping - there are 176 tent and trailer sites, each with a fire ring and picnic table. Six group campsites are also available.

There's so much to do here that you'll easily spend the full day - which means you'll get to see an amazing sunset!

Have you visited Bass River State Forest near Tuckerton? Do you think it's the best state forest in New Jersey? Let us know in the comments section, and make sure to visit the New Jersey Parks website for information about the many offerings and amenities at Bass River State Forest. You can also take a day trip to nearby Tuckerton, which is an amazing small town filled with sights and history to explore. If you're planning to do a lot of hiking at Bass River State Forest, consider subscribing to AllTrails + - this mobile app makes it easy to stay connected in even remote areas, with the app making sure you'll never go off course.