Great Egg Harbor River

The dominant safety concern at Great Egg Harbor River isn't a natural hazard — it's the surrounding area's crime environment. Atlantic County recorded a violent crime rate of 227.7 per 100,000 residents in 2023, which sits meaningfully above national averages and warrants attention when choosing where to park, launch, or overnight along this South Jersey waterway.

When camping or staging a paddling trip here, pick access points and campsites well within the river corridor rather than parking in isolated roadside lots after dark. Keep valuables — car keys, wallets, electronics — locked in your trunk or stored in a dry bag on the water with you rather than left in a visible bag at the put-in. The two recorded thunderstorm wind events are minor, but carry a weather radio or enable NWS alerts on your phone since afternoon storms develop quickly over flat South Jersey terrain.