Very serene peaceful lake. Went with a camp and due to the high winds/current there was no swimming…read moreso we didn't stay the entire day as planned. Bring your own food, the snack stand could not accommodate 80 kids and the wait for fries and chicken tenders that didn't look cooked was very long.

Beautiful but Pricey for Outsiders. Nice clean and pleasant environment, but beware that admission…read moreis $15 per person over 13 years. Admission is over 50% for Oxford residents.

Beautiful paved trail with fishing area, paddleboating, and a nice picnic area. Also has a decent…read morebathroom so that's worth every Yelp star! Serene & open but very windy and cold this early Spring morning. I love it here.

Gorgeous views, clean restrooms, and so much space and fresh air. A stunning spot to throw a ball…read moreand read a book with a loved one. The lake is stocked with trout and you can go fishing and kayaking. We went on a Friday afternoon/evening in September and there were no crowds or garbage laying around. Amazing place to get a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Stay Strong, Love Y'all!

Beautiful Sunday afternoon at Swartswood State Park Plenty…read moreof different activities including a nice BBQ with some Friends of Bill. Very relaxing to sit at a picnic bench and just watch the fishermen and other boaters on the lake.

This state park holds a very special place in my heart, as most of my childhood summers were spent…read morehere. I still revisit it now, and it's like a beautiful time capsule for me. There are so many activities that you can do here: camping, fishing, ice fishing, picnicking, swimming, birding, boating, canoeing, biking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and my favorite, hiking. The four main trails are: Duck Pond Trail, Spring Lake Trail, Bear Claw Trail, and the Grist Mill Trail. Know Before You Go: There are entrance fees charged per vehicle.(Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day) Weekdays: $5.00 for NJ resident/ $10 (non-resident) Weekends: $10.00 for NJ resident/$20 (non-resident) There are plenty of secluded picnic tables and areas for grilling. And if you're like me and don't want to bother with grilling, food concessions are available during the summer months. Also, there are shower facilities by the main restrooms to rinse off after swimming in the lake. Go and enjoy this beautiful park that was New Jersey's first state park. I hope you love it as much as I do!

Crater Lake is a non-lifeguard private area that's tucked deep into the Delaware Water Gap…read moreRecreation Area. It's a two hour drive from Long Island and 3.5 hours when there's a fire that's closed down the Throgs Neck Bridge. But this lake, also near Blue Mountain Lake is amazing. A few years back you would have been hard pressed to find anyone else there but on a hot Saturday in summer, there were about 30 people and some families picnicing, lounging and boozing by the water. The water was warm and almost everyone was a local who had their own kayaks, rafts and floatation devices. We traded beers for rafts and sat in the middle of the lake for at least an hour. The park closes at 10pm but most people leave around sun down so if you bring music, BUG SPRAY, a lantern and flashlights, and the game Apples to Apples you can have yourself a private lake side party undisturbed from 8 - 10p. Downsides: It costs so much money to go over bridges now from NY to NJ make sure to borrow mom or dad's EZ Pass! DAMN! Again, bring bug spray. My legs are itchy, itchy, itchy now. WARNING: It is very easy to get lost coming to this lake. Your GPS may not know what you're talking about because it's hard to enter a town name for the location in Jersey. Here's how to get there (you can thank me later - just don't tell a lot of people) Take 80 to Exit 1 - the entrance of the delaware water gap rec. area. Ask for a map w/ the person at the visitor's entrance but basically you're looking for a general store that leads you down a windy road (past blue mountain lake) and veer left at the rocky path at the end of the road. There really aren't any signs so getting a map and coming in from Exit 1 is your best bet. ALSO BE CAREFUL if you get lost and someone points you to CRANDon lake. This is Crater Lake and that's what you're looking for. My friend got very lost because of his bad hearing.

This was my first time at Crater Lake. It was a Saturday at 1pm. It was part of a hike that passed…read moreBlue Mountain Lake and Hemlock Pond as well. Since this lake has a nearby parking lot, it was much more populated than the other two, although Hemlock Pond had a good share of visitors. There's a peaceful and back to nature type feel.

Came here for kayaking…read more They have a fairly large lake and the water was relatively calm when we visited, so it was a very peaceful relaxing session. Theres a fairly large parking lot right by the launching area. $10 entry per car on weekends/holidays, $5 on weekdays. Will definitely return.

