NJDEP to close areas of five Wildlife Management Areas for public safety and resource protection
NEW JERSEY – In a move aimed at ensuring public safety and protecting natural resources, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Fish & Wildlife will once again close specific areas within five Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in New Jersey, effective May 22, 2025, through September 1, 2025.
These areas, which have attracted large crowds and unauthorized activities like swimming and off-road vehicle use, have created unsafe environments. Some areas previously seasonally closed will remain open this year with a zero-tolerance policy for illegal swimming, illegal parking, and other violations of WMA regulations.
Signs will be posted in closed areas, and NJDEP Conservation Police will be enforcing the closures. Affected areas include:
- Cedar Lake WMA – Sand Plant Area
- Greenwood Forest WMA – Parkers Pit Area and Clay Holes Area
- Menantico Ponds WMA – Areas 1, 2, and 3 (closure maps have changed from previous years)
- Wildcat Ridge WMA – “The Cliffs” in Splitrock Reservoir
- Winslow WMA – Winslow East (Hot Mix) Area
The closures will be enforced until September 1, 2025. These areas will reopen on September 2, 2025.
NJDEP Fish & Wildlife acknowledges the inconvenience caused to law-abiding users of the WMA system and has worked to address concerns, adapting this year’s seasonal closures accordingly. If illegal activities or unsafe conditions occur, NJDEP Fish & Wildlife Conservation Police reserve the right to close all or part of any WMA to ensure safety and resource protection.
Maps of the closure areas are available through the Wildlife Management Area Explorer App.
