Hudson Farm Charity Hike for Hopatcong Returns Free on Saturday, October 17, 2026

The Hudson Farm Charity Hike for Hopatcong returns on Saturday, October 17, 2026, when Hudson Farm Club opens its private grounds at 270 Stanhope Sparta Road to the public for a morning of hiking that raises money for Hopatcong organizations. The event is free and open to all, and every hiker gets a complimentary lunch, which is why our team thinks it is one of the best community days on the Sussex County fall calendar.

What the Hopatcong Charity Hike Supports

According to the Hudson Farm Foundation, the Hopatcong hike benefits local emergency services, school PTOs, Project Graduation, youth and sports groups, the Friends of the Library and the Lake Hopatcong Foundation. The club describes the day as a chance for the community to come together, hike the scenic grounds, appreciate the historic property and support the organizations that serve the town.

The Lake Hopatcong Foundation’s event listing sums it up the same way: a day for neighbors to gather, walk the farm and back the groups that serve Hopatcong.

A Rare Chance to Walk Hudson Farm Club

Hudson Farm Club is normally a private, members-only outdoor club. Its roughly 4,200 acres stretch across Hopatcong, Byram and Andover, and much of that land is preserved. That makes hike day a rare chance for the public to walk the property and see the land up close.

The farm also comes with a story. Per the club’s history page, Scottish inventor and industrialist John T. McRoy bought almost 500 acres here and built the mansion that stands today, now the clubhouse. The Hudson Guild, a settlement house from Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, acquired the property in 1917 and used it to bring city children to the country. A 1921 gathering at Hudson Guild Farm led to the concept for the Appalachian Trail, and the club notes that Hudson Farm is recognized as the birthplace of the trail. The Kellogg family purchased the property in 1997 and created today’s Hudson Farm Club.

How the Hudson Farm Foundation Gives Back

The Hudson Farm Foundation was founded in 2000 to support nonprofits in the area around the farm. It is funded by club members, who each contribute a portion of their annual dues, and the foundation says it has distributed more than $11,000,000 to qualified charities since it began. It has since widened its reach to approved organizations with a physical presence in Sussex County.

Groups on the foundation’s list of supported charities include the 200 Club of Sussex County, Project Self Sufficiency, SCARC, the NJ Initial Response Team, Birth Haven, NJ Audubon, Newton Medical Center Foundation and the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show. The club also hosts a separate charity hike for Byram Township organizations, which it says has supported Byram charities for more than 15 years.

Know Before You Go

• Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026, with a morning start
• Where: Hudson Farm Club, 270 Stanhope Sparta Road, Andover, NJ 07821
• Cost: Free and open to all
• Food: Complimentary lunch is included
• Leave at home: Pets and strollers are not permitted
• Getting there: Carpooling is encouraged
• Contact: Hudson Farm Club at 973-398-4330 or info@hudsonfarmnj.com

Full event details are on the official Hopatcong Charity Hike page, and the hike also has its own Facebook page.

Make a Day of It in Hopatcong

Wear sturdy shoes and dress in layers, since mid-October mornings in the Sussex County hills start cool and warm up by lunch. If you still have energy after the hike, our guide to the best fall foliage hikes in Sussex County has more trails worth the drive, and our guide to where to eat in Hopatcong covers lake spots, Mexican, Thai, pizza and diner classics for dinner on the way home.