Pretty nice and clean camp site! Views are great by the water and you'll see lots of fireflies at…read morenight! Book early for the lake side views, 6+ months in advance if you know you're going! Try to shower early since they run out of hot water at night if there's a lot of people camping. The water was cold by 10pm on Saturday night, could be gone earlier, my friends had hot water around 7-8pm, not sure when it runs out. I had hot water around the same time the day before when the camp site wasn't as crowded so test the water before you shower! Bathrooms are clean, the shower closer to the sink on the left side is better. You can rent kayaks there (single/double, or paddle board, pontoon and row boat were not available when I went). There's a beach/sand area nearby but water's blocked off since there's algae and not safe to swim. If you're looking for some activities to do, check out nearby farms for fruit picking during the right season (strawberry picking right now in June).

Beautiful spot! My husband and I stayed at the cabin for our anniversary and it was beautiful! We…read morewere greeted with rose petals leading up the stairs and heart shaped petals on the bed with a bottle of champagne, fruit and cheese. Very romantic. Also Loved the outdoor view- fire pit provided for nights. They also provided a link for activities and extras that you may want prior to your arrival! Very cute spot..... Can't wear your shoes inside We loved our weekend and will definitely return!- staff was great to work with and very responsive to all questions, needs and concerns.

Did you know that Lake Hopatcong is NJ's largest freshwater lake?…read more And did you also know that there's a great little place on the lake that lets you rent all sorts of strange inventions like a 'pedalboard' and a 'hydrobike' (along with the classics like kayaks and paddleboards) - so you can cruise along the lake, get a bit of exercise, fill those lungs with fresh air and more importantly... work up an appetite (so you can hit The Windlass right after)? I tell you it's true. All true. There were six of us (celebrating a birthday) - 5 on hydrobikes, 1 on a pedalboard. The lake is drop dead gorgeous and we went when it was still early and a bit overcast so it wasn't too crowded with boats and jet-skis and the like. (Waves/wakes from other boats can really dampen your own fun... so that stuff matters a bit.) But I gotta be honest: it was a lot of work. Unlike a kayak where you might get a nice 'bite' with your oar and can coast a bit... the bike is akin to being pneumatic (you stop pedaling and you almost immediately come to a halt as well). And those seats? They are not comfortable at all. Sore dupas all around (the following day as well, actually). But we all had a great time. The crew (Patty and Joe, I believe) were really cool, total professionals, and we always felt like we were safe as well having a great time exploring some of the lake and adjoining islands and whatnot. (We would definitely return in the future but would lean towards a kayak and not do the bikes again.) Wear sunblock, bring water, not sure if it was just me but my right foot was pretty soaked by the end whereas my left was dry (so you'd be better off wearing an old ratty pair of sneakers, regardless). Post-pedal was The Windlass (excellent) as well as some mini-golf (also excellent). Lots to do in this lovely part of Jersey. (But it'll cost ya!)

A cousin of mine tried the hydrobikes and lived it, so I thought I would give it a try. I asked a…read morefriend to come with me and he said it looked like a pain in the ass. I made a reservation online. Patty was so friendly and made it a great time! She let me use some sun block and fill up my reusable cup at their water fountain. She told me that I would probably like the standup paddle board better because it had better maneuverability. I took her advice. It was a lot of excise and fun as we rode around and she told me about the history and pointed out different areas around the lake. We even picked up some trash from inside the lake and it made me happy to know that there are good people out there who are also passionate about the environment. It was hot and I "accidentally" fell in and got to enjoy the water a little bit. Patty also gave me restaurant and hiking recommendations around the area and even took a picture of me. You may be able to call and make a same day appointment, but online will only allow the following day. I don't think it's with bringing or risking losing your camera or phone out on the lake, there isn't anything really photo worthy.

A nice experience in nature yet not being far from civilization. There's something for everyone in…read morethe family to do, fish, play tennis, be on the playground & they have a covered area

Stopped by for the first time today to take a walk around the lake and get a little exercise. They…read morehave parking lots located at both ends. They have a nice water fall at one end and at the other there is a playground and sports field. There are plenty of benches and gazebos if you want to take a break and take in the scenery. They also have three nice fountains in the center of the lake. Only problem I had was avoiding lots of goose droppings and a hissing goose that wasn't happy to see me...lol Other then that plenty of people walking and enjoying the nice sunny day. I definitely plan to add this to my list of places for a nice walk....

Sweet place to lay out and lots of opportunities to get on the water and explore the surrounding…read morelands. Very kid and family friendly.

Kendall and the other evening staff were fantastic during our moonlight kayak tour last night. The…read moreevent was well organized and we enjoyed following along. Kendall did a great job ensuring that all in our group had a wonderful time. I highly recommend.