It is a nice park with sand beach and hiking trails. Plenty of parking and restrooms. read more

Round Valley Recreation Area - Campgrounds Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

This is my happy place whenever I need to escape from the everyday hustle and bustle of life: I have been going here for a long time cause sometimes you have to get away from it all: Its a great spot to just relax, cookout and just chill, swimming is not allowed in some areas and the park at the moment is not charging fees until summer starts: Overall, it's a wonderful spot so I highly recommend it.. read more

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I had an amazing time. I had been wanting to visit round valley for a while and I went about a week ago. I went on a Sunday with a friend about 9:30 am and it was pretty packed they almost reached capacity. I paid $10 for entrance since it was a weekend $5 fot weekday. Plenty of parking and there's areas for swimming in the lake, hiking or the picnic area. Location was very family friendly and everyone had their grills to cookout, tents and music it was a great time for each individual family. There is a food vendor on site which was great I didn't bring Any food. I'd visit again it was such a great time read more

I've now been here twice. It's well worth a look . I did a little hiking and looked at the lake. In season , you can go swimming and there's boating. If you're in the area and have the time, give it a shot. read more

Round Valley Recreation Area - Visiting Vulture - Campgrounds Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

Great spot for a lake swim day trip. They have a lot parking. Facilities are clean and park is well managed. Snack bar is a perk. Get there early for good spots near the water. Will go back every summer. read more

This place is very beautiful but in the West restroom area of the women's and men's restroom I went to check in the women's restroom and my friend went to check in the men's restroom but both restroom lights was not turning on so we need some light in that west restroom area in the women's and men's restroom and for the women's restroom the sink was kind of loss so that need to be tight up and thoses green big trash bins was so full we need a professional worker that could empty thoses full green trash bins and to always keep this park clean and no alcohol glass bottles in this park and never live matches on the table and the employees for the Spring and Summer started for memoral day weekend the employees should give each costumers a medium yellow bag so went the costumers go BBQ with there family the employees should give them a yellow trash bag to bring your own own trash with you and that should be starting by spring time and memoral day and also summer time so this beautiful place should always stay nice and clean. read more

Spent one night at camp site #48. Site was clean, picnic bench not broken, did not use fire pit due to rain. I'd say only two usable flat spots for tents. Very short walk to privy a big plus. No camp site to left of #48 and # 49 is about 70 yards away. Trail is well marked, well maintained, almost no exposure to the sun. Only negative was the path to the water from camp site was too muddy to use....so I couldn't get to the water. You will need to search to find fire wood. Easy to reserve a spot on line. If u r an experienced hiker and in shape hiker you would say trail is moderate/ easy. If u r out of shape or hike very little you would say trail is moderate/hard. Have fun. read more

Round Valley Recreation Area - The pic is overview of the trail I walked 5-18-2024. From parking lot to campsite #48. 5.75 miles from parking lot to camp site #48. - Campgrounds Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

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Covid restrictions partially lifted and rules clearly posted. I visited Round Valley on a recent late afternoon for some fishing. Sadly, most of the people in the park that I came across did not wear masks and were a bit careless with social distancing (and this place is vast). Someone didn't pick up after dog. A group of about ten having a picnic by me, once again thwarting the rules posted on an electronic sign entering the park. Bathroom facilities not open. Cutting the parking in half only puts people closer together. With no noticeable enforcement and crowds only going to get bigger, I'm going to try some new places instead this summer. read more

