Lake Hopatcong Rivals the Jersey Shore as a Top-Notch Summer Escape

[caption id="attachment_854520" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Visitors enjoy hydrobiking and kayaking on Lake Hopatcong. Photo: AEROJO Drone Productions[/caption] When the first wave of uncomfortable summer heat rolls in, many New Jerseyans follow a routine as old as time—pack up the car and head toward the Shore in a futile effort to beat the traffic. But hiding in plain sight off of Route 80, Lake Hopatcong offers just as much summer fun. The lake stretches roughly 4 square miles and is shared by Sussex and Morris counties, holding the title of New Jersey’s largest body of fresh water. Once an area made up of two smaller lakes, it was altered in the 19th century to become the source of the Morris Canal. The result was a sprawling lake that’s continued to attract visitors from far beyond the borders of the Garden State. [RELATED: 8 Best Lakes in New Jersey to Visit This Summer] “I’ve had people from New York, Washington, and even Europe who have come out on tours with me,” says Paige Block, a tour guide at Lake Hopatcong Adventure Company, which offers kayaking, hydrobiking and other outdoor activities. Its popularity among visitors has been 150 years in the making. When railroads boomed in the late 19th century, it didn’t take long for a connection to be made at Nolans Point along the lake’s east side. The arrival of the first passenger train in 1882 established Lake Hopatcong as a go-to summer spot. Attractions over the years have included an amusement park, roller rink and tavern. [caption id="attachment_854754" align="alignnone" width="778"] Photo: AEROJO Drone Productions[/caption] While the landscape in 2026 is far different, Live the Lake NJ, a family of businesses on Lake Hopatcong, still offers a host of activities that appeal to sunbathers and adrenaline seekers alike. On the water, visitors can take their choice of boat, kayak or hydrobike and hit the open water to their heart’s desire. Tours take guests to see Halsey Island, Great Cove and more of the lake’s most notable landmarks. Aboard Miss Lotta, a 57-foot Skipperliner, passengers are treated to various themed cruises, including happy-hour and cocktail rides, a narrated historical tour, and lunch, brunch and dinner cruises. (Don’t worry—the boat has a fully enclosed dining room.) Private cruise packages are also offered. Other activities include an 18-hole mini-golf course with holes themed after Lake Hopatcong history. A handful of dining options are available at Nolans Point. The Windlass has been serving Italian and American eats to lakegoers for more than 60 years and offers porch dining and live music events. Alice’s features open-air dining and the Big Fish Lounge, home to live music and various games. Or families can just spend a day along the lake shore swimming, cooking on the provided grills, and picnicking. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, fees for residents are $6 on weekdays and $10 on weekends and holidays; for nonresidents, it’s $10 on weekdays and $20 on weekends. [caption id="attachment_854753" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Photo: AEROJO Drone Productions[/caption] Live the Lake shares Lake Hopatcong with the thousands of residents who live on its shore and in the surrounding area. Former resident Jessica Murphy has lived in three of the four surrounding towns on the lake and got married on its shores. “The lake was a big part of my life all the time. Growing up, I spent pretty much my whole summers there swimming and sailing,” she says. Murphy’s lake love continued into her adult life, when she served as editor of the Lake Hopatcong News, a publication dedicated to news and culture in the lake region. She also cofounded the nonprofit Lake Hopatcong Foundation and served as its president and executive director for nearly 10 years. The organization devotes itself to preservation and sustainability efforts for the lake, especially those that go unnoticed. “There are a lot of invisible things that help make the lake healthier,” Murphy says. “It can sometimes be difficult to get people to rally around something like storm water management. Buy-in and coordination can be difficult for those things that you don’t really see, but are making a quiet difference underground.” Though private properties surround most of the lake’s perimeter, Murphy says a distinct pride exists among residents and a sense of community can be found, especially during difficult times. She recalls that, while working at the foundation, residents offered support during a 2019 algae bloom that shut the lake down for a whole summer. “When it first happened, I remember that people were calling us asking, ‘What can I do at my house? What type of fertilizer should I be using? Is there anything I can do?’” she says. “People cared about the lake and were quick to step up during a crisis.” Murphy hopes lake residents will continue this mindset even when it isn’t demanded by an emergency. Whether it’s as a booming tourist attraction or a sleepy lake for residents, Lake Hopatcong requires the continued support of visitors, locals and admirers for its preservation. To donate to the foundation, visit lakehopatcongfoundation.org. James LaForge is a former editorial assistant at New Jersey Monthly and a current fellow at Business Insider. The post Lake Hopatcong Rivals the Jersey Shore as a Top-Notch Summer Escape appeared first on New Jersey Monthly .