I never knew this place even existed until my coworker invited me to go fishing with him on his…read moreboat. This "pond" is actually a huge beautiful lake surrounded by some beach, some wooden docks with boats, rocky cliffs, trees, a yacht club and million dollar mansions. The Green Pond is also the name of the surrounding private residential lakeside community. You need a badge, sort of like a beach badge to officially be allowed onto the beach and lake. My coworker had one for me since his parents have a house in the community surrounding the lake. The pond itself is beautiful and goes down about 8-12 feet in depth in most areas of the lake. We went out around 6:30 pm and caught 4 decent sized fish before sundown. We threw them back as it was more about the sport. It was a gorgeous evening with the skies blue. We cracked some beers and had some subs. It was super peaceful and so relaxing. The lake was simply fantastic. I guess you kind of need to know someone or actually live in this community to access the lake, so if you ever get the opportunity, definitely check this place out.

***3 1/2 stars*** I…read morewas a little surprised when I saw how low the average rating was for this place; typically parks and hiking trails tend to have inflated/positive reviews, mostly because the only people willing to write them love being outdoors. However, it's really hard to argue. This was probably by fifth time here yesterday, and I'm never blown away by the experience. The hike I do here is featured in njhiking.com (which is a massively strong recommend - great, detailed and varied hikes featured all over the site) as one of the most challenging hikes in the state. It's an 11.1-miler that starts out at the boat launch parking lot on Splitrock Road (and there is ALWAYS a port-a-potty there - strong selling point; very clean this time too), goes east for about half a mile to the white trail, cuts south mostly through the woods and occasionally alongside the reservoir, switches to the blue trail by the southern end, goes up Buck Mountain and then continues mostly north back up to the road and the boat launch. It's a nasty hike (rugged with constant up and down), but it's one I like to do as training prep when I'm about to do a crazy adventure somewhere in the country - if you can do this one pretty easily, you can literally do almost any hike that doesn't involve massive rock climbing or something. In my opinion at least (and I AM in excellent hiking shape right now, full disclosure) the most difficult or challenging part of this is just the mileage. The up and down isn't as extreme as, say, a hike up in Norvin Green where you're literally going up an incline for a solid 15 or 20 minutes multiple times. There's one quick scramble up the mountain that took less than five minutes, and maybe one or two other sharper inclines that were shorter in length than that. But cumulatively, you're going to feel it toward the end of the hike, even though that part is largely on a woods road. I tend to meander and not bulldoze ahead (journey not the destination), so this whole hike took me six hours and 38 minutes. Start early. The primary reason I'm always tepid about this one is that SO much of it is just in the woods with no viewpoints. I'm of the opinion that if you have sweat pouring off of you and sore hindpaws, you'd better have a few majestic vistas or something for the payoff. Aside from the obvious reservoir optics from time to time, there also aren't a lot of exciting natural features to get hot and bothered about. You really just have one view up on Buck Mountain, and for whatever reason, I always seem to be over here on a meh, mostly overcast day. And this is sort of a pro and a con, but this is not a popular hike. Yes, you're not contending with hoards of people and the ones you do are CLEARLY legit hikers - there's no one wearing Uggs asking if you have extra water - but it means the canine situation is pretty barebones. Obviously a personal issue that may not apply to other prospective adventurers. That said, the wildlife game is always pretty abundant and yesterday was no exception. There were tons of frogs/toads, and I saw at least two skinks yesterday (the corgis of reptiles). There were also quite a few representatives of the waterfowl family hanging out on the edges of the reservoir, including one or two swans. The snake game was nuts, and both took place toward the end on the blue trail with maybe a mile or two to go. First I encountered a garter snake who was very on edge and tried to lunge at me (which I just rolled my eyes at), but then a few minutes later I came within a foot of a long black racer snake that mimicked a rattlesnake with the intentional rattling of its tail, which I've NEVER seen before, and that was a bit jarring. But I continued on, no worse for wear. I always enjoy being able to eat an entire pizza guilt-free and chuckling at the temporary loss of water weight from this hike, but this isn't one that I enjoy all that much. It gets you in shape and doesn't have much in the way of other selling points unless you're really into snakes with low self-esteem.

