Wawayanda State Park sprawls across more than 35,500 acres of rugged highlands straddling Vernon Township and West Milford in Sussex and Passaic Counties, making it one of New Jersey’s largest and most wild-feeling state parks. Established in 1960, Wawayanda preserves a vast stretch of the New Jersey Highlands where dense hardwood forests, rocky ridgelines, and glacier-carved wetlands create a landscape that feels far removed from the mid-Atlantic suburbs just an hour away.

The centerpiece is Wawayanda Lake, a 255-acre natural lake ringed by hemlock and oak where swimming, fishing, and non-motorized boating draw families throughout summer. Beyond the lake, the park’s trail network includes a section of the Appalachian Trail and connects to miles of backcountry paths popular with hikers, mountain bikers, and cross-country skiers. Birdwatchers come for warblers and raptors along the ridgelines, while anglers target largemouth bass, pickerel, and trout in the lake and surrounding streams.

The park offers group camping facilities, and backcountry shelters along the Appalachian Trail corridor provide overnight options for long-distance hikers. Day-use areas near the lake include picnic pavilions and a seasonal beach with lifeguards.

Late spring through early fall is the prime window — summer weekends at the lake fill quickly, so arriving early is wise. Autumn brings spectacular foliage across the highlands with thinner crowds. Winter transforms the backcountry into a quiet snowshoeing destination.

Wawayanda rewards visitors willing to venture past the beach and explore its surprisingly deep backcountry.

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