Lake Loop 2026 Brings a Bike, Hike and Paddle Challenge to Lake Hopatcong on Sunday, October 4

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The Lake Hopatcong Foundation’s annual Lake Loop returns on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at Hopatcong State Park in Landing, on the Roxbury side of New Jersey’s largest lake. Participants pick one challenge, a bike ride of 20, 40 or 62 miles, a paddle to Bertrand Island or Landing Channel, or a guided 2-mile hike, and everyone finishes together at a lakeside party with lunch, music and a beer garden.

It is not a race. It is a fall morning on the water and on the roads around the lake, and every dollar raised goes back into protecting Lake Hopatcong.

Lake Loop 2026 at a Glance

• When: Sunday, October 4, 2026. Check-in opens at 7:15 a.m.
• Where: Hopatcong State Park, at the southern end of Lake Hopatcong in Landing
• Cost: $50 for cyclists and paddlers, $35 for hikers. Kids 6 to 16 hike for $10, and kids 5 and under are free. Prices go up on event day.
• Included: a T-shirt for adults or a finisher’s medal for kids, a sandwich lunch, refreshments, music and one complimentary beer for guests 21 and over (bring your ID)
• Register: Lake Loop registration on BikeReg

Choose Your Challenge: Bike, Hike or Paddle

Bike. The 20-mile route loops the lake over rolling terrain and is the one most riders pick for the views. The 40- and 62-mile routes add hilly extensions north of the lake through Sparta and Ogdensburg. Routes follow painted arrows on the road shoulders (orange for 62, pink for 40, green for 20), with rest stops along the way and a support vehicle from Cycle Craft. Roads stay open to traffic, riders under 16 are not permitted, and minors must ride with an adult.

Paddle. Paddlers choose a 2.5-mile “Bertrand Island and Back” course or a 4-mile route down into Landing Channel, the southernmost part of the lake. Bring your own kayak, canoe or paddleboard, or rent one on site from Ramsey Outdoor. A life jacket is required at all times.

Hike. The Foundation’s education and outreach director leads a family-friendly, just-under-2-mile hike through Hopatcong State Park, into the wooded hills, along the beach and past the park’s historic landmarks. It is rated easy to moderate, which makes it the pick for families with kids.

Lake Loop Schedule

• 7:15 a.m.: Registration opens, with bagels and coffee
• 8 a.m.: 62-mile bike start
• 9 a.m.: 40-mile bike start
• 9:30 a.m.: 20-mile bike start
• 10 a.m.: 2.5-mile and 4-mile paddle start
• 10:30 a.m.: 2-mile guided hike start
• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Finish line party with food, drinks, music and prize announcements

Start times are staggered so everyone crosses the finish at roughly the same time. The organizers recommend arriving at least 30 minutes early, and nobody can start more than 30 minutes after their mass start. The event runs rain or shine, and registrants get an email on Friday if severe weather forces a change.

Where the Money Goes

Proceeds support the Lake Hopatcong Foundation’s work protecting the lake’s environment and its role as a place to swim, boat and fish. Fundraising is optional, but anyone who raises money on top of the registration fee is entered into prize drawings, and the top team wins a half-day pontoon rental from Bridge Marina. Can’t make it? You can still donate to the 2026 Lake Loop.

Make a Day of It

Early October is one of the best times to be on Lake Hopatcong. If you are planning around the lake, our guide to the best lakes in Morris County covers where you can actually swim, boat and fish, and our Morris County bike trails guide has quieter rides for the rest of the fall. For everything else happening that weekend, see things to do in Morris County this weekend.

Photo credit: 2026 Lake Loop graphic courtesy of the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, lakehopatcongfoundation.org/lake-loop.