17 New Jersey Reservoir Loop Trails For Long Dog Walks Away From Traffic
Water has a funny effect on dogs. Even the laziest couch potato perks up when a breeze carries the scent of a big open reservoir.
New Jersey has many reservoirs with nearby walking and hiking trails. Some routes are short and easy, while others stretch for more than ten miles over rugged terrain.
Leash rules apply almost everywhere, and a few spots ask you to carry out every scrap. Pick your distance and start walking.
1. Manasquan Reservoir, Howell
Gravel underfoot, water on your left, and roughly 5.1 miles of easy rhythm ahead. The Perimeter Trail at Manasquan Reservoir stays flat, which means chatty conversation instead of huffing and puffing.
Leashed dogs are welcome on the trails, and the reservoir area supports a variety of wildlife, including ospreys and eagles.
Gates open at 6 a.m. in warm months. Start at the Visitor Center on Windeler Road in Howell for parking.
2. Merrill Creek Reservoir, Harmony
Tucked in Warren County, Merrill Creek Reservoir sits within a roughly 2,900-acre protected area. The trails around the reservoir pass through woods, wetlands, and other varied terrain.
Rules here are firm and simple. Physical leashes only, no e-collars, and every waste bag leaves with you.
Park at the Visitor’s Center on Merrill Creek Road. Finish before closing time, since staff clear the property.
3. Splitrock Reservoir, Rockaway
Ambitious walkers, this one is your prize. The Splitrock Reservoir Loop in Rockaway covers roughly eleven miles of boulders, roots, and endless small climbs.
Blue blazes mark the loop, while the white Four Birds Trail adds options. Indian Cliffs delivers the view that makes the effort worthwhile.
Leashed dogs are fine, but nothing gets left behind. No trash cans exist, so carry out everything, including what your pup produces.
4. Butler Reservoir, Kinnelon
Also answering to Kakeout, Butler Reservoir sits inside the Pequannock Watershed near Kinnelon. Its main loop runs about 3.5 to 4 miles, mixing wide easy paths with narrow rocky pitches.
Rain turns some sections into a mud buffet, which certain dogs consider a bonus feature.
Keep the leash short near homes where neighborhood dogs bark. Check permit requirements before parking, because watershed land has its own paperwork.
5. MacMillan Reservoir, Mahwah
MacMillan Reservoir sits within the Ramapo Valley County Reservation in Mahwah. The Reservoir Loop follows the shoreline and can be combined with nearby trails to create a longer loop.
A wooden footbridge sits right where everyone stops for photos. Terrain stays mostly flat, though rocky patches keep your ankles awake.
Leashed dogs love it here, and plenty of them wade in for a splash before heading back uphill.
6. Orange Reservoir, West Orange
The paved Reservoir Walking Path around Orange Reservoir is about 1.7 miles long and sits within the South Mountain Reservation in West Orange.
Walking across the dam feels like a small event, and the bridge adds another nice pause.
Leashed dogs join the parade of strollers and joggers. Weekends get lively, so early mornings suit shy pups better.
Park at Cherry Lane.
7. Haledon Reservoir, Franklin Lakes
Swans glide, herons stalk the shallows, and deer slip through the trees. The former Haledon Reservoir is part of the G.
Thomas Donch Nature Preserve, also known as the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve.
Its Shoreline Loop runs about 1.5 flat miles, with boardwalks bridging the soggy bits.
Water stays in view almost the whole way. Leashed dogs welcome, cleanup expected.
Construction has affected the main lot, so street parking may be needed.
8. Oradell Reservoir, Haworth
Foxes, rabbits, and a steady cast of birds treat the woods near Haworth as home turf. The Oradell Reservoir loop along Lake Shore Drive runs an easy 2.1 miles with barely any climbing.
Shoreline access stays limited since the reservoir supplies drinking water. Expect tree cover with occasional glittering views.
Leashed dogs are reported as welcome on the Emerson Woods Preserve trail near Oradell Reservoir. Check current access and parking conditions before visiting.
