Hopatcong State Park

Loved this place. It was a little complicated getting there because online there were different addresses. I was impressed when I first looked down and saw the playground so close to the beach section. The swimming section itself was a small area, but there was only one life guard. It was not crowded whatsoever. Upon entry and paying parking we received a bag for our trash, which was fair but there was nowhere to throw it out when we left. I thought there might be somewhere once we drove out of the parking lot, but we literally had to keep our trash with us until we got home. I wasn’t too happy with driving around with a huge bag of trash all the way to NYC. The lake water wasn’t bad, but I was snapped at on the leg by some underwater creature, I didn’t see it, but I got up quickly and never went back into the water. I had a mark on my leg and that was enough proof. Lol.
EDITED TO ADD: MY VISIT WAS ON A FRIDAY, WHEN I RETURNED EARLY ON SATURDAY THE PARK WAS FULL TO CAPACITY! IT WAS SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT AND A WASTE OF TIME, HOWEVER I DID FIND ANOTHER PARK 30 MINUTES AWAY WHICH WAS MUCH BIGGER AND NOT CROWDED FOR A SATURDAY !!

Love this place is not too crowded and you can grill as well. Very clean and fee is not to high

Great place if you can get there in the fall or spring, beautiful walks, cheap boat launch. But in the summer forget people get bussed in and line up starting at dawn by 9 am the park is full and no room for locals.

The grounds were clean. It seemed like everyone was having a great time. The rolling hills behind the lake seemed like a great picnic, lounging, and game area. However, for the amount of people there I wish the swim area was bigger. It seemed pretty crowded when you went in the water. I did not go to the bathroom there, so I do not know how the facilities look. On weekends, it’s $ 10 per car which I think is reasonable, especially for a family event!

Walking into the public bathroom in this place is like being dropped into a sewer. It is a pig stuy and smells like unwashed butt. The swimming beach lake is murky. I wouldn’t let dog in their let alone a human being.