Hopatcong State Park

About Hopatcong State Park

Lake Hopatcong is nine miles long and covers 2,500 acres of fresh water, and it is covered with over two million gallons of water per day, or about 1,000 gallons per second. Hop Atcong State Park is located at the southwestern end of the lake and is a popular spot for fishing, boating and swimming, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Lake Hopatcong was originally created as part of the Delaware River Canal, a 90-mile waterway that ran from Phillipsburg to Newark. The lake was the main source of water for the canal and in the 1860s an important means of transport for coal, iron and zinc to and from New Jersey.

By 1866 880,000 tonnes of freight had been transported through the canal, but when the more powerful Morris and Essex Railroad was founded, the canal was abandoned. The Museum of History is housed in an old safe deposit box on the Morris Canal and displays artifacts from the early days of the Morris & Essex Railway and the Delaware River Canal, as well as other artifacts.

Barbecuing is limited to the picnic area, barbecuing on the lawn is not allowed, and there are no discounts where you can buy groceries or beach supplies. Swimming in the water is allowed, lifeguards are in use, but no swimming pools, changing rooms or showers.

For safety reasons, no hoses, rafts or other floating equipment are allowed in the bathing area. On the beach there are two sand volleyball courts and a playground, and boats can be rented at many private marinas along the lake. Lake Hopatcong offers a variety of recreational activities including fishing, boating, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, swimming and fishing.

Boating is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (NJDNR). Boat ramps are available in Hopatcong State Park, as well as a number of private marinas along the lake and on the beach.

Boat ramps and parking at Lake Musconetcong are located in the parking lot of Hopatcong State Park on the north side of the lake. This location is open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset and can be open daily from 12 noon to 5 pm depending on parking space availability.

Both Lake Hopatcong and Lake Musconetcong offer excellent year-round fishing in the summer months, where trout, perch and other small fish are abundant.

In the winter months, both lakes offer excellent fishing opportunities for perch and pickerles. Warm - Water fish are often perches, sunfish, catfish and perches and / or by food. Fisheries are regulated by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife under the direction of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DNR).

The park has several picnic areas on a hill overlooking the parking lot, and a small picnic area and playground on the hill. At each picnic area, visitors will find barbecue tables, picnic benches, picnic tables and picnic chairs.

The Morris Canal was completed in 1837 and is a technical landmark built as a sloping airplane to lift and transport canal boats from Phillipsburg to the Delaware River. The boats were transported by train, canals, boats, barges, trolleys, steamboats and other means of transport.

In the mid-19th century, Lake Musconetcong was created by the Morris Canal Banking Company as an additional source of water for the Morris Canal. This lake, which is located four miles west of Lake Hopatcong, was transferred to the State of New Jersey and part of the canal is managed by Hopatcong State Park. Today, boating, fishing and ice fishing are popular recreational activities on the lake.

Take Exit 28 (Route 80) and follow Route 183 to Netcong and exit at the entrance of Hopatcong State Park to Musconetcong Lake.