Nine miles in length and covered by 2,500 acres of freshwater, Lake Hopatcong is the focal point of the park. Hopatcong State Park is at the southwest end of the lake and is a popular spot for fishing, boating, and swimming. It was originally created as part of the Morris Canal, a 90-mile waterway that ran from
Newark to
Phillipsburg and was the chief means of transporting coal, iron and zinc across New Jersey in the 1860s. The lake was the canals major source of water. However, as the more efficient Morris and Essex Railroad was established, the canal was abandoned. The historical museum is located in the old Morris Canal locktenders house and offers exhibits on local American Indian history, the Morris Canal and the history of the lake.
The park is located in north central New Jersey, north of I-80. Take exit 28 from the Interstate or follow Route 183 in Netcong.