Farney State Park is a 589 acre mature mixed hardwood forest in Northern New Jersey. Tall red,…read morewhite and black oak trees dominate the canopy, The park is a habitat for the red-shouldered hawk and barred owl both of which are endangered. Be aware that there are ticks, bears and copperhead and eastern rattle snakes in the area. The terrain is rocky and features streams, stone walls, dams, a bridge and Split Rock Reservoir. The reservoir is part of the Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area. The reservoir is open to kayaking which I do a great deal of since it is so close to where I live. You can also canoe or bring your boat, only electric motors though. There are two car=top launches on the the reservoir. No swimming is allowed and if a ranger sees your feet in the water, you will be reprimanded. Both use of alcohol, smoking or vaping is not permitted. There is a 13 mile loop around the reservoir with other shorter trails of varying difficulty. People come to Farney State to bird watch, fish (16+ need NJ license ), hunt in selected areas, ice fish, and hike. The Split Rock site was used as a production area during the Revolutionary War for producing iron. A furnace can still be seen if you take the trail down the road toward the bridge. It is down the slope by the overflow of the reservoir. There are trail maps on-line. Your phone GPS will work in this area as well. Signage is mixed in this State Park. The bridge crossing on the reservoir dam is one way but there is a red/green light system. ADMISSION IS FREE. Ten minutes from my home, it is my go to kayaking spot.

I think other reviews said it but I'll include my thoughts too -- the noise curfew is non-existent…read more We are night owls so we didn't mind. Let's dive in ... Campsite (3/5): These are a bit stacked on top of each other but our group had two next to each other so it didn't impact us too much. Ambiance (4/5): These campsites are right on the water which is absolutely stunning! You really feel like you're in nature, but there is a major road near the top campsites and even by the water you can hear road noise. There was a huge group at the top which partied into the night though we're up late anyhow and it was no issue for us. Consider earplugs if you're not like us. Bathrooms (4/5): These were relatively clean for a campground bathroom. Minus a star here because on the last day the women's room was out of order -- but I believe it was due to another guest, as a member of our party heard someone say "oh no it's not flushing!" TL;DR: Great for those late-into-the-night campers. If you stay here make sure you get a waterfront spot.

These guys are great! we just held an event for 80+ river rafters last weekend June 28th 2025 and…read moreeverything went off like clockwork! the staff was so friendly and effieicient (special shout out to Kayla!) for making the day so incredibly special and we'll look forward to doing our 3rd Annual Paddle 4Pride Event with you next year! thank you again for helping us to make some beautiful memories!

Highly Recommend My…read morewife got me a lesson and some time on the water as a gift I did not know what I was in for but it far exceeded my expectations Chris is passionate about fly fishing and it comes across in how he teaches it. If you have any interest at all in Fly Fishing don't hesitate, get in touch with Chris to get you on the right path. He is also very knowledgeable of NJ Waters. New or not spending time on the water with Chris is highly recommended.

From the owner: We are a Fly Fishing Guide Service specializing in providing unique outdoor adventure…read more We serve all skill levels! Don't know how to Fly Fish and want to learn? We can teach you to Fly Fish with our private Fly Fishing 101 course. Are the lakes frozen? Join us on an ice fishing adventure during the winter months! We have a private stocked pond that is great for children. Our service has access to a private facility at the Lazy "K" Ranch in Frelinghuysen, New Jersey and we access various other private and public water. We are a "western style" Fly Fishing guide service and provider of outdoor adventure. We specialize in Trout and Smallmouth Bass Fly Fishing in Sussex and Warren county New Jersey. Our services include guided walking/wading trips on the Flatbrook, Paulinskill and Pequest rivers. Additionally, we offer float trips on the Delaware River and lake trips on Swartswood Lake, White Lake and Mountain Lake.

I went on one of Steve Brill's foraging tours as part of a company outing and can't stop telling…read moreeveryone I know they need to go on one too! He really involved and engaged our large group. His jokes, drawings, and knowledge really made the tour entertaining, informative, and memorable! Not only did he share which plants were edible but different ways you could cook with them when you brought them home. I'm already looking to book another tour so I can bring my family!

