Spruce Run Recreation Area —
Your Complete Guide
New Jersey's third largest reservoir: 15 miles of shoreline for boating, fishing, picnics and lakeside camping, an hour and a half from New York City.
Know Before You Go
- EntryFree off-seasonMemorial Day weekend to Labor Day: $5 NJ / $10 weekdays, $10 / $20 weekends and holidays
- SwimmingClosed in 2026NJDEP closed the swim area for the 2026 season
- AlgaeBloom advisoriesConfirmed harmful algal blooms; call the park office for today's level
- Wind25 mph ruleAll boating stops when wind reaches 25 mph
- Pets6-foot leashNot in the campground or on the swimming beach
- TrashCarry it outThere are no trash cans in the park
What is Spruce Run Recreation Area?
Spruce Run Recreation Area is a New Jersey state park built around Spruce Run Reservoir, the third largest in New Jersey: 1,290 acres of water with 15 miles of shoreline in the hills of Hunterdon County, near Clinton. People come to picnic, boat with motors up to 10 hp, sail, paddle, fish, walk a 2.6-mile section of the Highlands Trail and camp from April to October. The gate is open 8 a.m.–4 p.m., seven days a week, and admission is free once Labor Day passes, until Memorial Day weekend. The swim area is closed for the 2026 season.
The reservoir came first. The 1958 Water Supply Law and Water Bond Act led to its construction, and Spruce Run went into service in 1963, holding 11 billion gallons behind a 6,000-foot earthen dam. The recreation area around it was dedicated in 1973. Today the New Jersey Water Supply Authority runs the water and the NJDEP State Park Service runs everything on shore (history and the reservoir).
Before you go, plan for three things. Harmful algal blooms occur in the reservoir, so check the current alert level before any contact with the water (swimming and algae). There are no trash cans, so plan to carry out what you bring. And a full park on a hot summer weekend shuts its gate to new cars, so arrive early (directions and parking).
Spruce Run Recreation Area at a Glance
Things to Do at Spruce Run
Most of it happens on or beside the water.
Camping
60 tent and trailer sites, 7 with hookups and 3 shelter cabins on a peninsula, April 1 to October 31.
Sites & Fees →
Boating & Paddling
A trailer ramp and cartop launch, motors up to 10 hp, sailing, kayaks and paddleboards, and seasonal boat rentals.
Launch & Rules →
Fishing
Largemouth bass, catfish, sunfish, yellow perch and carp, with two stocked feeder streams and ice fishing in winter.
What's Biting →
Hiking & Biking
A 2.6-mile Highlands Trail section through maple and pine forest, plus park roads made for easy rides.
Highlands Trail →
Picnics & Groups
Four picnic areas with grills above the water, two covered pavilions, and a group area that holds 200.
Picnic Areas →
Winter
Free entry, sledding, cross-country skiing, ice fishing and ice sailing on the reservoir. No ice skating.
Winter Activities →Trails and Paths at Spruce Run
One marked trail section in the park, and a longer branch the park looks after in Warren County.
Maple forest, then pine forest, then the water's edge, before the trail leaves the park onto NJ Fish and Wildlife land.
NJDEP calls the grounds excellent for biking; Picnic Area 4's car-free lot is for learning to ride.
A branch of the Highlands Trail across farm and forest properties the park manages; print the section maps.
How to Get to Spruce Run Recreation Area
By car, from Interstate 78 and Route 31.
Park Address
68 Van Syckles Road, Clinton, NJ 08809. From the east, I-78 Exit 17 to Route 31 north. Directions.
Park Office
Phone 908-638-8572. Open 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed Saturday and Sunday. Contacts.
Summer Fees
Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, $5 to $20 per car. Free the rest of the year. Fees.
Drive Times to the Park
| From | Miles | Drive (typical, no traffic) |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | 56 | 1 hr 18 min |
| Newark | 46 | 1 hr |
| Philadelphia | 65 | 1 hr 36 min |
| Allentown | 37 | 54 min |
Each drive ends at the park entrance on Van Syckles Road. Miles and minutes come from OSRM, a routing service built on OpenStreetMap roads, checked November 10, 2026, from each city hall to the park entrance. They are typical times with no traffic. Add time for rush hour and summer weekend traffic on I-78. NJDEP's reservation site puts the park about 1.5 hours from New York City.
Turn-by-turn from each cityPark Map
The park's outline as OpenStreetMap volunteers drew it. For lots, launches and the trail, use NJDEP's area map.
See the mapToday at Spruce Run
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Spruce Run open for swimming?
Not in 2026. NJDEP closed the Spruce Run swim area for the whole season, and state park swimming is allowed only with lifeguards on duty. Harmful algal blooms also occur in the reservoir.
Do you pay to enter Spruce Run Recreation Area?
Not in the off-season, which runs from after Labor Day to Memorial Day weekend. In the summer season a car pays $5 (NJ) or $10 on weekdays and $10 or $20 on weekends and holidays; on foot or bike, $2.
When is Spruce Run open?
Gate: 8 a.m.–4 p.m., seven days a week. Office: 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed Saturday and Sunday.
Can you camp at Spruce Run?
Yes, April 1 to October 31. There are 60 tent and trailer sites ($20 a night for NJ residents), 7 hookup sites, 3 shelters and a group site, booked on camping.nj.gov.
Are dogs allowed at Spruce Run?
Yes, leashed (six feet maximum). Dogs can't enter the campground or the sandy swimming beach.
What size boat motor is allowed on Spruce Run Reservoir?
10 horsepower or less, gas or electric. Sailboat masts may be up to 30 feet above the waterline, and jet skis are not allowed.
Where is Spruce Run Recreation Area?
At 68 Van Syckles Road, Clinton, NJ 08809, in Hunterdon County, off Route 31 near Interstate 78.
Is Spruce Run a state park?
Yes, it is a New Jersey state recreation area run by the NJDEP State Park Service. The reservoir is operated by the New Jersey Water Supply Authority.