Lake Marcia Bathhouse

Montague, New Jersey · on Lake Marcia · High Point State Park

Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: $5
SEASON: Best in summer

About Lake Marcia Bathhouse

Lake Marcia is a 20-acre spring-fed lake inside High Point State Park in Sussex County, New Jersey, near the state's highest point. It is the park's official, lifeguard-supervised swimming area, complete with a bathhouse, changing rooms, and a snack concession.

Lake Marcia sits within High Point State Park, a roughly 16,000-acre park donated to the state in 1923 by Anthony and Susie Dryden Kuser, near the 220-foot High Point Monument that marks New Jersey's highest elevation (1,803 feet). The broader park includes the Dryden Kuser Natural Area, an Atlantic white cedar bog with rare plant species, along with over 50 miles of trails including a stretch of the Appalachian Trail.

Swimming at Lake Marcia Bathhouse

Swimming takes place at a designated, lifeguard-supervised beach on the spring-fed lake, with a bathhouse providing changing rooms, restrooms, and showers, plus a concession/snack stand and picnic areas nearby. Inner tubes, rafts, and other flotation devices are prohibited (only U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets are allowed), and kayaks/paddleboards are also barred from this particular lake (unlike the park's other lakes). This is a developed, family-oriented swim beach rather than an informal or backcountry swimming hole.

The hike in

To the water: 0 mi - drive-up beach with an on-site parking lot
Time on foot: Under 5 minutes on foot from the beach parking lot to the water.

No hike is required. Lake Marcia has its own dedicated 'beach parking lot' per the park's official trail guide (used as a reference point for two nearby hiking trailheads: the Old Trail starts 'at far side of the picnic/parking area across from the beach parking lot,' and the Monument Trail can be accessed by 'parking at/near the Interpretive Center, the north end of Lake Marcia, or the Monument parking area'). This is a fully developed, drive-up state park beach, not a hike-in swimming hole.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

Good for kids

Lake Marcia is the park's official, lifeguard-supervised family swim beach with a full bathhouse (changing rooms, showers, restrooms), snack stand, and first-aid station on site. Swimming is only sanctioned when lifeguards are on duty, and flotation devices/rafts (other than USCG-approved life jackets) are banned, which limits horseplay but also means no verified info on entry slope/depth was found this pass, so caution with small children is still warranted.

Parking

Paid, No separate parking fee; covered by the park's seasonal entrance fee (Memorial Day-Labor Day): NJ residents $5 weekdays/$10 weekends & holidays, non-residents $10 weekdays/$20 weekends & holidays (oversized vehicles double); free entry Labor Day-Memorial Day.

The park's official trail guide refers to a dedicated 'beach parking lot' at Lake Marcia (used as a landmark for the nearby Old Trail trailhead) and notes additional parking at 'the north end of Lake Marcia' (used for the Monument Trail), confirming on-site, drive-up parking directly at the swim beach.

Restrooms

Yes

Restrooms, showers, and changing rooms are inside the Lake Marcia bathhouse adjacent to the beach, plus a first-aid station and a cash-only snack/concession stand.

Hours

Park gate: 8:00am to sunset (April 1-Nov. 30); 8:00am-4:30pm (Dec. 1-March 31). The Lake Marcia swim beach itself operates only in-season when lifeguards are on duty (roughly Memorial Day-Labor Day, weather/staffing dependent).

Swim smart

Swimming is only sanctioned when lifeguards are present per official policy, implying the lake is considered unsafe or is off-limits for swimming outside lifeguarded hours. The park also advises general tick and black bear awareness.

Rules: Swimming permitted only in the designated Lake Marcia beach area when lifeguards are on duty (seasonal). No inner tubes, rafts, or other flotation devices, only U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets allowed. No kayaks/paddleboards in Lake Marcia (permitted instead on Sawmill and Steenykill Lakes). Pets not permitted on the beach; leashed (6 ft max) elsewhere in the park. No amplified music/speakers on the beach. Alcohol and smoking prohibited park-wide. No trash receptacles in the park, visitors must carry out all waste.

This is an informational listing, not an invitation. Conditions and access change; verify locally before you go. Visiting any swimming hole is at your own risk. See our Terms of Use.

On the water

Restrictions: No kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, motorboats, or other personal watercraft are permitted in Lake Marcia itself. Boating/canoeing (self-launch) is instead available at Sawmill Lake and Steenykill Lake boat ramps elsewhere in the same park.

The 'Friends of High Point State Park' group lists an occasional supervised 'Boating on Lake Marcia' event (e.g., a Sept. 12 afternoon session) on its site, suggesting rare, organized exceptions to the general no-watercraft rule, but this is not open public boating.

Backstory

High Point State Park's land (over 16,000 acres) was donated to New Jersey in 1923 by Anthony and Susie Dryden Kuser; the 220-foot High Point Monument, honoring New Jersey veterans, sits near the lake at the state's highest elevation point.

Lake Marcia Bathhouse: FAQ

Does Lake Marcia Bathhouse charge a fee?

Park entrance fee applies Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day: NJ residents $5 weekdays / $10 weekends & holidays; non-residents $10 weekdays / $20 weekends & holidays (oversized vehicles double). Free entry Labor Day to Memorial Day.

Is Lake Marcia Bathhouse kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Lake Marcia Bathhouse?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Lake Marcia Bathhouse?

When is the best time to visit Lake Marcia Bathhouse?

Summer, when lifeguards are on duty (per the park's seasonal swim schedule); as of the 2026 season lookup, the swim area was listed as closed while the park recruits lifeguards.

What are the rules at Lake Marcia Bathhouse?

Swimming permitted only in the designated Lake Marcia beach area when lifeguards are on duty (seasonal). No inner tubes, rafts, or other flotation devices, only U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets allowed. No kayaks/paddleboards in Lake Marcia (permitted instead on Sawmill and Steenykill Lakes). Pets not permitted on the beach; leashed (6 ft max) elsewhere in the park. No amplified music/speakers on the beach. Alcohol and smoking prohibited park-wide. No trash receptacles in the park, visitors must carry out all waste.

What water body is Lake Marcia Bathhouse on?

Lake Marcia Bathhouse is on Lake Marcia, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.