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While the Jersey Shore gets all the love, New Jersey also offers some incredible natural swimming holes and quiet lakes tucked into state parks, forests, and lesser-known areas.
Here’s a roundup of some of the best swimming holes and swimming areas across the state.
The first set of swimming areas are official spots that will typically have lifeguards, amenities and are generally safer! Further down you will find additional places locals have mentioned – but they are not technically “legal” to swim in.
Before heading out to any location always verify current conditions, water quality, parking, and rules! Dogs and flotation devices are not allowed in most of these places. You can view current conditions and details here for the state parks.
Official Swimming Holes & Lakes
These are official, permitted swimming areas with lifeguards or where swimming is marked as allowed. They’re the best choices for families and safer swimming experiences. get there early, because they do have filled to capacity closings.
Atsion Lake
📍 715 US-206, Shamong (Wharton State Forest)
💲 Standard state park entrance fees apply
🌐 nj.gov Wharton
Classic Pine Barrens swimming with a sandy beach and tea-colored cedar water surrounded by pitch pines. Open Wed-Sun from 10am-5:30pm.
Bass River State Park
📍 762 Stage Road, Bass River Twsp.
💲 $5 per car on weekdays, $10 on weekends for NJ residents
🌐 nj.gov Bass River State Park
A 67-acre lake with swimming area, concessions, showers and first aid station. Open Wed-Sun from 10am-5:30pm.
Belleplain State Forest
📍 1 Henkinsifkin Road, Woodbine
💲 $5 per car on weekdays, $10 on weekends for NJ residents
🌐 nj.gov Belleplain
Swimming area, playground, restrooms and first aid station. Open Wed-Sun from 10am-5:30pm.
Cheesequake State Park
📍 300 Gordon Road, Matawan
💲 $5 per car on weekdays, $10 on weekends for NJ residents
🌐 nj.gov Cheesequake
Swimming area, concessions, and first aid station. Open Wed-Sun from 10am-5:30pm.
Darlington Lake
📍 600 Darlington Ave, Mahwah
💲 Fees range from $3-$15 for Bergen residents, $5-$25 for out of county
🌐 Bergen County Parks
Family-friendly lake with sandy beaches and amenities in a large county park. Splash zone activity area also available. Swim hours are 10am-7pm.
Highlands Natural Pool
📍 180 Snake Den Rd, Ringwood
💲 $20 weekdays / $25 weekends for adults, $10 ages 5-17, under 4 free
🌐 highlandsnaturalpool.org
This unique spring-fed, plant-filtered Olympic-sized pool feels like swimming in nature. It’s surrounded by greenery with hiking nearby and welcomes day visitors for a fee.
Hopatcong State Park
📍 260 Lakeside Boulevard, Landing
💲 Standard park entry fee
🌐 nj.gov Hopatcong State Park
Large public beach area with concession, first-aid room, bathhouse and beach supplies for sale. Open Wed-Sun 10am-5:30pm.
Lake Marcia (swimming closed)
📍 1480 NJ-23, Wantage (High Point State Park)
💲 Standard state park entrance fees apply
🌐 nj.gov High Point
Unfortunately, this spot is currently closed due to lack of lifeguards. High-elevation spring-fed lake with a beach area and some of the best views in New Jersey. Cool water and excellent for combining with hiking.
Oxford Furnace Lake
📍 12 Jonestown Road, Oxford
💲 Daily passes $3-$7 for Oxford residents, $5-$15 for non-residents
🌐 Oxford Township
Swimming, concessions stand, changing rooms, showers, with a beach and lake swimming. Aquapark is also available for $12, ages 10 and up only. Park is open 11am-6pm.
Quarry Swim Hole
📍 180 Crusher Rd, Hopewell
💲 Day passes or membership required
🌐 quarryswimclub.com
Deep spring-fed former quarry with cliffs, diving boards, and floats. A hidden gem since 1928.
Round Valley Reservoir
📍 1220 Lebanon-Stanton Rd, Lebanon
💲 Standard state park entrance fees apply
🌐 nj.gov Round Valley
One of the best big-water swimming experiences in the state. Clear turquoise reservoir water, sandy beach, and scenic mountain-like surroundings.
Sunrise Lake Beach Club
📍 270 Mendham Road, Morris Township
💲 $10-$12 weekday, $14-$16 weekend, under 4 free, Norris county residents $2 off
🌐 Morris Parks
One of Morristown’s hidden gems is open to the public! Complete with a beach, lake, inflatable water attractions, paddle boats, and more. Open Wed–Fri from 12:30–6pm and Sat–Sun from 10:30am–6pm through August 28.
Swartswood State Park
📍 1091 County Road 619, Newton
💲 Standard state park entrance fees apply
🌐 nj.gov Swartswood
Beautiful 520 acre glacier lake sitting at the center of the park allows swimming in certain areas where lifeguards are present. . First aid station, changing areas and restrooms are available. Open Wed-Sun from 10am-5:30pm.
Turtle Beach
📍 Old Mine Road, Hardwick Township (Delaware Water Gap)
💲 $10 per vehicle (or $2 walk-in)
🌐 nps.gov Delaware Water Gap
The only designated swimming beach on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River. Sandy/grassy area with mountain views and picnic facilities.
Wawayanda Lake
📍 885 Warwick Turnpike, Hewitt (Wawayanda State Park)
💲 Standard state park entrance fees apply
🌐 nj.gov Wawayanda
Scenic forested lake with a white sand beach, trails, and a peaceful wilderness feel. First aid station, changing areas and restrooms are available. Open Wed-Sun from 10am-5:30pm.
Swim at Your Own Risk & Unofficial Spots
We are not advocating for swimming in these locations and are not responsible if you take the risks! We are providing this as a resource for curiosity seekers.
One of the biggest concerns with unmanaged areas like these is the possibility of harmful algal blooms with can produce dangerous toxins. But there is also the underwater unknowns like seaweed or greenery that you can get tangled in.
For example, just last week, a swimmer drowned in the Collings Lake quarry, which is a no swimming allowed area. If you decide to head to any of these locations – it is at your risk of danger or arrest.
- Blue Hole (near Vineland / Winslow Township, Camden/Gloucester County) — Legendary spring-fed blue pool in the Pine Barrens. Famous but officially discouraged and dangerous.
- Buttermilk Falls (Mendham, Morris County) — Scenic waterfall with a pool at the base. Short hike, but swimming is unofficial.
- Devils Hole (Peckman River, Paterson area, Passaic County) — Unofficial river swimming spot.
- Farrington Lake (rope swing, New Brunswick/Milltown, Middlesex County) — Local favorite lake spot with a rope swing,, but lots of algae reports and swimming is not allowed.
- Musconetcong River (near Phillipsburg, Warren County) — River swimming in rolling hills.
- Otter Hole (Posts Brook, Bloomingdale/Paterson area, Passaic County) — Rocky gorge with clear cascades.
- The Glen (Van Campens Brook, Worthington State Forest, Warren County) — Waterfall pool with natural rock slide.
- Trestle Bridge Swimming Hole (near Columbia, Warren County) — Historic trestle over the Delaware River.
Did we miss anything? What is your favorite spot?
Image credit: Hopewell Quarry