9. Jersey City Reservoir No. 3
An old waterworks site in Jersey City Heights now forms the Historic Reservoir #3 Preserve. The preserve surrounds a reservoir with a walking path and open park space.
Recent work widened the loop to 48 inches for accessibility. Stone walls in Egyptian Revival style frame the whole scene.
Leashed pets stay on the path. Open daily from 8 a.m. until dusk, entrance on Howie Fink Way.
10. Round Valley Reservoir, Lebanon
Famous for water so clear it looks imported, Round Valley Recreation Area covers 2,350 acres in Lebanon. Six official trails give you real choice.
The red Cushetunk Trail runs near eight rugged miles, while the yellow Campground Trail offers three gentle gravel ones.
Leashed dogs hike happily, though the beach and swimming are off limits for them. No trash cans exist, so pack everything out with you.
11. Spruce Run Reservoir, Clinton
Fifteen miles of shoreline wrap New Jersey’s third largest reservoir, sitting on Van Syckles Road in Clinton. The Hunterdon Highlands Trail threads 2.6 miles through maple and pine.
Want more mileage? The Clinton Mills Dam loop adds 4.7 moderate miles nearby.
Leashed dogs roam the trails, but skip campgrounds, buildings, and the swimming beach. Bring a bag for trash, since receptacles are absent.
12. Pyramid Mountain and Kakeout Reservoir, Montville
Glacial boulders steal the show here. Tripod Rock, Bear Rock, and Whale Head Rock sit scattered across 1,600 rugged acres in Montville, Boonton, and Kinnelon.
The Pyramid Mountain to Kakeout Reservoir loop is a strenuous ten miles, though shorter 3.3 mile options exist too.
Six foot leashes are required. Clear days reveal the New York skyline.
Park at the Visitor Center on Boonton Avenue, early.
13. Brick Reservoir, Brick Township
Smooth pavement, tidy lawns, and gazebos along the way make Brick Reservoir feel like a park designed by someone who really thought it through. The loop runs 1.6 flat miles.
Waste stations, water fountains, restrooms, and benches line the route. Turtles bask while birds patrol the 90 acre water surface.
Leashed dogs love it. Heads up: the path faces a lengthy closure for structural work, so confirm access first.
14. Lake Hopatcong, Landing
Biggest lake in the state, and the trail network matches that ambition. Around Lake Hopatcong you will find a 21 mile system, including an 11 mile blazed stretch.
Prefer something mellow? Hopatcong State Park in Landing offers a 2.3 mile Shoreline Trail and a stroller friendly 2 mile Lake Loop.
Leashed dogs explore freely, minus beaches and buildings. Liffy Island Trail in Jefferson adds boardwalks.
15. Wanaque Reservoir, Passaic County
Ridge walking with a huge silver reservoir below: that is the Wanaque experience. The Wanaque Ridge Trail Loop covers five moderate miles with sweeping vistas.
Bigger appetite? An 8.5 mile loop links Ramapo Lake, a stone castle ruin, and LeGrande Hill.
Leashed dogs are welcome throughout, with cleanup expected. The paved Highlands Rail Trail suits easier days.
Access from Carletondale Road in Ringwood or Back Beach Park.
16. Clinton Reservoir, West Milford
Deep in the Newark Watershed near West Milford, Clinton Reservoir stretches long and quiet between wooded ridges. The full loop via Fire Tower Ridge and the Bearfort Waters-Clinton Trail runs 11.6 demanding miles.
Shorter plans work too, using the 2.7 mile white blazed Clinton West Trail along the shore.
A permit is required for parking and hiking. Keep dogs leashed and out of the water.
17. Swartswood Lake, Newton
Bragging rights belong to Swartswood: it became New Jersey’s very first state park. The glacial lake near Newton in Sussex County still feels wonderfully unhurried.
The Grist Mill Trail loops about 1.1 miles over steep, rocky ground with lake views. Spring Lake Trail offers easier walking through hardwoods.
Leashed dogs join you on trails, not beaches or buildings. Some campsites welcome pets for a fee.
Now grab that leash.
