Lake Marcia
Montague
Camp, Hike, and Swim
Lake Marcia is the guarded swimming lake in High Point State Park, run by the New Jersey State Park Service (part of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection) in Montague Township, Sussex County. It is a spring-fed lake of about 20 acres sitting near 1,570 feet on the Kittatinny Ridge, just below the obelisk of the High Point Monument, which marks the highest ground in the state at 1,803 feet. The beach and its bathhouse sit on the south shore, and the monument rises over the far end of the water.
The park entrance and office are on Route 23 between Sussex and Port Jervis, New York. From the entrance, follow the park road north to the Lake Marcia lot, which is a short walk from the sand. During the summer season every vehicle pays a state parking fee: on weekdays $5 for New Jersey plates and $10 for out-of-state plates, and on weekends and holidays $10 and $20. Oversized vehicles pay double, and a New Jersey State Park Pass covers the fee for a full year. From the day after Labor Day until Memorial Day weekend entry is free, but there is no swimming then. The gate opens at 8 a.m. and closes at sunset from April through November.
The swim area is a roped section off a small sand beach. The lake tops out at roughly 14 feet deep, and because it is fed by springs at elevation the water stays noticeably cooler than valley lakes, even in August. Swimming is allowed only from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day and only while lifeguards are on the stand. Tubes, rafts and other floats are banned; Coast Guard approved life jackets are the only flotation allowed. Pets, ball games and speakers are not permitted on the beach, and no boats of any kind, kayaks and paddleboards included, may go on Lake Marcia.
Check the State Park Service swimming schedule before you drive up. Lifeguard shortages have closed swimming here in some summers. Away from the beach the park has black bears and plenty of ticks, so keep food packed away and check yourself after walking in tall grass. Bears are common enough here that the park asks visitors to report any that act aggressively.
The bathhouse has changing rooms, restrooms, showers and a first-aid station, and a snack stand next to the beach takes cash only, with no ATM on site. Picnic tables next to the beach are first come, first served, and you can bring your own raised grill as long as it stays off the sand. The Monument Trail and the Appalachian Trail both pass close to the lake, and the Cedar Swamp Trail loops 2.5 miles around a bog perched near the top of the mountain. Paddlers launch on Sawmill Lake and Steeny Kill Lake instead, and the park has 50 tent sites along Sawmill Lake plus cabins on Steeny Kill. In winter the cross-country ski center lodge beside Lake Marcia sells trail passes and rentals.
More Information
Get on the water
Milford Beach: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, 150 Milford Beach Rd., Milford, PA
https://www.pikecountycourier.com/features/living-local/get-on-the-water-FK5941575Great Lakes: Where to Make a Splash in NJ | Page 2 of 4
Looking for some freshwater fun? Here’s our take on 20 New Jersey lakes.
https://njmonthly.com/articles/jersey-living/great-lakes-where-to-make-a-splash-in-nj/2/New Jersey's Crystal-Clear Glacial Lake Is A Scenic Swimming Destination With Beach Beauty
Lake Marcia in New Jersey offers clear-water swimming, a sandy beach, mountain hiking, fishing, camping, and sweeping views from High Point State Park.
https://www.islands.com/2240724/lake-marcia-new-jersey-crystal-clear-natural-lake-scenic-swimming-destination-beach-beauty/Take the Plunge at a Local Lake | New Jersey Monthly
Behold, some of the state's best swimming spots.
