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Looking for things to do in Vernon NJ? Vernon Township, in the northeast corner of Sussex County, packs a ski and bike mountain, a summer waterpark, a resort spa, a big family farm, Appalachian Trail hikes and one of the largest state parks in New Jersey into one town along Route 94. It is a true four-season destination, and fall is one of the best times to visit.
Our team put together the essentials below, with every detail checked against each place’s own website or an official park source. Hours and seasons change, so confirm before you head out.
Mountain Creek
Mountain Creek at 200 Route 94 is the anchor of Vernon’s year-round fun. In winter it runs skiing and snowboarding with a terrain park, lessons, camps and racing, plus snowtubing. The rest of the year, the mountain turns into a downhill bike park with its own Thursday Night Race League, and the resort also offers zip tours, the Alpine Mountain Coaster, the Treescape Ropes Course and golf at Great Gorge.
In summer, the Mountain Creek Waterpark advertises more than 20 rides and slides, including Colorado River Rapids and Surf Hill, Legendary Canyon Cliffs, the High Tide Wave Pool and Zero-G. As of fall 2026 the waterpark is closed for the season and returns next summer. In autumn, Mountain Creek hosts Fall Fest weekends; our Mountain Creek Fall Fest guide has the details. Winter passes are on sale now on the resort’s website.
Heaven Hill Farm
Heaven Hill Farm at 451 Route 94 is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week, per its website. The farm market and bakery sells in-season produce, apple cider donuts, jams, local meat, cheese and honey, and there is a full garden center for plants, shrubs and trees.
This fall the farm’s Great Pumpkin Festival runs September 12 through November 8, 2026, with food, games and more than 35 attractions. The farm also lists a Trick-or-Treat Trail on October 24 and 25 and a costume contest on October 24. Get tickets and tips in our Heaven Hill Great Pumpkin Festival guide. Phone: (973) 764-5144.
The Appalachian Trail boardwalk and Stairway to Heaven
The Appalachian Trail runs right through Vernon. The Pochuck Boardwalk is an easy, flat walk of about 2 miles out and back over the Pochuck Creek wetlands, with a wooden suspension bridge over the creek, per the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Across Route 94, the A.T. climbs Wawayanda Mountain on a strenuous 2.6-mile out-and-back known as the Stairway to Heaven, with about 900 feet of climbing to Pinwheel’s Vista and its view over Vernon Valley, per the NY-NJ Trail Conference.
Parking at both is limited and fills early on weekends. The Trail Conference recommends the Canal Road lots or the Route 94 lot over the Route 517 shoulder, where parking is allowed only in signed spots. Dogs are allowed on leash.
Wawayanda State Park
Vernon shares Wawayanda State Park with West Milford. The park has more than 25 marked trails covering over 50 miles, per the NJDEP brochure, along with Wawayanda Lake and its summer beach, boat launch and canoe rentals, and the stone stack of a 19th-century iron furnace. The park office is at 885 Warwick Turnpike, Hewitt, phone (973) 853-4462. A parking fee applies at the lake area from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, according to the Trail Conference; fall visits are usually quiet and colorful.
Minerals Hotel and Crystal Springs Resort
The Crystal Springs Resort family has two hotels near Vernon. The Minerals Hotel at 2 Chamonix Drive is in Vernon itself, per the resort’s directions page. It is home to the Elements Spa, the Minerals Sports Club and restaurants including Kites, Zinc Cafe and Frosty’s Cantina, plus the Minerals golf course.
The resort’s Grand Cascades Lodge and Crystal Springs Country Club are at 1 Wild Turkey Way with a Hamburg mailing address, outside Vernon. That side has the Reflections Spa, Crystal Tavern, Restaurant Latour and The Wine Cellar, and the resort’s golf courses include Ballyowen, Black Bear, Crystal Springs, Wild Turkey and Cascades. Spa and dining reservations are handled through the resort website.
Vernon Township events
The Vernon Township Recreation events page lists community events through the end of the year:
- Holiday Market at Cobblestone Village: Saturday, November 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5K: Thanksgiving morning, November 26, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
- Tree Lighting and Quiet Time with Santa: dates to be announced on the township site.
The township’s recreation calendar also includes seasonal favorites like the Vernon Street Fair in September and planetarium and telescope nights, so bookmark the page for next year.
Highland Lakes and the lake country
Vernon’s Highland Lakes section sits in the township’s lake-dotted hills near the Wawayanda area. If you want public lake time, Wawayanda Lake is the go-to spot, with paddling, fishing and a summer swim area run by NJ State Parks. In fall, the back roads through this part of town make a scenic drive between the farm stands on Route 94 and the state park.
Know before you go
- Weekends fill up: Route 94 can get busy on fall and ski-season weekends. Arrive early for trail parking and farm events.
- Check seasons: Mountain Creek’s activities change with the season, and the waterpark is summer only.
- Eat local: Our guide to the best restaurants in Vernon covers breakfast through dinner.
- Dress for the mountains: Vernon’s ridges run cooler and windier than the valley, so bring layers for hikes and lookouts.
Planning more time in the Skylands? See our guides to the Appalachian Trail boardwalk and Stairway to Heaven in Vernon and Wawayanda State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vernon NJ known for?
Vernon is best known for Mountain Creek’s skiing, bike park and summer waterpark, the Appalachian Trail’s Pochuck Boardwalk and Stairway to Heaven, Heaven Hill Farm and Wawayanda State Park.
Is the Mountain Creek waterpark open in the fall?
No. The waterpark is a summer attraction and, as of fall 2026, is closed for the season. Fall Fest weekends, the bike park and other activities run at different times, so check the Mountain Creek website.
Is Crystal Springs Resort in Vernon?
Partly. The Minerals Hotel is in Vernon at 2 Chamonix Drive. Grand Cascades Lodge and Crystal Springs Country Club use a Hamburg mailing address at 1 Wild Turkey Way.
When is the Heaven Hill Great Pumpkin Festival?
The 2026 festival runs September 12 through November 8 at Heaven Hill Farm, 451 Route 94, per the farm’s website.
Are there free things to do in Vernon NJ?
Yes. Hiking the Pochuck Boardwalk and the Stairway to Heaven is free, and the township’s holiday market and tree lighting are community events. Wawayanda charges a lake-area parking fee only in summer.
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Primary sources for this guide: Mountain Creek; Mountain Creek Waterpark; Heaven Hill Farm; Crystal Springs Resort and its directions page; Vernon Township Recreation news and events; Appalachian Trail Conservancy; NY-NJ Trail Conference; NJDEP Wawayanda State Park brochure.
Featured photo: a Mountain Creek ski lift in Vernon in summer. Photo by EvanSheppard via Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
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