Make a splash at these local lakes, beaches and pools

Cool down at these local hotspots for swimming, kayaking, fishing and more waterfront recreation.

| 18 Jul 2025 | 12:26

New York

Lake Tiorati: 2300 Seven Lakes Dr., Southfields

Activities: Swimming, hiking, fishing, picnicking and boating. Permit needed for fishing and boating

Hours: Open now through Aug. 17 from 10 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. - 6:45 p.m. weekends and holidays. Open Aug. 23 to Sept 1 from 11 a.m. - 6:45 p.m. weekends and holidays only. Parking is $10 per car.

Lake Welch: 800 Kanawaukee Rd., Stony Point

Activities: Swimming, fishing, boating, picnicking, hiking, camping, grilling, fishing and a boat launch

Hours: Open until Sept. 1 for picnicking from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. weekends and holidays. Swimming available from 10 a.m - 5:45 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 11 a.m. - 6:45 p.m. weekends and holidays. Parking is $10 per car.

Bear Mountain State Park Pool: 3020 Seven Lakes Dr., Tompkins Cove

Activities: Biking, boat rentals, fishing, camping, hiking, swimming, playgrounds, trailside museum and zoo

Hours: Open for swimming on weekdays from 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m, and weekends and holidays from 10 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. The trailside museum and zoo is open every day 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. $10 parking fee per vehicle. Pool admission is $5 per person.

War Veterans Memorial Pool and Splash Pad at Fancher-Davidge Park: 158-170 Lake Ave., Middletown

Activities: Swimming, playground, basketball court, 9-hole disc golf course, walking trails and softball fields

Hours: Open daily 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. until Aug. 24. $1 fee for children 16 and younger, $4 fee for children 16 and older. $5 fee for out of town residents.

Lake Superior State Park: 342 Dr Duggan Rd., Bethel

Activities: Swimming, boating launch and rentals, fishing, hunting, volleyball, playgrounds, grilling and picnicking

Hours: Open until Sept. 1 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Friday-Sunday. A beach day pass is $5 per person, children under 3 are free.

West End Beach: 14 Ferry St., Port Jervis

Activities: Swimming, boating, fishing, softball field and playgrounds

Hours: Open until Aug. 21 from 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. on weekends. There is a $15 parking fee for non-Port Jervis residents.

Lake Awosting and Lake Minnewaska: Minnewaska State Park, 5281 Route 44-55, Kerhonkson

Activities: Biking, equestrian trails (permit required), hiking, swimming, boating, waterfalls and rock climbing

Hours: Open daily until Sept. 1. Lake Minnewaska hours are from 11:15 a.m. - 6:45 p.m. Lake Awosting hours are from 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. $10 parking fee.

Circleville Park: 2284-2290 State Highway 302, Circleville

Activities: Fishing, swimming, boating, picnicking, softball and soccer fields, volleyball, basketball, tennis, horseshoe pits (bring your own shoes) and playgrounds

Hours: Open through Labor Day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. on weekends. $3 fee per person.

Glenmere Lake: Mayer Kartel Ave., Florida

Activities: Boating, fishing, and picnicking

Hours: Open daily 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. A season pass for Florida/Town of Warwick residents is $5. A non-resident season pass is $50. Dog permits for residents are $5 per dog. Dog permits for non-residents are $10 per dog.

Walton Lake: Lakes Rd., Monroe

Activities: Fishing, boating (non-motor boats), canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding from public boat launch opposite the American Legion

Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk

Split Rock, Mohonk Preserve: 800 Clove Rd., Gardiner

Activities: Swimming, hiking, biking and horseback riding

Hours: Trailheads are open from sunrise to sunset. A day pass is $15 for hikers and $20 for bicyclists, climbers and horseback riders.

Pennsylvania

Milford Beach: 150 Milford Beach Rd., Milford

Activities: Swimming, picnicking, fishing, hiking, canoeing and bicycling

Hours: Lifeguards are on duty 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thursday through Monday. Parking fee is $7 on weekdays and $10 on weekends and holidays. There is a $1 per person entrance fee for vehicles with 8 or more adults.