For the boat launch area. 5 stars I brought my inflatable kayak and all you need is a fishing license to enter for free. The day I went, the waterline was much lower than the docking piers, so there was a lot of space for people to launch their kayaks, motor boats, paddle boards, etc. Once you get into the water, it's quite calm except for the occasional motor boat. The water is super clear and not that cold (July). My kids loved sliding out of the kayak and swim in the open water. Afterwards, we drove to the main area and saw that there is a $10 fee for NJ residents. We didn't get a chance to visit as it was getting late, but will definitely come back for an all-day activity. For the beach area: 4 stars If you're visiting during the summer, you have to consider arriving before 9 am. We arrived around 9:30, and the picnic areas are filled with many people, and most were already starting their grills. The beach, however, doesn't open until 10am. That's when the lifeguards come out. They slowly open section by section. By 11, the whole beach area is open. The sand is decent and clean, but the water is full of algae and not as clear as the main lake. If you look at the map, the lake with the beach is actually separated from all the boat traffic. Although social distancing is observed on the beach, it is not in the water. The the bathrooms are open but there isn't any showers. Make sure you bring an umbrella and sunscreen. read more

Round Valley Recreation Area - Lake - Campgrounds Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

This review is for the camping aspect only. There are many stores nearby to supply yourself before heading into the bush. I've been coming here from NY since the late 80s to camp. If you want a quiet, nearly Adirondack-style experience you can do it here. It takes around 45 minutes to paddle straight across to the farthest sites which are roughly 2.8 miles from launch. Paddling runs at around 3MPH, walking speed. Hiking, of course, runs a bit slower at around 2-2.5MPH depending on terrain. Potable water has always been an issue here. There are pumps on either end of the campground area, but they are not very pleasant to use. The water out of them at start-up is rusty and silty and you must pump 5 gallons at least (10 minutes, roughly) until it clears up. That's a lot of work, especially after hiking or boating in and setting up camp. I carry 2 5-gallon cubes of water from home and filter out of the reservoir to supplement. I have cubes that are still stained from the pumped water. The sites range from overgrown and hard to find (inland, generally) to very nice and roomy, right on the water. Don't know why anyone would take an inland site. Lower-numbered sites, say #1 through #40 or so, are more popular and second-half, #50 on, less so. Most sites are very well spaced apart from each other. Downsides are the many damaged tables and, at times, significant litter and broken gear left behind. The picnic tables appear to damage easily, and get rotted out. I blamed vandals for damage but I broke off part of a seat moving one around. Sorry. Level sites are here but can be a challenge to find. Because the ground can be bare and rocky, I carry a piece of Astroturf as a ground sheet to protect the tent floor and make it a bit more comfortable inside. It can be a long walk to the toilet building from your site. As a result, some people crap near their site and leave toilet paper all over. The toilets are serviced regularly and trash is picked up from the hoppers outside. They are not smelly. I've never had any animal problems IE bears, racoons, mice, etc. I still hang my food, though. There isn't much to do here, once you're onsite, which can be either boring or welcome. There are some hiking trails to explore and checking out the other sites is always something to do. You can paddle around the open water, getting scorched on a hot summer day, but there aren't any coves or streams to explore. Bring your own entertainment. Cell service is usually available. Digital TV can be, on the far side per my experiments. I usually spend a lot of time listening to wacky, free-form, eclectic WFMU 91.1 when I'm setting up, or cutting wood, or doing something. Don't underestimate the reservoir conditions because weather can change quickly, and it does. You may think you're on a little lake but take it seriously. People die here so wear your PFD. I got swamped once coming back, due to wind and waves, and lost a lot of gear to water damage. Which brings me to... RV is known as the Bermuda Triangle of NJ. Boaters vanish inexplicably but their vessels or gear do not. A few years ago, when water levels were low, the place was closed for a day when multiple law enforcement agencies searched for bodies but nothing was found. This was all I could think about as I struggled to get my swamped kayak back to the launch. I've had some strange experiences here. I've heard voices having conversations just outside of some sites, last time at #16. No one was camping nearby. (To be fair, my last visit on the far side was uneventful.) Another time, something was trying to push it's way up through the stones surrounding the fire pit, as if it was was buried underneath and trying to get out! Slow, weak push up, moving some stones, then it stopped and started again. Never came through. Like a supreme wuss I took a large stone and placed it on top and it stopped. I'm not proud of that but there is no way I was going to remove the stones to see what's under there. Upshot: this can be a great place to go. You can save considerable time and gas going here versus upstate NY somewhere. Plan carefully, be respectful, learn from the goofs and you will be back. Like me. read more

