Swartswood State Park
New Jersey's first state park, built around a 519-acre glacial lake just west of Newton
Category
Outdoor Recreation
Sussex County has plenty of room to get outside, from the deep woods of Stokes State Forest to the elevation and views at High Point State Park. This page rounds up five outdoor recreation spots in the area, whether you’re after a hike like the Stairway to Heaven Trail or a round of golf at Farmstead Golf & Country Club.
High Point State Park
New Jersey's highest ground, a 220-foot monument, and 50 miles of Kittatinny ridge trail.
Kittatinny Valley State Park
Four glacial lakes, 11 trails and 55 miles of rail trail, all free, all year, in Andover Township
Stokes State Forest
Appalachian Trail views, Tillman Ravine, and free spring water across 16,447 Sussex County acres
Seasonal
Hidden Acres Golf Course
A USGA-rated 9-hole course in the rolling hills of northern Sussex County, no tee times required
Crystal Springs Resort
Northeast's largest four-season golf, spa, and wine resort in the Kittatinny Mountains
Tillman Ravine at Stokes State Forest
The Tea Cup, old hemlocks, and a cold brook: Tillman Ravine packs a lot into one mile
Part of Stokes State Forest
Wild Turkey Golf Club
A hilly, dramatic layout with a par-3 that plays two clubs downhill.
Part of Crystal Springs Resort
Pochuck Boardwalk
The Appalachian Trail's longest boardwalk, an easy mile over Vernon's swampy Pochuck Quagmire
Sussex Branch Trail
Sussex County's 20-mile rail trail, from Waterloo Road in Byram to Branchville, free all year
Part of Kittatinny Valley State Park
Mountain Creek Bike Park
Lift served downhill mountain biking minutes from the NY metro area
Part of Mountain Creek Resort
Farmstead Golf & Country Club
A friendly, family-run golf club and event venue in Lafayette.
Hopatcong State Park
Swim, fish, and walk the Morris Canal dam at Hopatcong State Park on NJ's biggest lake
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
70,000 acres of river, ridge, and waterfalls anchoring the county's western edge.
Rutan Hill (Beemerville Volcano)
Rutan Hill volcano is the eroded throat of an eruption older than the Atlantic Ocean
Wawayanda State Park
Wawayanda State Park packs 60 miles of trails, a glacial lake and a sand beach into one wild corner
SkyView Golf Club
Dramatic rock cliffs and long valley views on Sparta's semi-private course.
Ballyowen Golf Club
Links-style golf with almost no trees, widely called the best public course in New Jersey.
Part of Crystal Springs Resort
Black Bear Golf Club
A Zagat-rated course a short drive from Crystal Springs' main resort grounds.
Part of Crystal Springs Resort
Crystal Springs Golf Club
Crystal Springs' most demanding course, with the cliffside 11th hole to prove it.
Part of Crystal Springs Resort
Stairway to Heaven Trail
Stone steps up Wawayanda Mountain to Pinwheel Vista, the best panorama in Vernon Valley
Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge
Trails, marsh and river birding across 6,000+ acres at the Wallkill River Refuge in Sussex NJ
Paulinskill Valley Rail Trail
A 27-mile former rail line offering one of the region's longest flat trails.
Great Gorge Golf Club
A 27-hole George Fazio design with a genuinely retro, 1970s clubhouse vibe.
Part of Crystal Springs Resort
