Highlands Natural Pool

Planning Your Visit

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Highlands Pool 2023 Swim Season

 

• Pool Season: We will be open Memorial Day weekend and then on Saturdays and Sundays until the end of June. Then we will be open daily until Labor Day. In September we will be open every Saturday and Sunday.

• Pool Hours: 12:00 pm to 6:00pm. Parking is limited.

• COVID-19 Safety protocols will be in place as required by the State of New Jersey and our local board of health.

• The number Day Passes available for non-members each day are limited. Admission fees are paid at the Pool entrance.

• Please familiarize yourself with our Grounds Rules.

 

PLEASE NOTE: On occasion, groups - typically children - are scheduled to visit the Pool. We will inform Pool Members via email of any such scheduled group visits.

 

Daily Fees and Membership

 

The Pool is open to the public to visit for the day, but we encourage you to consider becoming a member, which is open to all regardless of where you live. The benefits of Pool membership:

 

• Members can visit as often as they like during regular hours

• We have a reserved parking area just for members

• You can reserve a picnic grove table and grill at no charge

• Join members-only swim hours 11am-12pm each day.

• Become part of the friendly Pool community

 

The Highlands Natural Pool is primarily funded by Memberships. If you love the pool please consider becoming a member. For more information, visit the Membership Page for a detailed explanation of the various membership options and rates. If you have any other questions not answered here, call the Pool at 973-835-4299.

 

Fees to visit for the day are as follows:

 

      • $20 per adult, ages 18 and above

      • $15 per Senior Adult (65 and over) and Active Military/Veterans

      • $10 per child (ages 3-17)

      • Free for ages 2 and under

 

Please note that these fees are charged at each visit unless you become a member.

 

Things to Do When You Visit

 

In addition to swimming, sunbathing, and relaxing there are lots of great activities at the Highlands Natural Pool and in the immediate area:

 

Have a Picnic!

Just outside of the Pool area there is a Picnic Grove with a number of tables and charcoal grills. Tables are free for Members to use and can be reserved in advance. For day-visitors, there is an additional $25 table-use fee.

No open fires, wood-burning, or portable charcoal grills are allowed. Table-top propane grills are okay. No cooking is allowed in the Weis field. No chemical starter or treated (self-starting) briquettes are allowed in the grills. We have chemical-free starters available.

All garbage and recycling must be picked up and separately bagged (bags are available at the office). Please place the bags by the picnic table when you leave.

Visitors must understand and follow our Grounds Rules. Please read these before you visit.

 

Play Ball!

Adjacent to the pool and picnic grove on New Weis Center property is a beach sand volleyball court and ping pong tables.

 

Go for a Hike!

The pool is located next to the Norvin Green State Forest which offers a variety of hiking options and destinations. Several of the trails climb hills of up to 1,300 feet in elevation providing you with scenic vistas overlooking the New York City skyline, Wanaque reservoir, and Ramapo mountains. Other trails lead you to waterfalls, abandoned farm dwellings, and two historic iron mines that can be explored.

Here are some recommended hikes:

• The 0.5-mile Loop Trail circles the pool and the guide explains our history.

• The 0.75-mile Melody Trail named for its musical markings and presumably the sounds of the brook which it follows, was first blazed by Mimosa Meisner, one of the original Nature Friends.

• 3.0-mile loop takes you past the Roomey and Blue mines.

• 4.0-mile loop Passes the abandoned iron mines and goes over Wyanokie High Point summit.

• 5.5-mile loop that goes up over Carris Hill and along the ridgeline to Wyanokie High Point.

A PDF Trail Map can be downloaded here. Using the PDF Maps app from Avenza on your Android or Apple phone, you can pinpoint your location on a map using GPS, track your route, mark waypoints and geotag photos, measure distances, and much more. We do recommend the high quality North Jersey trail map set from the NY-NJ Trail Conference which is available for purchase at the pool snack stand.

 

 

Local Guide to Food, Lodging, and More

 

Make a full day, weekend or week of your visit to the pool. Our Local Guide lists a number of area parks, recreation, restaurants, inns, motels, and more.

 

 

Group Visits

 

All group visits to the Highlands Pool require prior arrangement. If you would like to plan a group visit (any combination of 15 or more people is considered a group), please call or email us in advance to make specific arrangements. Group visits require completion of a Group Contract and are subject to certain restrictions:

 

✓ All visits by bus, and all groups of 15 or more, must be registered in advance.

 

✓ For the safety and enjoyment of everyone, we cannot accommodate groups that show up without prior registration.

 

✓ No alcohol, smoking, amplified music or speech, ground fires, etc., are allowed at any time. Pets are only allowed in the picnic grove, they must be attended, on a leash, and quiet at all times. You are responsible to clean up immediately after your pet. Before planning your visit, please review the Grounds Rules before your visit.

 

Please call the Pool at (973) 835-4299 to discuss a group visit, well in advance of any date you have in mind. Here is a copy of our Group Contract, which you will need to send to us, along with a deposit, prior to any visit.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Can I come for the day without being a member?

Yes. A limited number of Day Passes are available to non-members. They can be purchased at the pool entrance.

