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The best things to do in Hopatcong NJ revolve around Lake Hopatcong: paddling the borough’s quiet coves, walking the Lake Hopatcong Trail, relaxing in a neighborhood park, and turning up for summer community days. Hopatcong is the Sussex County borough on the lake, and it pairs easily with the rest of the lake for a full day out.
Here is how our team breaks it down. Inside the borough you will find free parks, a nature sanctuary with a public kayak launch, and a long stretch of the Lake Hopatcong Trail. A few of the lake’s best known landmarks, including the Lake Hopatcong Foundation’s headquarters and the historical museum, are a short drive away in Landing (Roxbury Township, Morris County), and we flag those clearly below so you know which county you are in.
Get to know Hopatcong Borough
Hopatcong is a borough in Sussex County that borders Lake Hopatcong, the largest lake in New Jersey. The lake is shared with three Morris County towns: Jefferson Township, Roxbury Township and Mount Arlington. The borough’s history is tied to the water. It was established in 1898 as the Town of Brooklyn, carved from Byram Township, and became the Borough of Hopatcong in 1901, according to background history on Wikipedia. Neighborhoods such as Byram Cove, Davis Cove and Hendersons Cove still carry the names of the inlets they face.
Things to do outdoors in Hopatcong
Roland-May Eves Mountain Inlet Sanctuary
This is the borough’s signature nature spot. Hopatcong established the Roland-May Eves Mountain Inlet Sanctuary in 1993 and named it for Roland and May Eves, two ecologists who lived in the borough. It protects wetland habitat and offers a hiking trail marked with green markers on trees and posts at numbered stations. The borough also offers a free audio tour, narrated by Cliff Lundin and recorded as an Eagle Scout project, that covers the area’s geology and wildlife habitats. Download the audio files from the borough’s trail page before you go.
The sanctuary on Lakeside Avenue is also one of the few public places to put a kayak in on this side of the lake. The Lake Hopatcong Foundation’s water trail map lists it with no entrance or launch fees, limited on-site parking and no restrooms.
Paddle the Inlets and Aisles Water Trail
The Lake Hopatcong Foundation publishes self-guided paddling routes on its water trails page. The Inlets and Aisles route starts from the Mountain Inlet sanctuary and points out lake landmarks along the way, including the three small Sister Islands in Byram Cove, where a cottage, boathouse and icehouse were built in 1905. Most of the shoreline is private homes, so land only at public sites, and remember that homeowner association beaches are not public.
Walk the Lake Hopatcong Trail
The Lake Hopatcong Trail, created by the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, runs about 14 miles along the western side of the lake through Landing, Hopatcong Borough and Jefferson Township. It begins on the Morris Canal Towpath across from Hopatcong State Park in Landing and ends at Liffy Island in Jefferson Township. Several miles of it line up with the 182 mile Highlands Trail, and the Foundation notes several spurs and multiple access points, so the borough is a convenient place to hop on for a shorter walk.
Hopatcong Borough parks
The borough lists five parks on its Parks and Trails page:
- Firemen’s Park: at the corner of Hopatchung Road and River Styx Road.
- Freedom Park: on River Styx Road.
- Maxim Glen: on Hopatchung Road.
- Modick Park: on Hopatchung Road (28 Hopatchung Road), the setting for the borough’s Hopatcong Day.
- Veterans Park: on Flora Avenue.
The borough’s page does not list amenities for each park, so treat them as neighborhood stops for a walk, a picnic or a playground break. Field use is coordinated by the Hopatcong Recreation Commission, which the borough created by ordinance in 1969.
Get on the water
Lake days are the main event here from spring through early fall, so check seasonal schedules if you are reading this in the off season. The marinas that rent pontoon boats are on the Morris County side of the lake: Bridge Marina on Brady Road in Jefferson Township rents triple pontoons, and its posted requirements include a renter age of at least 30, a New Jersey Boating Safety Certificate and a boat endorsement on your driver’s license. If nobody in your group has a certificate, book a sightseeing, brunch or sunset cruise on the Miss Lotta with Lake Hopatcong Cruises, which is based at Nolan’s Point in Jefferson Township. The NJ State Police explain the certificate and endorsement rules on their Marine Services pages.