https://njmonthly.com/?p=269554Where to Get on the Water in Sussex County This Summer
Lake Hopatcong State Park: 260 Lakeside Boulevard, Landing. NJ
https://www.townshipjournal.com/features/living-local/where-to-get-on-the-water-in-sussex-county-this-summer-FM5907124Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Montague
- Head west on Cox Ln toward FM 455 W (0.3 mi)
- Turn right onto FM 455 W (1.8 mi)
- Turn right onto TX-59 N (0.4 mi)
- Continue straight onto TX-175 N (8.5 mi)
- Turn left onto US-82 W (12.4 mi)
- Turn left onto the ramp to US-81 N (0.1 mi)
- Sharp right onto US-81 NPass by Sonic Drive-In (on the left in 40 mi)Entering Oklahoma(46.4 mi)
- Slight right (1.7 mi)
- Continue onto Hwy 7 (1.9 mi)
- Keep left to continue on State Hwy 7 (1.8 mi)
- Continue onto State Hwy 7 (4.9 mi)
- Turn right onto State Hwy 7 E (0.8 mi)
- Turn left onto US-81 NPass by BancFirst (on the right in 4 mi)(30.6 mi)
- Slight right to merge onto I-44 E toward Okla. City/
Turnpike Toll road(35.5 mi) - Merge onto I-44 E (7.3 mi)
- Take the exit to stay on I-44 E toward I-35/
Tulsa/ Wichita (7.3 mi) - Slight left to stay on I-44 E (4.7 mi)
- Take exit 138A for I-44 E toward TulsaToll road(0.4 mi)
- Continue onto I-44 EToll road(87.2 mi)
- Take the I-44 E/
OK-66 E exit toward Joplin (0.3 mi) - Continue onto I-44 E/
OK-66 E (17.0 mi) - Slight left (1.1 mi)
- Merge onto I-44 E (0.1 mi)
- Take the exit to stay on I-44 E toward Joplin/
Turnpike Toll roadEntering Missouri(379 mi) - Merge onto I-44 E/
I-55 N (0.9 mi) - Take exit 291A to merge onto I-55 N/
I-64 E/ US-40 E toward I-70 E/ Illinois Entering Illinois(0.8 mi) - Take exit 1 to merge onto I-55 N/
I-64 E (2.3 mi) - Keep left to continue on I-55 N (16.2 mi)
- Take exit 20A to merge onto I-70 E toward Indianapolis (83.5 mi)
- Keep right to stay on I-70 E, follow signs for IndianapolisEntering Indiana(58.7 mi)
- Keep right to stay on I-70 E (79.5 mi)
- Keep left to stay on I-70 E, follow signs for Dayton/
I-65 N (1.7 mi) - Keep left to stay on I-70 E, follow signs for Dayton (5.9 mi)
- Keep left to stay on I-70 E (59.5 mi)
- Slight left (4.3 mi)
- Merge onto I-70 EEntering Ohio(50.6 mi)
- Keep left to stay on I-70 E (49.1 mi)
- Keep left to continue on I-670 E, follow signs for Airport (4.3 mi)
- Take exit 5A-5B toward Cleveland (0.9 mi)
- Merge onto I-71 N (99.5 mi)
- Take the exit onto I-76 E/
US-224 E toward Akron (18.3 mi) - Keep right to continue on I-76 E, follow signs for Akron (1.9 mi)
- Keep right to stay on I-76 E, follow signs for Akron (3.2 mi)
- Keep left to stay on I-76 E (36.7 mi)
- Keep left to continue on I-80 E (4.4 mi)
- Keep left to stay on I-80 E, follow signs for OH-11 N/
New York City Entering Pennsylvania(272 mi) - Take exit 260B on the left to merge onto I-81 N toward Wilkes-Barre (35.5 mi)
- Take exit 187 to merge onto I-380 S/
I-84 E (4.4 mi) - Keep left to continue on I-84 E, follow signs for MilfordEntering New York(51.1 mi)
- Take exit 1 for NJ-23 toward US-6/
Port Jervis/ Sussex (0.3 mi) - Turn left onto NJ-23 SEntering New Jersey(4.3 mi)
- Turn left (118 ft)
- Turn left (0.6 mi)
- Turn rightDestination will be on the left(269 ft)
Lake Marcia from the ridge above, with the sand beach and bathhouse on the left shore. courtesy of Zeete↗ (CC BY-SA 3.0↗)
Swimmers inside the buoy line at Lake Marcia, with the High Point Monument above the lake. courtesy of Beyond My Ken↗ (CC BY-SA 4.0↗)
Autumn on Lake Marcia, with the beach at right and the monument on the hill. courtesy of Famartin↗ (CC BY-SA 4.0↗)
Summer afternoon on Lake Marcia looking toward High Point. courtesy of Famartin↗ (CC BY-SA 4.0↗)
Looking southwest across Lake Marcia toward the beach end in October. courtesy of Famartin↗ (CC BY-SA 4.0↗)
Lake Marcia in late fall, looking south from the north shore toward the beach end. courtesy of Federico Pizano↗ (CC BY 3.0↗)
Vintage postcard view of Lake Marcia in High Point Park. courtesy of Boston Public Library↗ (CC BY 2.0↗)
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