I have been quite a bit through the years. It is beautiful and peaceful. It gets very crowded in the summer months. You can bbq, go in the water, boat, kayak, paddle board, fish, whatever you pleasure is. If you are looking for a spot to enjoy nature do not be afraid to come here. read more

Round Valley Recreation Area - Campgrounds Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

Doing this review because a lot of them feel extremely outdated, so here we go. Access: There are two ways to get to your campsite, boating and the great 3 mile trek. Starting with the hike, the path is not the best, filled with a ton of rocks placed by the lands-men. It makes the hike extremely difficult which could have been avoided. Moreover, theres a few points on the trail where you're walking side by side from a highway, crossing driveways, passing construction zones, and past fencing. Extremely awkward and takes you out of the hiking experience immediately. Not ideal especially since you have to pay to camp on the site. I was extremely dissatisfied. Boating may be more worth it to avoid these downfalls and get your moneys worth. Amenities: There are two water pumps. One at the beginning of the camp site and one at the end. They tend to get far if you plan on camping further into the campsite so I would plan ahead. The primitive restrooms aren't maintained at all but if you're there more for the "outdoorsy" experienced not a huge downfall. Most of the campsites have access to a picnic table and fire ring which is a huge plus. Overall: For starters, the water is beautiful and clean, although there is no swimming, swim at your own risk and don't get caught? I had a wonderful time at this location, the sites were big enough for play and privacy. The water was clean and provided a lovely view in the morning and it was quiet and dark as expected by sundown. But this site just missed with the awful trail of three miles. Although there were service roads throughout the campsite, visitors were not able to use them. The necessary carry in and out for 3 miles is a huge downfall. Moreover, the hike itself along highways, across roads, and down strategically places pebbles and rocks were a huge miss and made it extremely difficult and slippery. I highly recommend boating as hiking will probably make the experience a lot more sour than wanted. It shouldn't be a "choose between the two" considering you're paying but what can you do... pick boating if you really want to see it for yourself. read more

I met some friends at this recreation area over the summer and had an amazing time. We spent the day and enjoyed the beautiful weather. However, I was disappointed I had to pay $20 since I was an out of state resident. Next time I will carpool to save some $. The funny thing is they will close the entrance down once they reach the parking capacities. Some of the girls I was meeting were from NJ and gave us the heads up. It was supposed to be 8 of us meeting but only two of us made it before they started turning people away. Me and my friend liked our location we had picked out under a tree near shade but stilll visible towards the water. My other friends settled to another location close by but we had already paid our fees to this park and decided to chill. The park was crowded as people BBQ'd, played in the water or just chilled with family and friends. There was a small police presence for security, We brought our own picnic based meal and snacks. Overall I enjoyed the recreation area and would venture out here again to enjoy some fun in the sun. read more

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Lots of greenery Lots of picnic tables Lots of grills Lots of reservoir water to swim in Lots of bugs Lots of families partying it up in all the picnic areas Lots read more

Round Valley is a beautiful place to go and connect with nature. There is a beach, power boat launch, kayak launch, picnic areas, hiking trails and a campground. The campground is only accessible by boat or hiking. The park is free from Labor Day to Memorial Day. If you go during the summer months there is a fee and make sure to get there early. It fills up quick and they close the park. read more

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It was okay. The hike was sort of boring. View of the reservoir was nice. Camp site was primitive- glad it is hike-in only

We didn't even know lake/beaches like this existed in NJ, it was really nice and fun. A lot of people were picnicking with their grills, kids playing on the jungle gyms in the playground area, and plenty of people in the water. The sand area on the beach wasn't so big and the distance you can go out Is limited, everyone had to be out of the water by 5:30pm but the park said it didn't close until 8:00pm, so that was a bummer. Overall this place was a good time, family friendly, & well patrolled. read more

