Crater Lake is a non-lifeguard private area that’s tucked deep into the Delaware Water Gap Recreation 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, BUGSPRAY, 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. ALSOBECAREFUL 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.
