How a cranberry bog became Lake Nummy

Three camps, one transformed bog

New Jersey established Belleplain State Forest in 1928 for recreation, wildlife management, timber production and water conservation. The Civilian Conservation Corps began work nearby in 1933. NJDEP identifies three separate camps: S-53, housed in Woodbine until 1936; S-63, housed inside the forest; and S-80, the last camp, which closed before the CCC ended in 1942. The camp workers converted Meisle Cranberry Bog into Lake Nummy. They also made the original headquarters, maintenance building, roads, bridges and dams. The state identifies the former headquarters as today's interpretive center in its area guide.

Calling the lake a natural Pine Barrens pond misses that labor and the cranberry landscape that preceded it. The orange Meisle Trail preserves the bog's name, while the recreation area shows what the crews built for later visitors.

A short route that explains the place

Start at the Lake Nummy Day Use Area, shown on the state trail guide and map. The white-blazed Nature Trail 1 is a 0.7-mile self-guided loop along the north shore with natural-history stations. A footbridge links it to yellow-blazed Nature Trail 2, a 0.5-mile loop on the northeastern shore. On the opposite side of the lake, the easy orange Meisle Trail runs 0.62 mile from across the nature center along the south shore. Its name recalls the former bog. These are distinct trails, so check the map before joining them into an outing.

For a longer hike, the white East Creek Trail begins at the same day-use area and makes a moderate seven-mile loop toward East Creek Pond, circling the Savages Run drainage. Belleplain's cedar swamp, upland pine and oak woods, and wetland edges give the short and long walks different views of the forest's range of habitats. The trail guide states that trail use is from sunrise to sunset, with sections of the forest open to hunting in season.

Using the public entrance

NJDEP gives the forest office address as 1 Henkin-Sifkin Road, Woodbine, NJ 08270; the Lake Nummy Day Use Area is a separate destination shown on the official area map. Park at the designated day-use lot for the lake trails. The park lists seasonal entrance fees and only permits swimming in designated areas when lifeguards are on duty. Check the current park page for fees and alerts before traveling. A map pin for this outing should point to the public day-use arrival, rather than an assumed location of one of the former CCC camp buildings.