Can I get to the pool via public transportation?

To reach the pool, use a combination of NJ Transit buses and a ride-sharing service. From the NYC Port Authority Bus Terminal (42nd and 8th), take the NJ Transit #197 bus to the Lakeside Diner (16 Greenwood Lake Turnpike, Ringwood, NJ). From the diner, you're 2.9 miles away from the pool. There are no taxi's in Ringwood, but there are a number of local Uber and Lyft drivers who can bring you to the pool. We recommend that you arrange your trip with a driver in advance.

Does the pool have a changing room and showers?

Yes, the pool has changing facilities and a cold-water rinse off shower. The pool also has modern restroom facilities.

Can I buy food at the pool?

Yes, the pool snack stand offers a variety of hot and cold snacks, ice cream, and drinks. Please be aware that no alcoholic beverages, including beer, are allowed anywhere, at any time, on Highlands Pool property. Anyone bringing alcohol onto the property will be required to leave.

Are there picnic facilities?

Yes, just outside the Pool there is a Picnic Grove. Tables are free for Members and can be reserved in advance. For day-visitors, there is a $25 fee to use a picnic table and charcoal grill. This fee is in addition to the per-person Pool admission fee, whether you plan to swim or just use a table in our Picnic Grove.

No open fires, wood-burning, or portable charcoal grills are allowed. Table-top propane grills are okay. No cooking is allowed in the Weis field. No chemical starter or treated (self-starting) briquettes are allowed in the grills. We have chemical-free starters available.

All garbage and recycling must be picked up and separately bagged (bags are available at the office). You may place the bags by the picnic table when you leave.

Visitors must familiarize themselves with the General Rules and Policies that govern the swimming pool, Picnic Grove and the rest of the property. Please read these before you visit.

Are pets allowed at the pool?

Pets are only allowed in the picnic grove. All pets must be attended (not left alone), on a leash, and quiet at all times. You are responsible to clean up immediately after your pet.

How deep is the pool?

The fenced-in shallow area has a gentle incline sloping to 4 feet deep. In the section for experienced swimmers, the pool slopes from 6 feet up to 10 feet in depth.

Is there a children's swim section?

Yes, there is a fenced, shallow section for children and non-swimmers. Infants and toddlers in diapers MUST wear swim diapers (waterproof). Everyone under the age of 18 must pass a swimming test to enter the deep-water section of the pool. For safety reasons, there are NO exceptions to this rule.

What sunscreen can I use?

Being a natural pool, we strive to protect the creatures who reside in the pool. Therefore we strongly recommend that all members and guests only use sunscreen that is "reef safe." These sunscreen products contain the active ingredients: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These will be listed on the container. Here is more information on sunscreens that are "reef safe." Also, we ask that guests not use spray sunscreen within the pool area.

Is there cell service or WiFi at the pool?

Cell service is very spotty. The pool does offer free Wifi, ask the gate attendant for the password.

Is smoking Permitted?

Smoking is not allowed on the pool grounds or the New Weis Center property.

Are babysitters available?

No. All children must be supervised by an adult.

What are the requirements for senior membership?

Senior memberships are available for those persons age 65 and older. A child who is a minor can be added onto a Senior Family or Individual Membership.

Who can be included in a Family Membership?

Family Memberships are for members of your immediate family, including parents and children. If you have a child over age 18 who is living at home and going to school full time, then an extra fee of $50 will be added to your Family Membership. Children who are 21 years or older, living at home and not full-time students cannot be included in your Family Membership.

Can we have our family reunion or child's birthday party at the pool?

Yes, but any type of group visit needs to be planned for and approved by the pool staff in advance. For information on scheduling a party, read the group visit section.

Are There Any Other restrictions?

Alcohol, smoking, and stereos (any amplified music or speech) are not allowed anywhere on Pool property or anywhere on the property of The New Weis Center, including the field. Smoking is allowed only in the designated area, outside the Pool gates. Smoking is NOT allowed inside the Pool area or anywhere on New Weis Center property.

Pets are only allowed in the picnic grove, they must be attended, on a leash, and quiet at all times. You are responsible to clean up immediately after your pet.

Other Questions?

Call the pool for more information: 973-835-4299.

 

 

General Rules & Regulations

 

For the safety and enjoyment of all members and guests, the Highlands Natural Pool has general Rules and Policies that govern the swimming pool, Picnic Grove and the rest of the Pool property. Please read these prior to you visit.

 

At the Manager's discretion, the Highlands Pool reserves the right to: close at an earlier time than listed above, such as if visibility is diminished or due to inclement weather (though light rain, or limited-duration heavy rain, without thunder, typically does not cause closure); close the gate to additional visitors if the Pool has reached capacity; require any individual to leave, who is not adhering to the Pool's Rules & Regulations and/or State Health Regulations as posted (entry is automatically denied to anyone who is deemed to be under the influence); Close any portion of the property at any time; make any other decision for the proper and safe operation of the facility and enjoyment of members and guests.

 

 

Note: Prices subject to change without notice.

 

▶ How to get to the pool via public transportation.