Spruce Run, Voorhees & Hacklebarney State Parks

09/07/2026

09/02/2026

🌧️ Not every day at Voorhees State Park comes with sunshine, but every day has its own kind of beauty.

Today, the skies are gray, the air is heavy with humidity, and the rain leaves everything damp and quiet. Yet somehow, the deep greens, misty woods, and a little mushroom popping up among the leaves make it all feel pretty special. Even on the gloomy days, there's something beautiful to notice. 🍄

08/30/2026

🎣 A big thank you for a great day of fishing!

A huge thank you to Andrew Laffey for helping us make our second Fishing Clinic at Spruce Run Recreation Area such a success! It was wonderful to see so many children and families come out to learn, explore, and enjoy a beautiful day on the water.

This educational workshop gave children the chance to learn the basics of fishing from experienced anglers from casting techniques and baiting a hook to identifying local fish species and everything in between. Most importantly, they got to experience the joy of being outdoors and learning a new skill.

🎣 Special shout-out to Jim Heebner from The Owl’s Nest in Phillipsburg for generously donating the nightcrawlers that helped make the day possible!

We love seeing people share their knowledge and skills with the next generation, while families get outside, enjoy nature together, and make memories along the way. Thank you to everyone who came out and helped make this another great Spruce Run event!

08/27/2026

🎣♻️ Give your fishing line a second life!

If you fish at Spruce Run Recreation Area, you may have noticed our monofilament fishing line recycling containers near the water.

So, what are they for?

When you’re finished with old or damaged monofilament or fluorocarbon fishing line, simply remove any hooks, lures, weights or other tackle, cut off any debris, and place the clean line into the recycling container.

Why does it matter?

Fishing line doesn’t biodegrade and can remain in the environment for hundreds of years. Discarded line can become a hazard when it entangles wildlife or gets caught around boats, motors and other equipment. Recycling it keeps that line out of our waterways and gives it another purpose.

And it doesn’t just go in the trash!

The line collected at our recycling containers is gathered, cleaned and sent to Berkley/Pure Fishing, where it is processed into plastic pellets that can be used to make new products, including items such as tackle boxes, spools, fish habitats and other plastic products.

So the next time you’re changing your fishing line at Spruce Run, look for the white recycling container. A few seconds of effort can help protect the wildlife and waters we all enjoy. 🎣♻️

08/23/2026

A huge THANK YOU to the amazing folks from the New Jersey Astronomical Association for joining us at Spruce Run Recreation Area and sharing their knowledge with our visitors!

✨It was a fantastic, well-attended evening with about 200 visitors coming out to look up and learn about the night sky.

🔭 12 observation stations gave visitors the chance to explore the stars and planets up close. Visitors could also take a walk through a 120-foot scale model of our solar system, showing both the relative sizes of the planets and the incredible distances between them. And one of the biggest highlights was a piece of the moon that visitors could see and touch!

Thank you to everyone who came out, asked questions, looked through a telescope, took a stroll through the solar system, and shared in the wonder of the night sky. And most of all, thank you to the NJAA for bringing the universe a little closer to home! ⭐️

08/19/2026

Get ready to explore, learn and make memories together at Spruce Run Recreation Area! As part of the Girl Scouts in NJ State Parks experience, we’re inviting Scouts and their supportive adults to join us for a special Mother–Daughter Hike. Spend the morning outdoors while building confidence, hiking skills, and a deeper connection to the natural world all while enjoying some quality time together. And there’s a special keepsake for the adventure! Each participant can earn the Mother–Daughter Hike Patch to remember the day.

📅 Saturday, September 19th
⏰ 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
🥾 1-mile hike
📍 Spruce Run Recreation Area

The event will be held rain or shine and is limited to 20 Scouts. Please call or email the Spruce Run office to sign up ([email protected] / 908-638-8572).

08/09/2026

Smokey knows how to celebrate a birthday!

At 82, Smokey Bear is proving you’re never too old to have a little fun! He recently stopped by the playground at Voorhees State Park to enjoy a ride on the swings!

After 82 years, Smokey still has the same message: Protect the forest, respect the land, and leave no trace of fire behind.

Happy Birthday, Smokey!

Stay wild, stay safe, and always remember…
🔥 Only YOU can prevent wildfires! 🔥

08/02/2026

🎣 Meet Pat, one of Spruce Run’s familiar faces!

Some places become part of your story, and for Pat, that place is Spruce Run Recreation Area.

Pat first visited Spruce Run on a high school field trip when he was just 15 years old, traveling from Metuchen. It was here that he learned to fish, and decades later, those memories have come full circle. Now living just 10 minutes away, he tries to make it to the park almost every day to fish from shore.

Spruce Run has challenged Pat to become an incredible angler as he works toward catching every species the reservoir has to offer. He’s almost there, with only a hybrid striped bass and a northern pike remaining on his list!

We’re grateful to have visitors like Pat who remind us that the memories made in our parks can last a lifetime. If you see him on the shoreline, be sure to say hello and maybe wish him a little luck on landing those last two fish! 🐟