Yes the $5 weekday entrance fee is great (for NJ residents) however the stairs from the parking lot down to the main swimming area are crumbling, the sand had all kinds of trash and food waste in it...very disappointing. The water was nice, the lifeguards were polite, but the "take your trash" policy doesn't seem to be enforced and the place just looked generally run down. read more

I've been coming here for yearssss ever since I was a baby and I have to say it's gone down a bit. The recreation area still seems clean which is great! I only seen one person working the kitchen area which was fine because it was during a week day so it wasn't much point in having a large staff. However, it seems like the beach area was a little dirty. There were no garbage cans around; the goal was "trash in trash out" however this makes it very inconvenient for carrying garbage in the car. There were also a lot of mosquitos on the actual beach area which was very surprising. It was a somewhat gloomy/sunny/rainy day which is probably the reason for the high mosquito population. The water isn't the cleanest, however it is a lake. This is/was a favorite childhood past time so I'm sure I will continue to come back as long as I live in the area. There could just be some upgrades done such as having garbage cans. Maybe it was only like that during the week. read more

Round Valley Recreation Area - Campgrounds Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

Not sure what happened here. Used to come here as a kid and it was like disney land to me. We recently made a trip out here to fish but we were shocked to find that the access to the big lake from the boat ramp was cut off. "Restricted access" as of now. So basically if you dont have a boat you cant fish the large reservoir, with the exception of the actual boat ramp as well. As for the small lake the trail going around the back that used to take you along the far side of the small lake hasnt been tamed or trimmed since ive been coming here, which makes it impossible to travel especially with a large fishing bag and a couple poles in hand. Seems like they only tend to the rich here, people with boats or those that can rent them, which isnt me so i guess ill go screw myself read more

This location is okay since there are not many cool areas to go in NJ for one. I always go on the weekend but I was kinda surprised they ACTUALLY charge on the weekdays ? It's not the worth the money. I'd say it's good since it goes to upkeep but it looks like they rarely do any. There's a lot of areas kinda broken down and there's trash in many spots. I also think it's kinda strange they close at 4 pm when sunset doesn't happen until 5-6 which is kinda unfortunate. It doesn't even get dark at those hours. read more

Round Valley Recreation Area - Lake - Campgrounds Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

Hiked into Round Valley for some camping over the past weekend. We stayed at one of their group sites which are about 3.5 miles from the parking lot. The terrain here was really nice although the elevations of the trail can seem a bit much. I don't mind going up and down hills, but it seem every time you come down a large hill you start right up another one. On the way out we hiked in smaller groups then our large one coming in. So our group did find a few short cuts that keep up from some unnecessary terrain. The site we had was amazing. I would suggest if you're coming in to camp trying to get a site on the water, it really made our weekend. Hiking in some fishing poles was a great idea too, I hear that they can be very strict about having a license and all but I wasn't bothered once. I would still go there with a license just in case. At dusk and dawn you can see the Insects flying off the water and the fish jump up to get them. Makes fly fishing with a dry fly really nice. If you have a boat if you go down between 40-60ft you can catch some monster fish. Overall, I would come here again without hesitation. read more

Really large, magnificent area with a large lake that is surrounded by verdant hills. The photo I posted is merely on a bay that is off the much larger lake (the bay is seen in the detail on the map of the area). The bay has the beach on it. There are trails around the lake, and wildlife. A hawk flew 20 feet in front of me and settled near a table in the picnic area. This is as close to a hawk as I have been in the wilderness. The picnic area has several grills and tables and is on the bay near the beach, and there are other areas around the lake. I encountered very friendly people in the picnic area. The area is well maintained with ample facilities. My photo, and the others posted, show what a peaceful area this is to visit. Logistics are nicely laid out; simply pass through the entry gate and choose the parking area where you want to begin your stay. This is one area that you will want to experience. read more

Round Valley Recreation Area - View from beach area. This is a bay off the large lake. The hills around the lake make the area a dramatic place to visit. - Campgrounds Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

