Greenwood Lake

Greenwood Lake is a reservoir on the border between New Jersey and New York that stretches across two states in a long, winding shape. The water sits in a forested valley landscape and is framed by gentle hills that rise on both shores.

Settlers built a dam in the mid-18th century and turned a natural lake into a larger reservoir for water supply. The Ryerson family raised the dam in the 1830s, which lifted the water level and flooded farmland.

The name comes from the wooded shoreline that settlers saw when they began renaming features in the area. Local residents now use docks along the waterfront communities to fish, swim, and launch small motorboats throughout the warm months.

The area works best in summer or early fall when water temperature is comfortable for swimming and boat ramps are accessible. Several public docks and trails provide access to different sections of the shore.

Tree stumps still stick out of the water in the southern part, left over from farms flooded before the dam was raised. These weathered remains are easiest to see when the water level drops, and they mark the drowned fields.

Location: New Jersey

Elevation above the sea: 190 m

GPS coordinates: 41.17950,-74.33000

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29