I booked a tour on a whim, my husband and I had such a great time exploring sunken meadow with…read moreSteve, that we booked another tour for the next weekend. Steve is so funny, and also incredibly knowledgeable. We learned so much about a variety of different locally growing plants and edible vegetables. We were lucky to find a small bunch of wood ear mushrooms after the rain. I will definitely be foraging with Steve again in the near future.

I've never met a friendlier, kinder group. People of all ages. They share rides, gear, and mad…read moreskills. They knew so much about the Adirondacks and local rivers, but even more, they also travel to Southern rivers. It's great to see a group that really bonds with each other. I was tired of groups where people just wanted to paddle and go home. Here, day trips always have a Happy Hour tailgate party where folks share snacks and stories. I've heard the camping trips are fantastic. I was afraid to sign up when my skills were new, but the instructional weekend keeps giving...people keep coaching and helping. Or, you can also be in a tandem canoe with an expert. That's how I broke into moving and whitewater adventures. Best sport I ever did...and I"ve done a lot...because this group is so professional and warm.

AMC is great! I've been a member for about 8 years now and have been a student, taught students and…read morelead lots of paddling trips around the northeast region. I thought I went to learn to kayak, but I came out with so much more... Friends, community, and hundreds of memories and amazing experiences on and off the water. Trips are lead by volunteers so if it's not free, it's really inexpensive for you get involved.

This was one of the best kayak experiences I had. From the initial moment we pulled up in the…read moreparking lot the staff was great. We were directed to a parking spot. Which was great because the lot was very full. There are two walk up windows to check in. I walked up to the window and had to wait literally 1 min; the line was short and quick. The girl found my reservation went over paper work that needed to be filled out, was very friendly and helpful. I will say the other girl was not particularly friendly. They're talking to you threw a window and I am partially deaf, when I asked the girl to repeat the last thing she said she was so annoyed she spoke in short sentence like I was dumb. And just before she helped me there was another group of girls that seemed to be very annoyed with her because she refused to help them. Like I said there were two lines and they were in her line but she wanted to help the gentlemen infront of me in the other line. Idk why, he wasn't even paying attention and only needed to drop his car keys off. Whatever. We grabbed our life vests, got our overview of the river and quickly hopped on a very nice, 12 pax van. It was about a 10 min ride to the drop off area which wasn't bad. I really liked that the staff grabs your kayak and paddle and brings it to the water. All you have to do is sit down and paddle away. There is another company that shared the drop off area so just be aware that you don't get the wrong kayak lol The DR is beautiful. The water is so nice and clean. There are lots of places to stop off at to eat lunch or take a swim. There were a lot of people camping along the banks. So be mindful of that when pulling off to a beach. When we go to our pick up location it was just as smooth as our drop off spot. You just paddle to the beach and a staff grabs your kayak and pulls you in. You take your things and they take the kayak and paddle. At the top of the stairs you just walk to the right and the van is waiting to take you back. Overall, wonderful company to book a kayak or raft from to enjoy the beautiful river. In highly recommend and will rebook with them. I recommend wearing a hat and water shoes and bringing a cooler for drinks and snacks.