Campsite 038W was really nice with the fire pit and picnic table. We were right on the water which was really convenient for fishing and just taking walks on the beach. Unfortunately, for us both locations where we could place our tent we're at a slight angle - about 10 degrees. This caused us to slide in our sleeping bags and on our sleeping pads in the middle of the night. Also, for those who are thinking about hiking to the campsite with your pack fully loaded with gear - think again. The Cushetunk Trail was pretty much straight up or straight down most of the way from the South Lot to the campsite. We knew the trail was a little mountainous but did not expect that level of terrain. We were pretty much exhausted and in pain by the time we reached the campsite. Hiking this trail with a full pack should be recommended for more advanced hikers. It was about 3 miles from the South Lot to the first campsite and then another mile down the road full of hills and valleys to campsite 038W. The place was beautiful and we really enjoyed our time. Just be wary of the difficulty of the hiking trail that leads you to the campsite. I highly recommend taking a boat across the reservoir to get there. I would definitely go back again but this time bring a boat and do some more enjoyable hiking without our packs when we get there. read more

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This was one of my favorite recreational areas but sadly I have watched it deteriorate over the years. I went there with my family to enjoy a Sunday afternoon,I tried to look past the obvious flaws and bask in the beauty of this place but I couldn't. For starters the concrete that makes up the main walk path has disintegrated to the point of making it impassable for my family member in a wheelchair. We helped him but the sidewalks are not safe for wheelchairs, strollers or elderly people who have difficulty walking. It is a carry out place but patrons don't seem to understand what that means. While walking on the beach area, I saw so much litter both on the beach and in the water. It's not only unsightly but dangerous for wildlife. As we were walking towards the east picnic area we noticed a young family fishing something out of the water, they had a closed container with murky water next to them.We didn't say anything but simply observed them, this went on for a good 15 minutes while family members used the bathrooms ( the only ones open as it was off season and whose bathroom trash cans overfilled with picnic garbage). We left to go back to the parking lot and I looked back to see the family had caught a turtle and took it out of the water blocking its path. They let their kids mess with it with sticks, poor little turtle kept trying to go back in the water. I overheard them speak Spanish so I went over and asked what they planned to do with the turtle that it was a wild animal not a pet, the mom looked surprised I asked and nervously smiled. I told her to be careful because they grew big and can bite in an attempt to dissuade her. I walked back to my car where my phone was and called the park but because it was off season the office was closed. If you are not aware, not only it is illegal to remove animals from state parks but it disrupts the ecosystem. You can fish with a permit because the fee goes into restocking the water..there is no restocking of turtles. Please teach your children to respect nature, being an immigrant is no excuse for behaving in such an uneducated manner. I left so sad that this beautiful recreational area is being overrun by people who don't value and respect it. I would welcome an increase in park entrance fee if it meant allocating funds to improve the park, and make it safe for all to enjoy. read more

Just camped here this weekend with my brother and sister. Here's the rundown: We reserved a site, somewhere in the middle of the campsites. (I believe they run from 1 to around 88....we stayed at 42). We hiked it in, and I must say that it was surprisingly BRUTAL. This place should be called ROCK Vally, as the trail (and campsites) is absolutely lousy with rocks. The hills are STEEEEEEEEEEEP and you WILL be hurtin' if you aren't used to this level of hiking. I literally had to stop a few times due to CRAMPS that physically stopped me from walking. Its 3 miles to the FIRST campsite, so if youre hiking, you better be prepared. The trail is rough, and dips pretty deep into the wilderness at some points. I really can't stress enough just how serious the trail is. I highly, HIGHLY recommend taking a boat to your site. Speaking of boats, the lake is gorgeous. The views are fabulous, the sites are well kept and the hand pumps and outhouses are a nice touch that let you feel wilderness-y without feeling like a castaway, dying in the woods. The sites all have fire pits and there is PLENTY of wood to get the fires going. I absolutely plan on heading back out next year in the spring/summer. If you plan on going, just know that this ain't la-dee-da camping. You are WILDERNESS CAMPING. Make sure you come prepared, know how to start a fire and have everything you think you will need as there is no help coming should a problem arise. If thats your cup of tea, you'll love it. If you want cabins and park rangers dropping in to check on you, and pre-split logs for roasting smores, you might want to try somewhere else. read more