Palmyra Township Public Beach: 2512 Route 6, Hawley

Activities: Swimming, walking trails, picnicking, grilling and volleyball

Hours: Open daily from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. until Labor Day. There is a $10 entrance fee for adults and a $2 entrance fee for kids 2 and under. Senior citizens are free.

Promised Land State Park: 100 Lower Lake Rd., Greentown

Activities: Fishing, boating, camping, hiking trails and swimming

Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk.

New Jersey

Sawmill Lake and Steenykill Lake: High Point State Park, 1480 State Route 23, Wantage

Activities: Boating, hiking, biking and fishing

Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m through Labor Day. There is a $5 parking fee for New Jersey residents during the week and a $10 parking fee for New Jersey residents on weekends and holidays. Out-of-state residents pay $10 to park during the week and $20 on weekends and holidays.

Wawayanda State Park: 885 Warwick Tpke., Hewitt

Activities: Swimming, boating (no gas motors), fishing, hiking, biking and volleyball

Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. The parking fee is $5 on weekdays for New Jersey residents, and $10 for non-residents. On weekends, residents pay $10 and non-residents pay $20.

Lake Hopatcong: Hopatcong State Park, 260 Lakeside Boulevard, Landing

Activities: Swimming, fishing, picnicking, grilling, volleyball and basketball courts and playgrounds

Hours: Open from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m now through Labor Day. Swimming is permitted only when lifeguards are on duty Wednesday-Sunday. Weekday parking is $6 for New Jersey residents and $10 for non-residents. Weekend and holiday parking is $10 for residents and $20 for non-residents.

Lake Musconetcong: Hopatcong State Park, 260 Lakeside Blvd., Landing

Activities: Boating, fishing, hiking, biking and swimming

Hours: Open from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. through Labor Day. Swimming is permitted when lifeguards are on duty. Weekday parking is $6 for New Jersey residents and $10 for non-residents. Weekend and holiday parking is $10 for residents and $20 for non-residents.

Monksville Reservoir and Green Turtle Pond: Long Pond Ironworks State Park, 1334 Greenwood Lake Tpke., Hewitt

Activities: Hiking, fishing, boating and mountain biking

Hours: Open daily from sunrise to sunset

Lake Ocquittunk and Lake Ashore: Stokes State Forest, 1 Coursen Rd., Branchville

Activities: Kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, fishing, camping, hiking, picnic area, playground and horseshoe pits

Hours: Open from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. There is a $5 parking fee for New Jersey residents on weekdays and a $10 fee on weekends and holidays. Non residents pay $10 to park during the week and $20 on weekends and holidays. Lake Otquittunk is a part of a campground and is closed until Aug. 1.

Allamuchy State Park: Waterloo Rd., Stanhope

Activities: Kayaking, canoeing, hiking, boating, mountain biking, fishing, horseback riding, paddleboarding, hunting and rock climbing

Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk

Camp Hope Pool: 1792 Union Valley Rd., West Milford

Activities: Swimming and a spray park

Hours: Open swim is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Day passes must be purchased in advance and are $5 per person for Passaic County residents and $10 per person for non-residents. Children under 3 are free.

Bubbling Springs: 1468 Macopin Rd., West Milford

Activities: Swimming, hiking trails, softball fields, fishing

Hours: Open Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Wednesday until 7 p.m.) and weekends from 12 a.m. to 6 p.m. Day passes are $15 for West Milford resident adults, $20 for non-resident adults, $5 for children 2-17, and $3 for seniors. Children under 2 are free.

Highlands Natural Pool: 180 Snake Den Rd., Ringwood

Activities: Swimming, small sandbox, diving board, grilling ($25 for table with grill), hiking, volleyball court, large field for other activities.

Hours: Starting in July, open daily from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. through Labor Day. Passes can are $20 per adult, $15 for seniors and military/veterans and $10 per child. Children 2 and under are free.

High Point State Park and New Jersey Veterans’ Memorial Beach: 1480 NJ-23 Sussex

Activities: Hiking, walking, swimming, fishing, camping and boating

Hours: Open from 8 a.m. to sunset daily. Swimming is available while life guards are on duty Wednesday - Sunday. The beach area is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. There is a $5 parking fee for New Jersey residents on weekdays and a $10 fee on weekends and holidays. Non residents pay $10 to park during the week and $20 on weekends and holidays.