Sunrise Lake Beach Club

Morristown, New Jersey · on Sunrise Lake · Lewis Morris County Park

Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: $12
SEASON: May

About Sunrise Lake Beach Club

Sunrise Lake Beach Club is a fee-based, lifeguarded swim beach on the 8-acre Sunrise Lake inside Lewis Morris County Park in Morris Township, NJ, operated by the Morris County Park Commission. It is a managed, developed county beach facility rather than an informal wild swimming hole, open seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. The beach draws families for open lake swimming alongside water slides and an inflatable obstacle course.

The beach sits on Sunrise Lake within the wooded, 2,213-acre Lewis Morris County Park, the Morris County Park Commission's first property (opened 1958) in the hills above Morristown, near the Jockey Hollow section of Morristown National Historical Park. The lake itself was acquired by the Park Commission on March 1, 1957, and is surrounded by the park's forest, picnic groves, and more than 25 miles of hiking, biking, and horseback trails.

Swimming at Sunrise Lake Beach Club

Swimming takes place in a lifeguarded section of the lake with designated shallow and deep areas; children ages 7-17 must pass a facility swim test before being allowed into the deep end, and children under 14 require adult supervision. The beach layers on a sandy shoreline, a Zoom Flume inflatable water slide, and a Wibit inflatable obstacle course on top of open lake swimming, making it best suited to families with young children rather than visitors seeking a secluded natural swimming hole.

How to get to this swimming hole

Located at 270 Mendham Road, Morris Township, NJ 07960, within Lewis Morris County Park (per Morris County Park Commission facility page).

The hike in

This is a drive-up county beach facility; the sand and swim area are a short walk from the parking lot, no trail hike required. Lewis Morris County Park separately contains 25+ miles of multi-use hiking/biking/equestrian trails elsewhere in the park, but none of them are on the route to the swim beach itself.

Walk from lot to beach is on the order of a couple minutes; exact distance not specified on official sources.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

Good for kids

Purpose-built family swim beach: lifeguards on duty at all times swimming is permitted, a defined shallow area plus a separate deep end gated by a mandatory swim test for ages 7-17, and required adult supervision for kids under 14. A weekly 'Toddler Time' session (Tuesday mornings in July) gives young children water access away from regular crowds. Inflatable water slide and Wibit obstacle course (life jackets mandatory) add family-oriented amenities on top of open swimming.

Parking

Free

Free designated parking lot near the beach entrance, per sandee.com; free street parking is also available nearby. Lot reportedly fills quickly on peak summer days, so early arrival is recommended. The official Morris County Park Commission pages do not independently confirm lot size or cost, so treat these specifics as lower-confidence (single aggregator source).

Restrooms

Yes

On-site bath/boathouse with restrooms, changing rooms, showers, an office, and a first-aid room (per Morris County Park Commission facility and park-overview pages).

Water clarity

Clear

One secondhand description mentions 'gentle waves and clear waters.' This is the only account found addressing clarity, and it is a lower-confidence one, so treat the clarity claim as plausible but unverified by an independent source. No official Morris County Park Commission water-quality or clarity statement was found, and no candid visitor discussion of this specific spot could be located.

Hours

2026 season: Saturdays-Sundays 10:30am-6:00pm starting May 23; Wednesdays-Fridays 12:30pm-6:00pm plus weekend hours from June 24 through August 28; weekends only 10:30am-6:00pm through Labor Day (Sept 4). Hours subject to change based on lifeguard availability. Toddler Time held Tuesday mornings in July.

Swim smart

Natural water changes with weather and season. Check depth before jumping, watch for current, and never swim alone.

Rules: Children ages 7-17 must pass a facility swim test to use the deep end; children under 14 must be supervised by an adult; life jackets are mandatory for the Wibit obstacle course, paddle boats, and paddleboards; swimsuits are required (no jeans or gym shorts); no running, rough play, or ball games; swimming permitted only when lifeguards are on duty; no rafts or outside flotation equipment; no pets in the bathing area; no smoking, vaping, or cannabis; outside food allowed but no alcohol or glass containers; no grills.