Totally beautiful, its actually more than a lake,( unlike I was previously told). There is so much clean grass and space for grilling, walking a nice trail, there are picnic tables and stations with shaded bandshells made of wood as well trees for shade as well. Lots of open space and beauty. When I was told we were going to the lake I actually expected it to be a bit more raw and not as equipped as it actually was for so many different activities. It turned out to so much more than I expected. The high point and pleasant surprise for me personally was THE SAND!!! I was just hoping for nature and clean water, but I was'nt expecting there to be miles and miles of clean sand to lay out on, or play in. I layed, I played, and I stayed all day... The water was healing, so soothing to fall back and be welcomed by the fresh water and fish moving all around me. This is was better than any local beach, because you have the option to do more than swim/tan/or play sports, its extremely family friendly, totally organic, non pretensive and a place that will make you happy, and relaxed. People were boating, tanning, swimming, grilling, sort of doing there own thing with lots and lots of space between - so there was'nt the remote aire of feeling cramped or over crowding. Upon entering there are free plastic bags to clean up your area, after yourself or group promoting the notion to keep the grounds and lovely and kept up as you found it. And the grounds are definitely nicely maintained. No douche baggy - jersey shore vibe, no wildness, or belligerent drunks and over bearing loud music ,enough space for every one to have a great time.. Very peaceful and serene- very fun.. My new tan lines & I will definitely be back. read more

Round Valley Recreation Area - Boy did I have fun! - Campgrounds Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

Vile. I will never return. The water was on the gross side but my problem is the bathrooms. Disgusting. Like the bowels of hell. I have never seen a worse bathroom... And I have used bathrooms in NYC subway stations and the restroom the Staten Island K-Mart! I'm talking about Hylan Boulevard location. NASTY. Anyway... I can't believe I paid $20 to look at filthy water and run out of the bathroom in fear. It was seriously a biohazard. It should be burned down. First we were turned away because it was full. Then an hour later they opened back up. It was still an over crowded circus. Awful. read more

Nice place for family outing or hiking. 5$ entry fee but worth it for maintaining it. Good beach read more

This is a great wilderness camping experience. everything is just as advertised on the Reserve America website. A few things to know: 1. You can only reserve two or more nights.. one night stays are walk up only 2. The drinking water is available at pumps throughout the campsite, and it is ice cold and drinkable right from the pump, however the pumps are prone to breaking so bring some reserve water. 3. The hike in and back is not to be underestimated. At a minimum it is 3.5 miles... as much as 6.5. The terrain is rocky and at times steep uphill and downhill. Plan the size of your pack carefully and get a good walking stick. My pack was 55lbs which was way too heavy. 4. The fire pits and cooking grates are very effective and there is deadfall everywhere. Not so much natural tinder though so pick up some dead pine needles and cones on the way in along the 1st mile or so till they dissappear. The ground tends to be rocky at the sites but there are lots of grasses to lay down for some padding. 5. Friday nights are very sparcely populated. Saturday nights can be very crowded. Overall an amazing site and great experience. We will be back for sure. read more

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First trip here I hiked in with a group of friends to the group sites along the water. It was a ~3.5 mile hike from the parking lot to our site, up and down some pretty (surprisingly) steep terrain. I definitely thought it would be easy going at first. The site we had was RIGHT on the water, and was absolutely gorgeous. The water pump near our site was (luckily) tested to be safe days before we got there--otherwise it was a 1 mile hike to get water at the next pump. Those of you looking for a great place to go for hiking, fishing, and/or camping--just come here. Beautiful, clear water in the lake and well worth the trip. read more

