8 other places to swim after algae bloom closes Lake Hopatcong, Greenwood Lake

With weekend temperatures nearing 100, the cool waters of North Jersey’s lakes look especially inviting.

A spate of harmful algae blooms, however, are striking area options off the list. The public beach at Hopatcong State Park in Morris County has been closed for a month as state officials warn against contacting or consuming the lake’s water. 

More:Lake Hopatcong's toxic algae bloom renews fight over stormwater law derided as 'rain tax'

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection officials have attached similar advisories to Spruce Run Reservoir in Hunterdon County, Swartswood State Park in Sussex County and most recently Greenwood Lake in Passaic County.

More:Highest bacteria levels from algae bloom at Greenwood Lake are 10 times health standard

Despite the prevalence of other lakes across North Jersey, many are private with members-only access. Some municipalities have pools or beaches but offer membership only to residents or through resident referrals. Other state-run beaches, such as the one at Shepherd Lake in Ringwood State Park, have also been closed this summer because of a lack of lifeguards.

Due to the potential danger, state and local officials warn against seeking out old quarries, mine shafts or other remote swimming holes this weekend.

Thankfully, a variety of safe places to take a dip this weekend exist in North Jersey.

1. Darlington County Park in Mahwah

For residents of Bergen County, Mahwah’s Darlington County Park is a nearby sanctuary. Idyllically wooded and frequented by the occasional swan, the 178-acre park has a golf course. More importantly, it has two separate sand-lined swimming ponds. Nearby Darlington Lake is reserved for fishing.

Bergen County adults can swim at the park near the Ramsey border from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day for $10. The privilege costs $15 for other adults and $6 for kids. The park also has a shaded picnic area, a playground and sports courts.

The park is located at 600 Darlington Ave., adjacent to the Mahwah Municipal Pool. The pool offers day passes to Mahwah residents for fees ranging from $20 for adults to $5 for seniors.

2. Warwick Town Beach at Greenwood Lake

The state’s second largest home-lined lake, Greenwood Lake is experiencing its own algal bloom in its shallow New Jersey end. While New Jersey officials say swimming in that end could be dangerous, those seeking a swim could travel to the New York end and the Warwick Town Beach at Thomas P. Morahan Waterfront Park.

The municipal beach is open to non-residents but passes must be obtained from the town Clerk’s Office prior to arrival.

The park has picnic tables, swings, a volleyball court and restrooms. The park, at the end of Windemere Avenue, is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Sept. 2. Lifeguards are on duty from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

3. Highlands Natural Pool in Ringwood

The Highlands Natural Pool is an Olympic-sized pond dug from a stream bed in 1936. Fed by the forest-lined Blue Mine Brook, the pool holds about a million gallons of cold spring water and opens each summer under the watch of The Community Association of the Highlands.

The local nonprofit runs the pool on weekends through late June and then daily through early September. Day passes range from $12 for adults to $3 for children. A snack stand is pool side, and a picnic area set amid pines is just steps away. Poolside lounge chairs, Wi-Fi, restrooms, a volleyball court and charcoal grills are also available for use.

Set aside the New Weis Center off Snake Den Road near Norvin Green State Forest, the pool also provides access to a variety of trails to explore before or after a swim.

4. Wawayanda Lake in Vernon

Straddling West Milford and Vernon, Wawayanda is a sprawling expanse of forest blazed with more than 60 miles of trails including a section of Appalachian Trail. Each summer, however, the beach at Wawayanda Lake is the place to be.

The lake is open to swimming from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. while lifeguards are on duty. The beach has changing rooms, restrooms, a first aid station and a concession stand. Entrance fees for state residents are $10 on weekends and $5 on weekdays through Labor Day weekend.

If travelling to Wawayanda Lake on a weekend, be sure to make backup plans. The beach, as it was last weekend, is often filled. If at capacity, visitors are turned away from the Warwick Turnpike entrance. Closures are posted on the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Twitter account.

5. Lake Marcia in Montague

If Wawayanda State Park happens to be full, travelling farther west to Montague’s Lake Marcia could be an option. The 20-acre lake, set amid High Point State Park, is the highest lake in New Jersey.

Though spring-fed, it can get quite warm late in the season after basking in the summer sun for months. The park, like Wawayanda, features a stretch of Appalachian Trail, charges $10 on weekends and $5 on weekdays through Labor Day weekend and has lifeguards on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Lake Marcia with a nearby picnic area and visitor’s center is reserved exclusively for swimming. High Point State Park off Route 23 has other areas for places for boating, fishing, hunting, and hiking. There’s also the 220-foot tall war memorial resembling the Washington Monument that marks the state’s highest peak.

6. Mountain Creek Waterpark in Vernon

Swimming is refreshing, but it is exercise. Sliding is better.

Vernon’s Mountain Creek Waterpark, formerly Action Park, has more than a dozen water slides among its 22 rides, including the world’s tallest double-looping water slide, Zero-G. Set on the forested lower slopes of a ski area, the park’s waters are cold. Its paths can be steep.

Outside food and beverages are not permitted in the park other than individual, sealed bottles of water. Still, the park off Route 94 has a variety of eateries for visitors.

The park is open most weekdays through closing day on Sept. 2. Weekday hours are typically 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. On weekends, it opens an hour earlier and closes and hour later. Daily tickets cost about $30 when purchased online. Parking in the general lot is $5.

7. Tomahawk Lake Waterpark in Byram

A more rustic waterpark south of Lake Mohawk, Tomahawk Lake sits amid a 200-acre park on the Byram-Sparta border. The 20-acre lake and its massive white sand beach serve as the centerpiece of the park.

Seven water slides bring the excitement. Other attractions include 18 holes of miniature golf, a beer garden featuring live music on the weekends, souvenir shops, a horse-shoe pit, a volleyball court and a picnic area with more than 800 tables.

Weekend admission costs $15, or $13 for children 8 and under. Unlimited slide passes cost $16 on weekends. Some attractions at the park off Tomahawk Trail also come at added cost.

8. The Biosphere at Crystal Springs Resort in Hardyston

Looking for a more upscale experience? Want to splurge?

Open exclusively to guests of the ritzy Grand Cascades Lodge at Crystal Springs in Hardyston, the Biosphere is a 10,000-square-foot tropical indoor pool complex. Its German-made glass paneled roof permits nearly complete transmission of sunlight to allow year-round tanning. The roof is also retractable to let the outside in.

Packed with tropical plants, the indoor pool area features a swim-up aquarium, a terraced hot tub grotto and a 140-foot-long waterside. A cave-themed steam room and a café serving gelato and tropical drinks are nearby. A lavishly landscaped outdoor pool is just beyond the enclosure for a dip when the weather is right.

The cost of entry is not cheap. Expect to pay more than $1,000 for a two-night stay at the lodge off Wild Turkey Way this weekend, according to the resort’s website.