New Jersey is home to many beautiful lakes and waterways. From the deep and mysterious Round Valley Reservoir to small and charming local ponds it's hard to choose a favorite, so we polled our readers on our Only In New Jersey Facebook page to come up with a list of ten of the best lakes in New Jersey. Let's pack a picnic basket and take a look.

1. George Lake

Schooley's Mountain County Park is hiding this gem among its 823 acres of trails, picnic areas, and athletic fields. Lake George is a beautiful lake, especially in the fall, when New Jersey colors start to pop. One of Lake George's delightful surprises is a 470-foot floating bridge that starts at Schooley's Mountain Park Lodge and crosses the lake.

2. Sawmill Lake

Sawmill Lake or Sawmill Pond is a nice little 20-acre body of water in Sussex, New Jersey. Part of Sawmill Lake Campground, it's a popular spot for fishing, swimming, and camping. Its claim to fame is that it contains the highest white cedar swamp in the world. Atlantic white cedar is one of the rarest forest types.

3. Lake Hopatcong

4. Lake Musconetcong

Park of Hopatcong State Park this charming 329-acre lake is a hot spot for bass fishing. It was created when the natural glacial lake, Lake Hopatcong, was expanded to give the Morris Canal a reliable water source. There is nothing like taking your kayak out on the lake to enjoy a beautiful sunset.

5. Union Lake

Union Lake is part of the massive 5,000-acre Union Lake Wildlife Management Area in Millville, NJ. Union Lake itself is around 900 acres of bass fishing paradise. It's a beautiful, calm lake for kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing, and canoeing as well.

6. Lake Marcia

Lake Marcia is a quiet spring-fed 20-acre lake with a popular swimming beach in the summer months. Nestled in High Point State Park, Marcia is a quiet lake that does not allow boating of any kind, including paddle boards and kayaks.

7. Farrington Lake

Farrington Lake is the biggest pond or lake formed when Lawrence Brook was dammed. Almost 300 acres in size, it is a decent-sized lake for fishing, swimming, and boating. It is only about 12 feet at its deepest point but it is still a great spot to haul in chain pickerel, northern pike, channel catfish, largemouth bass, crappie, yellow perch, and brown and rainbow trout which it is stocked with.

8. Round Valley Reservoir

The largest and one of the deepest reservoirs in New Jersey, Round Valley is a crystal clear lake popular for fishing, boating, and hiking in the surrounding 2,000-acre Round Valley State Park. While swimming in reservoirs can be quite dangerous there is a designated beach with lifeguards for swimming. It has been nicknamed "The Bermuda Triangle" of New Jersey for the significant number of people who have gone missing in the reservoir's 180-foot depths.

9. Lionshead Lake

In Wayne, New Jersey you'll find this charming little lake that offers scenic views as you explore nearby walking trails. If you keep your eyes peeled you'll probably spot a fish jumping, a turtle poking its head above the water, or ducks, geese, and swans coasting on its gentle surface.

10. Greenwood Lake

This beautiful lake runs between New Jersey and New York for about seven miles. All sorts of recreational water sports and activities are popular here with a number of restaurants on the water for a fun tummy tantalizing evening overlooking a sunset on the lake.

These 10 lakes in New Jersey are only a small number of the many wonderful lakes to be found and enjoyed in our great state. What are the best New Jersey lakes in your opinion? Let us know with a comment.

Then, join our New Jersey Nature Lovers Facebook group to discover more beautiful photos of New Jersey's epic scenic areas and share your own.