Love it here! The reservoir is super clean, great for kayaking and exploring the banks. Hiking trails are nicely maintained and clean. Multiple boat launches both inside and outside of the park. Highly recommended! read more

This place is fantastic. We arrived at 9:30 on a Thursday morning (in July!) and the place was clear of people. It was beautiful - the beach/lake area was clean, there were fish in the water, etc. The bathroom/shower/changing facilities weren't pristine, but was good enough, if you ask me. My only semi-qualm was that, since it was in the middle of the week, there were camps that came with droves of kids. You know, I can't really be mad about it... I believe the park does a good job at keeping track of the numbers and groups per day. Even with about 4 (that I counted) summer camps at the swimming area, it didn't at all feel crowded on the sand or in the water. While the swimming area closes at 6 p.m., it was announced that camp kids have to be out of the water by 2:30p and out of the park by 3p. Not bad. If kids don't bother you, I recommend coming here on a summer weekday. read more

I love this lake! I've been going here since I was a little girl and now I bring my children. It's very clean and safe. My children love it. They have plenty of parking and a park for kids to play. I always find a good spot to set up a tent. My only complaint is the showers, they need to up grade and make it easier for you to hold your small children while you rinse them. But it's not a big deal. It's drama free and everyone minds there own. This is the only lake in nj I go too. I only go on weekends just because it's not so packed and I don't have to leave so early to find a good spot. read more

Round Valley Recreation Area - A Friday at round valley - Campgrounds Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

Lovely little spot for lunch... Caring and courteous staff Life guarded swim area in full sun with sans Shaded picnic and BBQ area Plenty of toilet and water facilities $10 per car ($5for jersey peeps) for a day of swimming, BBQ grills, hiking trails. I asked for a free 20minute pass just to sit and have my snack. Meticulously maintained. To me it was a little toooooo manicured, polished, but some will live that. read more

Great place to have a nice little dive in nj. Viz is great and water temp is decent. Great for training dives or a little weekend dive for fun. Highly recommend when diving fresh in nj read more

Round Valley Recreation Area - The dive site - Campgrounds Near Me - Lebanon, New Jersey

The ride seemed so short for a place that promised to be so obscure. We brought only what we could haul on our backs. "Follow red to yellow, you'll pass a restricted area, it's about 3 miles," said the attendant at the gate. She was chipper, making it all seem like a quick walk to the grocery store. But then, a warning. "If you come to a fork, always stay to the right, don't be tempted to go down by the water too soon or you'll have to climb back up." We nodded our heads, we had the general gist, but the little details of what she said floated away. At the start, we got a preview of the beauty that would lie ahead. Clear water in varying shades of blue invited us forward. But only the strong are rewarded, and we made our gradual accent, slipping on rocks, sweating, hoping that the next turn would lead to the campground sign. We passed the chain linked gates of the restricted area and heard bangs in the distance. "Did we just enter the hunger games?" I couldn't help myself. But the starkness of this section made me wonder, "Are they keeping things out, or are they keeping us in?" A little further on, we began a descent. It was the kind you had to brace for, a decline that made you wish to be climbing instead. It couldn't be too much further, but as it goes when you're somewhere unknown, we began to think that we were lost. Red berries dotted the path everywhere. Our ancestors would know their use, but to us they were forest decorations. "I'm dying to try one of these," he said. I wanted to say that dying may not be the word to use right now, but up ahead was the campground sign. Thankfully, we remembered the warning, and though the water teased below, we stayed to the right and resisted the temptation. Just a bit further and we saw the markers for our site. It was yet another aching descent, but our feet moved quickly; how I wished we could fly. We reached the bottom, struck by the beautiful landscape all to our own- this is round valley, a secret cove of dreams. Cool air danced off the water and kissed my cheeks. Fishermen dotted the lake. Daddy longlegs made their way around the rocky, lunar terrain. There was only us and the sound of the waves. This is what the Pacific North West must feel like. I made a horrible dinner over the campfire and we settled in to watch the sunset. Puffy clouds hung low, the waves paused, and all of the woods slipped into sleep. Sadly, we would be leaving in the morning. As we began our departure, I quickly realized that there is more punishment for leaving paradise than entering. The first slope seemed insurmountable. Almost as if the lake wished for us to slip back down to our new home. How dare we try to leave this place? My legs were on fire, but there was no choice but to keep fighting the terrain. We reached the peak and saw what we had left behind- a untouched, but costly treasure. The woods became progressively tamer as we got closer to the exit. The gnarly vines gave way to carefully placed bushes, the rocky paths to flattened roads. As we passed other visitors, our grimaced faces told what was in store for them, causing a slight dip in their smiles and a glint of worry in their eyes. We quietly drove away from round valley, knowing that our site was the most beautiful, and that we would take its number to our graves. read more

