Department of Environmental Protection

New Jersey State Park Service

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Swimming Schedule

New Jersey's state parks, forests and recreation areas open their lakes and beaches for swimming, offering a refreshing way to cool off this summer.

Swimming is only permitted when lifeguards are on duty from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in our lakes and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Island Beach State Park.

2024 Swim Schedule

Atsion Recreation Area (Wharton State Forest)
Open Wednesday - Sunday
Closed Monday & Tuesday

Bass River State Forest
Opening date TBD - lifeguard positions available with paid training provided, click here to learn more.

Belleplain State Forest
Open Wednesday - Sunday
Closed Monday & Tuesday

Cheesequake State Park
Open Wednesday - Sunday
Closed Monday & Tuesday

High Point State Park Opening June 26, 2024 - lifeguard positions available with paid training provided, click here to learn more.
Open Wednesday - Sunday
Closed Monday & Tuesday

Hopatcong State Park
Open Wednesday - Sunday
Closed Monday & Tuesday

Island Beach State Park
Open 7 days a week

Parvin State Park
Open Wednesday - Sunday
Closed Monday & Tuesday

Round Valley Recreation Area
Open Wednesday - Sunday
Closed Monday & Tuesday

Swartswood State Park
Open Wednesday - Sunday
Closed Monday & Tuesday

Wawayanda State Park
Open Wednesday - Sunday
Closed Monday & Tuesday

Swimming Closed for the 2024 Season

  • Spruce Run Recreation Area
Park Operating Status Map

The park operating status map shows real time open, closed, or closed - filled to capacity status of parks, forests, historic sites, and recreation areas. Park status is determined by day use area capacity.

Plan Ahead for "Filled To Capacity" Park Closures

The New Jersey State Park system serves a very high volume of visitors during summer weekends and holidays. To ensure the safety of our visitors and protection of the park’s natural resources and facilities, our park areas have a limited capacity.

During periods of high visitation, when a park's capacity is reached, the park will be closed and traffic will be turned away from the park entrance. When that occurs, no additional vehicles / visitors will be allowed to enter the park, including those with members of their party who may already be in the park. If you are not traveling in the same vehicle with others in your party, we suggest that you all arrive at the same time.

When the park is closed because it is filled to capacity, only individuals and groups with shelter and/or camping reservations will be admitted, as parking is reserved for those purposes.

Based on recent experience and visitation trends, and depending on good weather, most of our State park swimming areas will likely fill to capacity and close on Memorial Day and Fourth of July holiday weekends, and other weekends during the summer. Please take this into consideration when planning your trip.