(This was a few months ago so the details could be a bit iffy.)…read more This was a very impromptu trip and everything at Edge of the Woods makes doing that easy. Head to the website, book the date & time you want and you're done. www.watergapadventure.com/river-trips A few things worth noting: They offer multiple trip lengths. The standard 4-, 6- and 10-mile trip (Smithfield to Portland) are all booked generically and then when you get there you tell them what you want to do. All pricing is the same which believe me compared to others companies, that's very different - in a good way. They do offer two other longer trips but those require calls to the main office I assume to assess river conditions; your own competency and shuttle availability. The main office in Delaware Water Gap is very easy to find and there was plenty of parking on a quiet post-Labor Day Monday. You check in, you're handed a laminated map, life jacket and given a brief route explanation and then you're off in the van. One problem arose and it was kind of a PIA but it was worked around. Most companies have different types/sizes/models of kayaks and quite often, will ask you what you prefer. Not here. When we left the office, the guy driving didn't say a word to me until we get to Smithfield Beach to unload. He had a few kayaks pre-loaded in the carrier but definitely did not look at them before we left. One of them had a broken foot pedal that he said couldn't be used, another was very much designed for a smaller individual (i.e. if you're taller and/or taller & larger it ain't happening safely) which only left two tandem models. Using a tandem as a single individual is not the end of the world but especially when the seats are still left in the two person configuration (i.e. one front and one back versus the rear one being placed more towards the middle), it's a PIA to maneuver the craft and you are paddling harder to get the job done compared to a single. The scenery along the route was decent. You could see a bit of the Shawnee Resort and Golf Course, an old stone bridge abutment in the middle of the river, under and along 80 and then when you get into the Water Gap itself with the high cliff sides. Very picturesque. Once you go under the old train viaduct in Portland, you give the office a call for the shuttle to meet you at the out point which is at the Portland Pedestrian Bridge. The whole experience was about four hours door to door to cover the ten miles on the water plus the shuttle to & from the pick up and drop off points. Lots of nice scenery, due to the low water level there wasn't much in the way of current except for the area around viaduqt in Portland and even that wasn't bad. I'm not a big fan of the equipment here but I wouldn't let that deter me from coming back in the future for one of their northern longer trips.

After looking around for a reasonable kayak store with variety of equipment, i came across…read morePaddlerscove which has it all. When other stores did not have the items i need, Paddlerscove had it in stock. John was very helpful in finding the right item i needed for my kayak.

I have been recommending Paddlers Cove to anyone looking for a knowledgeable staff member to assist…read morethem when looking to purchase a kayak and kayaking accessories. I have been purchasing products from them for a few years now and have been extremely satisfied.

I found this place after 2 bad experiences at other bow shops. The staff is very friendly and…read morehelpful they have a great selection. The bow techs are great. Will definitely come back for all my hunting and fishing needs. Thank you for the help

Mahlon Dickerson Reservation was named for Mahlon Dickerson ((1770-!853),a former New Jersey…read moreGovernor and supreme court Justice, It was designated a reservation in 1960. At 3,494 acres it is the largest park in the Morris county Park System. The park has 24.5 miles of multi-use trails including a blazed bike trail. Horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fishing, bow hunting, tent and RV camping are available. There are hiking trails for all levels. Headley Overlook at 1,280 feet provides a view of Lake Hopatcong. Saffin Pond provides fishing opportunities although no swimming or boating is allowed. Bird watchers often come to observe migratory birds. Beaver inhabit this pond and can often be seen. The park is free with the exception of RV and tent camping which require a permit. For $20 you will get water and electricity (30-50 amp) hookup for your RV. Spots are wide and well separated. The park has clean restrooms and a bear proof garbage system.

I camped in a lean-to at this reservation overnight before the water was turned on for the season…read more The reservation is clean and quiet, just a 45 minute drive from NYC without traffic, and great for beginner hikers. The campgrounds have 4 lean-to's, each with a picnic table and fire ring. Wood is for sale, on the honor system, you drop off your cash in an envelope by where the RV's are (wish they had a box closer!). There is a water source right in this area, and two porta johns. They also have numerous tent platforms, it's an easy straightforward spot. It's almost right next to Weldon Road which runs through the reservation, so you do hear some cars. On the plus side this means you don't have to lug your gear far. I stuck to the Yellow, Blue, and Teal Highland trails. There are some nice overlooks, Headley overlook is perfect for a night hike since it's right by the camp site. I saw some fishers at Saffin Pond. Black bears are all over the Jersey wilderness and they have brochures available right next to the trail map pamphlets explaining how to keep your camp site safe from them, also what to do if you run into one. I didn't see any during my visit but I did see a deer, a beaver dam, a garter snake, a bat that wanted to chill in my lean-to overnight, and a bunch of cute orange newts. Fiddleheads, skunk cabbage, and spring onions were some of the common plant life. Early in the season, over the course of a weekend, I saw maybe five other people- two mountain bikers, two fishermen, and a guy with his dogs on the trail. I had a great time, and if you're new to camping or hiking, or easing yourself back into either having taking a break, this is a great, quiet place to visit. I wouldn't say it's something to come out of your way for.