Round Valley Recreation Area

The brisk blue waters of Round Valley Reservoir attract swimmers, boaters, fishermen, picnickers and campers to its scenic shore. The reservoir covers about 2,350 acres and is approximately 180 feet deep, the second deepest lake in New Jersey. It has a water capacity of 55 billion gallons. The reservoir is stocked with lake trout. The Round Valley Reservoir swimming area was created by the construction of an earth dam across a narrow waterway on the west side of the reservoir, separating it from the main part of the reservoir.

Round Valley offers wilderness camping, with campsites on the reservoir's eastern side accessible only by hiking or boating. Watching the boats on the water enhances the view while hiking along the reservoir. The campers' parking lot is three miles away from the nearest site, reachable by a steep and rugged trail. Cross-country skiers and sledding enthusiasts congregate at Round Valley in the winter months.

For the nature lover, kayaking is particularly enjoyable in the early summer when waterfowl nest along the shoreline. Kayaking around Round Valley can take four to six hours, depending on how often one pauses to enjoy the wildlife and scenery. The variety of stocked species lends itself to several types of the sportsman. Fly-fishing for brown and rainbow trout from the shore, drop fishing from boats in the deepest areas for lake trout, or spinning in the grass beds off shore for bass and pickerel are all productive.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.0/5
• Address: 1220 Lebanon-Stanton RoadLebanon, NJ 08833-3115
  
• Opening Hours: Daily
• Admission: Free
  
• Website: https://nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/roundvalleyrecreationarea.html