Going to the beach can be a hassle for many residents of Bergen County. The nearest public beaches in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Branch are usually over an hour away and when factoring in gas, tolls and parking, the trip can be costly. Thankfully, in Mahwah, New Jersey there is an underrated swimming lake with an artificial beach called Darlington Lake.

I first visited Darlington Lake as a young child with my family and our family friends, the Schmidts, one summer in the late 2000s. I had a great time swimming in the lake, playing sports and having a picnic by the water. One memory that stood out in my mind was two guys engaged in the most epic frisbee catch I had ever witnessed. They stood about 100 feet apart and flung the frisbee soaring through the air directly into the other’s hands.

When COVID struck in 2020, I was looking for safe outdoor dates to go on with my wife Ahuva, who I was dating at the time. I conjured up the memories of that swimming lake as a quintessential activity, but didn’t know its name. So I Googled “public swimming lakes near me” and after scrolling through some results, I came across Darlington Lake, which had pictures that looked exactly as I had recalled. I took Ahuva and my sister Hannah there for a fun day at this local mini beach.

As we pulled up to the gate, the guard asked us for identification to see if we were residents of Bergen County. Seeing that we were, the guard informed us that it would cost $10 a person since it was a weekend; on weekdays, the price goes down to $8. (On a different trip to the same place, Ahuva and I went when the credit card reader wasn’t working, and they let us enter for free!) We paid and drove through a large parking area toward the Darlington Lake park grounds.

We settled down by a picnic table near an ice cream truck that was selling frozen delicacies from which I purchased a rainbow snow cone for myself and a chocolate bar for Ahuva. Those treats, together with our bagels, that we brought from home made a delicious outdoor lunch. Looking out from our picnic bench, I realized that the campus was even more beautiful than I had remembered. It was a gorgeous sunny day, with the sun shimmering across the lake. At its center, a stellar sprinkler burst forth water as nearby swimmers got drenched underneath it.

I know there is a warning against swimming after you eat, but the gorgeous waters tempted me, and I could not wait. After finishing my snow cone and lunch, I jumped right in. For the next two hours, I did laps across the lake, swam by the sprinkler numerous times for the fun of getting my head soaked, and hung out in the water with my wife and sister. Once on the sand again, we laid out a beach towel and played card games and Monopoly Deal. We also walked along a running path that took us around the lake, past the basketball courts, and in view of some alluring grassy areas. The park also offers catch-and-release fishing (New Jersey State fishing license required) and a handball court.

This year, Darlington Lake has added probably one of the coolest attractions in all of Bergen County: a humongous water obstacle course dubbed “The Wibit Splash Zone.” The obstacles on the splash zone include monkey bars, wiggle bridge, slide, slope, quarterpipe, rockwall dome, springboards, hurdle, cliffs, peaks from which to jump off, another bridge and balance beam. Sessions are offered daily at 10:40 a.m. and in the afternoons at noon, 2:00, 3:20, and 4:40 p.m. Each session lasts an hour, including 10 minutes dedicated to safety instructions. Participants must be 48 inches or taller; the cost is $10 for adults in-county, $15 for adults out-of-county; and $5 for all children. Additionally, there is a separate course specifically for kids (height 39”-59”). Currently, that course is only open for a 4:40 p.m. session every day.

Overall, I would rate Darlington Lake a 9 out of 10. It is an amazing value for a day full of refreshing swimming, exhilarating water obstacle courses and sports. Darlington Lake’s campus is stunning. Since my first time back in 15 years, I have visited the grounds numerous times and plan to return. As Darlington Lake is freshwater, I was able to swim carefree. The one negative is that there are often a lot of bees swarming around the picnic tables, so be sure to bring bug spray or sit by the beach where there are fewer bees. Tip: if you are planning on hanging out on the beach, be sure to bring an umbrella for shade since there is no covering.

Don’t just take my word for Darlington Lake’s allure; Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco has said, “There’s no better place in Bergen County to beat the heat this summer than the lakes at Darlington! Nestled in the mountains of Mahwah, come relax on our sand beaches or conquer our world-class Wibit Splash Zone obstacle course for refreshing fun, fit for the entire family!”

With just a few weeks left of the summer sun, I highly recommend taking the family and checking out this Bergen County gem. If you are not able to go this summer, make sure to bookmark it for your to-do list for next year!

General Admission: Weekends: $10 per adult (Bergen County resident); $15 per adult (non-Bergen County resident); and $6 for children and seniors (above 61). Weekdays: $8 per adult (Bergen County resident); $10 per adult (non-Bergen County resident); $6 for children; and $3 for seniors (above 61). Splash Zone: $10 per adult (Bergen County resident; $15 per adult (non-Bergen County resident); $5 for kiddie session.

Open Memorial Day through Labor Day from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.

Unique Feature: Brand new water obstacle course in the beautiful swimming lake

Address: 600 Darlington Ave, Mahwah, NJ 07430

Website: www.co.bergen.nj.us/parks-recreation-areas/darlington-county-park

Zachary Greenberg is a health and benefits consultant analyst at Mercer and the TABC track coach. In high school, Greenberg was captain of the TABC chess team and helped TABC capture first place in the 2015 Yeshiva League championships. Additionally, he recently watched the Jewish sitcom “Soon By You” on YouTube. Thank you to Darlington Communications Coordinator Skyler Bolkin for providing helpful information for this article. If you have any recommendations of fun places for Greenberg to cover, email him at [email protected].