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

PaddleboatPaddleboards

Restrictions: Only the park's own rental paddle boats (2- or 4-person) and stand-up paddleboards (SUP restricted to ages 14+) are used on the lake; life jackets are mandatory for all of these. Official park rules explicitly prohibit rafts or outside flotation equipment, indicating personal kayaks, canoes, and personal watercraft are not permitted. Note: sandee.com's aggregator page claims kayak rentals and a boat ramp exist, which conflicts with the official Morris County Park Commission facility page (paddle boats + SUP only, no kayaks, no ramp mentioned); the official source is treated as authoritative here.

All watercraft use is tied to renting the park's own equipment on-site; visitors cannot bring their own boats/boards.

Rentals nearby

Sunrise Lake Beach Club (Morris County Park Commission)

2-person and 4-person paddle boats; stand-up paddleboards (ages 14+). Life jackets required and provided.

Prices: 2026 rates: 2-person paddle boat $5 / 30 min; 4-person paddle boat $10 / 30 min; SUP $10 / 20 min; Wibit inflatable obstacle course $3 / 20 min.

On the beach itself, 270 Mendham Road, Morris Township, NJ, within Lewis Morris County Park. · Same as beach operating hours (see hours field); rentals available only when the beach is open and staffed.

Backstory

Sunrise Lake (8 acres) was acquired by the Morris County Park Commission on March 1, 1957. Lewis Morris County Park opened in 1958 as the Commission's first park property, beginning from an initial 350-acre acquisition in December 1956.

Sunrise Lake Beach Club: FAQ

Does Sunrise Lake Beach Club charge a fee?

2026 season admission: Adult (18-64) $12 weekday / $16 weekend-holiday; Senior (65+) and Child (5-17) $10 weekday / $14 weekend-holiday; Child 4 and under free; $2 discount with proof of Morris County residency; online presale $10-$14. Additional per-activity fees: Wibit inflatable obstacle course $3/20 min, paddle boats $5 (2-person) or $10 (4-person) per 30 min, stand-up paddleboards (ages 14+) $10/20 min.

Is Sunrise Lake Beach Club kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Sunrise Lake Beach Club?

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

Where do I park for Sunrise Lake Beach Club?

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Sunrise Lake Beach Club?

All watercraft use is tied to renting the park's own equipment on-site; visitors cannot bring their own boats/boards.

When is the best time to visit Sunrise Lake Beach Club?

Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. 2026 hours: Saturdays-Sundays 10:30am-6:00pm from May 23; Wednesdays-Fridays 12:30pm-6:00pm plus weekend hours from June 24 through August 28; weekends only 10:30am-6:00pm through Labor Day (Sept 4). Hours subject to change based on lifeguard availability.

What are the rules at Sunrise Lake Beach Club?

Children ages 7-17 must pass a facility swim test to use the deep end; children under 14 must be supervised by an adult; life jackets are mandatory for the Wibit obstacle course, paddle boats, and paddleboards; swimsuits are required (no jeans or gym shorts); no running, rough play, or ball games; swimming permitted only when lifeguards are on duty; no rafts or outside flotation equipment; no pets in the bathing area; no smoking, vaping, or cannabis; outside food allowed but no alcohol or glass containers; no grills.

What water body is Sunrise Lake Beach Club on?

Sunrise Lake Beach Club is on Sunrise Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.

Conditions right now

Checking the forecast…

Live data from the National Weather Service and USGS. Conditions at the water can differ, use your judgment.

Loading map…

Get directions

At a glance

Land access: Open to the public
Facilities: lifeguards; restrooms; changing rooms; showers; first-aid room; bathhouse/boathouse; picnic tables; reservable beach tent; paddle boat rentals; inflatable water slide; inflatable obstacle course (Wibit)
Highlights: Zoom Flume inflatable water slide; Wibit inflatable obstacle course; sandy swim beach on an 8-acre lake; Munchkin Mondays toddler swim program; Camp Sunrise Lake day camp; reservable beach campout nights
Nearby towns: Brookside (1.0mi); Washington Valley (2.3mi); Coleman Hollow (2.5mi); Glen Alpin (2.6mi)
Coordinates: 40.7882, -74.5439