Great lake in NJ! It is $10 for NJ residents and $20 for non-NJ. The lake area is really nice with one of the biggest lake beaches in the area. It also has two playgrounds on either side of the beach, which is great for kids. The place is clean, and when we went on Memorial Day it was not crowded. read more

What an awesome place for hikes and photo-ops! Got here around 1 o clock in the afternoon and found plenty of parking. It was not very busy for such a beautiful day. Went on a hike with my wife and got plenty of pictures. There are much longer trails that I would be interested in trying out next. read more

Saying that Round Valley is beautiful is an understatement. Maybe it's because I'm a city mouse and this was my first time camping. Maybe it's because I've been bitten by the love bug..... and all those other cliches. Trust me, I have visited many amazing places in the world, this was unforgettable. What's not to love? Calm blue waters, majestic tress and a scenic nature hike, all of which made me feel like I had stepped into Narnia. If you want a real wilderness, camping experience this is the perfect place. I know this is starting to sound like an advertisement, but no, I didn't get paid to write that. I am not what anyone would consider an "outdoorsy person." I very much love my warm comfy bed, coffee shops, hairdryers and manicures. I spend most of my time in the city, wearing heels, makeup and pretty clothes. You could say that I'm prissy and that's okay. If you would have told me that I would be wearing sneakers to go anywhere other than the gym, that I'd have to trade my girly purse for a backpack and hike 4 miles to get to a campground I would have laughed in your face, but here there I was. I guess there is a first time for everything. I also had a very sweet and convincing reason to leave my city comforts behind, hence the love bug reference. But I digress, about two hours from NYC, I was blown away by the true beauty of this place. By true, I mean, untouched (well sort of) untouched, real nature. I've been to lakes, etc. before that seem to be very well-kept and ready for visitors--not that this wasn't, it was organized--but it was definitely let "be," which is what you want if you're seeking nature, right? A lot of their campsites are currently closed due to Hurricane Sandy and so we had to hike for about 3-5 miles to get to the ones that were open. At first we walked a few miles with our camping "gear" food and what not-- which made some in the group quite the "unhappy campers" (I couldn't help myself on that one). Fortunately, a Good Samaritan saved us from having to do it the rest of the 2+ remainder miles and offered to drive all of our things to our final destination. This allowed some of us to hike the rest of way and enjoy the scenery. It was a good workout. It wasn't until after we started walking that some of the other visitors told us there is actually a shortcut we could have taken, which is closer to the campsites. So make sure you find out first where in relation to your campsite you park before you head out there and avoid the long walk if you can help it. We didn't know, but of course, these things always happen and everything is never perfect. Call me crazy, but I think that's part of the fun too. We experienced a torrential downpour at night, which made sleeping in the tent thrilling, to say the least. It was magical! At least there were no scary bugs--a plus from going at the beginning of fall. In the end, I thought I was going to be the weirdo who was going to feel awkward and not enjoy any of it, but I learned something about myself: I actually do love nature. I just let myself enjoy the moment. When you're in good company at a place like this that's not even hard to do. Granted we only camped out there for a day and half, but I think I could have stayed longer and I am ready to go back as soon as possible. read more