Upper Greenwood Lake Vacation Rentals

Why Rent On Upper Greenwood Lake

Upper Greenwood Lake rests on Bearfort Mountain at roughly 1,300 feet elevation in the New Jersey Highlands, about 50 miles northwest of New York City. The 385-acre lake was completed in 1932 by damming West Milford Brook, and it sits within West Milford Township flanked by Abram S. Hewitt State Forest to the southeast and Wawayanda State Park to the west, giving the surrounding landscape a forested, ridge-top character that feels considerably removed from the metropolitan corridor below. Upper Greenwood Lake is distinct from the larger Greenwood Lake that straddles the New York and New Jersey border; the two bodies of water are connected by streams but stand apart in scale and atmosphere. An important planning note: the lake is primarily a residential community managed by the Upper Greenwood Lake Property Owners Association, and lake access, beaches, and parklands are available to association members and qualifying guests. If you are booking a rental property in the area, confirm lake and beach access arrangements directly with your host before finalizing the trip.

Things to do at and around Upper Greenwood Lake

For guests who secure access through a rental property, the lake supports boating, sailing, kayaking, and swimming at association beaches, offering a quieter and more intimate experience than the larger recreational lakes of northern New Jersey. Fishing for bass, trout, and panfish is available in the lake and throughout the surrounding Highlands streams. The real draw for visitors without association membership is the surrounding public land: Abram S. Hewitt State Forest borders the lake directly and offers isolated hiking accessible only on foot, with access points near the Appalachian Trail corridor. Wawayanda State Park to the west has its own swimming lake, camping, equestrian trails, and extensive forest access that opens the area to anyone willing to drive the short distance. In winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing through Hewitt State Forest make the area a legitimate four-season destination.

What to do near Upper Greenwood Lake

The New Jersey Highlands surrounding the lake are rich in trails, preserved history, and small-scale character that rewards slower travel. Long Pond Ironworks State Historic Site, a preserved 18th-century iron-making community, sits nearby in Hewitt and offers a genuinely compelling half-day stop for history-minded visitors. The Appalachian Trail passes through the region, making well-planned day hikes straightforward for those who want serious mileage. The Village of Greenwood Lake in neighboring New York is a short drive for waterside dining and marina activity. Mountain Creek ski area in Vernon offers year-round resort amenities, including an adventure park in warmer months for families with children. The elevated setting here means summer temperatures run several degrees cooler than much of northern New Jersey, a meaningful advantage during July and August.

What is the best time to visit Upper Greenwood Lake?

Late June through early September is the peak window for lake swimming and warm-weather enjoyment at the higher elevation, where the ridge-top setting keeps daytime temperatures noticeably cooler than the New York metropolitan area. Fall is exceptional: the hardwood forests around Bearfort Mountain shift through brilliant color from mid-September into October, hiking in Hewitt and Wawayanda reaches its seasonal best, and the residential quiet of the community becomes even more pronounced as summer visitors thin out. Winter brings genuine stillness, occasional snow, and strong snowshoeing conditions through the state forest. Spring activates the trout streams and Appalachian Trail access from April onward, with wildflower season adding early color to the Highlands forest before the canopy fills in.

Where to stay near Upper Greenwood Lake

Vacation rentals within the Upper Greenwood Lake community offer the most direct connection to the lake’s residential waterfront character, with many properties sitting within easy walking distance of the water and benefiting from the forested ridge-top setting that distinguishes this corner of Passaic and Sussex counties. Properties range from modest lakeside cabins to larger homes suited to family groups. Guests traveling with dogs will find the Hewitt and Wawayanda trail networks outstanding in any season, regardless of lake access. Browse Lake.com for vacation home and cabin rental listings in the Upper Greenwood Lake and West Milford area.