Darlington County Park

Darlington County Park At A Glance...

• A 127-acre county park around Darlington Lake that the county calls its summertime jewel.
• The Splash Zone is an inflatable water play area on the upper swim lake, with a kiddie session for kids 39 to 48 inches tall.
• Walk the lakeside lookout points, or take the paths for a bike ride.
• On October nights Pantophobia's haunted trail takes you a mile through the park's woods, past a graveyard and into a clown town.
• Todays Sunrise: ,   Sunset:  
• New Jersey Gateway Region Bergen County

• Activities:

  • Fishing
  • Swimming
  • Picnicking
  • Walking

  Amenities:

  • Volleyball Courts
  • Restrooms/Bathrooms
  • Parking Lot(s)
  • Picnic / Sitting Area
  • Grills / Firering
  • Picnic tables

  Trails:

  • Walking Paths

  Park Type:

  • County Parks
  • Park (General)

  Rules/Regulations:

  • Alcohol Not Permitted
  • Dogs Not Permitted

Contact / Location

Special / Seasonal Events

For 2026, Pantophobia's Haunted Attraction runs "The Wrath of Cyrus Grain: Terror on the Trail" in the park, starting Saturday, October 3. It is a haunted walking trail about 1 mile long, and the operator says it takes 35 to 40 minutes and is entirely outdoors. You walk paved walkways, sand, grass and a wooded trail, and you have to walk the whole trail, so the operator suggests comfortable shoes.

How scary is it? The operator describes it as a terrifying haunted trail and promotes it as the creepiest haunted trail in North Jersey. The story follows a character named Cyrus Grain and his followers through the woods, past a graveyard and into a "clown town". Interactive scenes are optional, and guests who would rather just watch can spectate. The ticket page the operator publishes gives no minimum age or recommended age and does not say whether actors touch guests, so call before bringing young children.

For 2026, tickets are $33 each, or $36 on the Friday and Saturday premium nights from October 16 to 31, plus fees and tax. Tickets are sold for timed slots, with no refunds. If bad weather cancels a night, you can reschedule for another night of equal value.

Tips and Tricks

The county says the park often reaches capacity on summer weekends and may close early, so carpool and do not plan on a ride-share drop-off, which is not allowed. Check the weather before you go, because the county gives no refunds for swim-season tickets. Weekend Splash Zone sessions are sold in person on a first-come, first-served basis, and weekday sessions are sold online in advance.

Admission & Guidelines

The county charges an entry fee per person during the swim season, and Bergen County residents must show proof of residency with a valid New Jersey ID. For 2026, weekday admission is $12 for Bergen County resident adults (ages 18 to 61), $8 for children (5 to 17) and $3 for seniors (62 and older), and $20, $10 and $5 for out-of-county visitors. Weekend admission is $13, $9 and $5 for county residents and $25, $10 and $10 for out-of-county visitors.

For 2026, the Splash Zone costs $15 a session, or $7 for the kiddie session, and each session is a 10 minute orientation and a 50 minute turn in the water. Regular Splash Zone riders must be 48 inches or taller. The kiddie Splash Zone is for kids 39 to 48 inches tall. Life jackets are required at all times. No one 17 or younger may enter the park without an adult.

Hours / Season of Operation

For 2026, the swim season opened May 23 and runs on weekends only until June 19, then daily through Labor Day, September 7. Swimming hours are 10 AM to 6 PM. Park hours during the swim season are 9 AM to 7:30 PM on weekdays and 8 AM to 7:30 PM on weekends. The county does not publish the park's hours outside the swim season on its park page.

The Splash Zone runs in hourly sessions at 10, 11 AM, noon, 2, 3, 4 and 5 PM. The haunted trail runs on October nights, starting October 3 for 2026. Its first published time is 8 PM, and the operator says multiple times are available.

Facilities

The county's park map shows restrooms in several spots, a ticket booth and an office near the entrance, and parking areas around the park, among them a main lot near the entrance off Darlington Avenue and lots near the upper swim lake. The park has a basketball court, a handball court and two volleyball courts. Grilling is charcoal only, with no grills on the picnic tables.

Ramapo Valley County Reservation, another Bergen County park, and Campgaw Mountain Ski Area are also in Mahwah.

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