Hopatcong events
Hopatcong Day and Market in the Park
The Hopatcong Recreation Department hosts Hopatcong Day and Market in the Park at Modick Park. The most recent listing we found was for Saturday, July 12, 2025, from noon to 3 p.m., with refreshments, bounce houses, games, face painting and vendor booths featuring food vendors, crafters, artists, local businesses and community groups. Watch the borough’s Recreation and Community page and the Lake Hopatcong Foundation’s calendar for the next date.
Lakewide events from the Lake Hopatcong Foundation
The Lake Hopatcong Foundation keeps a community calendar of events around the whole lake, from free gazebo concerts to antique and classic boat cruise nights. The Foundation is headquartered at historic Lake Hopatcong Station, 125 Landing Road. Note that the station is not in Hopatcong Borough: it is in the Landing section of Roxbury Township, Morris County. Built in 1911 as a showcase for the Lackawanna Railroad, it now houses the Foundation’s offices and its Educational and Cultural Center.
Closer to home this fall, our team also covered the Hudson Farm charity hike in Hopatcong.
Lake history nearby
The Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum tells the story of New Jersey’s largest lake, from the resort hotel era to today. It is on the grounds of Hopatcong State Park in Landing, Roxbury Township, Morris County. Hours are not listed on its About page, so call 973-398-2616 before you go.
Where to eat in Hopatcong
River Styx Road is the borough’s best known dining strip, with waterfront decks and casual spots near the inlet. For our full, verified rundown, see where to eat in Hopatcong, NJ.
Know before you go
- Know your county. Hopatcong Borough is in Sussex County. Lake Hopatcong Station, Hopatcong State Park and the historical museum are in Landing, Roxbury Township, Morris County. The rental marinas and Nolan’s Point are in Jefferson Township, Morris County.
- Parking is limited at the Mountain Inlet sanctuary, and there are no restrooms.
- Respect private shoreline. Land boats and kayaks only at public sites.
- Bring your paperwork if you plan to drive a rental boat: a boating safety certificate and a license with the boat endorsement.
- Check dates. Community events change year to year. Confirm on the borough or Foundation websites.
Planning more time in the Skylands? See our guides to boat rentals on Lake Hopatcong and things to do in Sussex County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hopatcong in Sussex County or Morris County?
The Borough of Hopatcong is in Sussex County. Lake Hopatcong is shared with Jefferson Township, Roxbury Township and Mount Arlington, which are in Morris County.
Where can I launch a kayak in Hopatcong for free?
The Lake Hopatcong Foundation lists Roland-May Eves Mountain Inlet Sanctuary on Lakeside Avenue as a public launch with no entrance or launch fees. Parking is limited.
How long is the Lake Hopatcong Trail?
About 14 miles, running along the western side of the lake from Landing through Hopatcong Borough to Liffy Island in Jefferson Township.
Is the Lake Hopatcong Foundation in Hopatcong?
No. Its home, Lake Hopatcong Station, is at 125 Landing Road in the Landing section of Roxbury Township, Morris County.
When is Hopatcong Day?
It is held in summer at Modick Park. The most recent listing we found was July 12, 2025. Check the borough’s recreation page for the next date.
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Primary sources for this guide: Borough of Hopatcong Parks and Trails, Borough of Hopatcong Mountain Inlet Sanctuary Trail, Lake Hopatcong Foundation, Lake Hopatcong Trail, Lake Hopatcong Foundation Inlets and Aisles Water Trail, Hopatcong Day listing, Morris County on Lake Hopatcong Station, Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum, Bridge Marina and Lake Hopatcong Cruises.
Featured photo: Lake Hopatcong from Hopatcong Borough. Photo by Forrest R. Whitesides via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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