Mountain Creek Waterpark is Worth a Summer Visit with Rides, Slides, and More Family Fun

If visiting an outdoor water park is on your summer bucket list, Mountain Creek Waterpark in Vernon, NJ, is a great option for a day trip or an overnight.

On a recent summer Saturday, my family and I visited the park and had a blast, with plenty for my 9-year-old and 6-year-old to do separately and together. Here’s a closer look at how we spent the day, plus what to know as you plan your visit.

For even more theme park fun, check out our Guide to Theme Parks in the region.

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What to Expect on a Visit to Mountain Creek Waterpark

The Mountain Creek Waterpark is part of an all-season resort that offers everything from skiing and snow tubing in the winter to a bike park and zip lining in the summer. This year, the water park opened at the end of June.  

To start, you can book your tickets—there are both day passes and season passes available—online. Day passes are $49.99 while a season pass will run you $89.99. The park is about an hour from central Westchester and parking is free, which is a big plus in my book. (That said, there is paid parking for $20, which will get you closer to the entrance, though, in our experience, the free lot wasn’t very far at all and was fine with the kids.)

While we drove there for the day, if you want to make a weekend of it, you can stay at The Appalachian at Mountain Creek on-site. There are suites available, including options with two bedrooms that sleep up to eight—all of which have kitchens or kitchenettes. There’s also a separate pool and fitness center.

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There are tons of great slides to choose from at Mountain Creek. 

Top Things to Do at Mountain Creek Waterpark

We arrived shortly after the park opened at 10am. When you enter, you’re given a wristband, which gets you on every ride. We got the lay of the land first—there are maps located throughout the park—and then headed out to check out some rides. A few highlights:

High Tide Wave Pool and Cabanas

The High Tide Wave Pool is a large pool that's ideal for families, especially if you have kids of varying ages. It’s zero-entry, which is a boon for little kids, and the 4-foot waves make it extra fun for bigger kids. (The waves are “turned on,” so there’s a time when the pool is still if you’re worried about how your kids will react.) Here, my 6-year-old loved the Tide Slide, a smaller slide, and she happily went up and down at least a dozen times.

This is also where you’ll find the cabanas, which have to be booked ahead of time and are an additional fee. The cabanas are set up on both the right and left sides of the pool — and we found them to be a great option, particularly if you plan to spend the whole day and want some guaranteed shade and a spot for downtime. Along with a locker, where we were able to leave our stuff, there’s a mini-fridge stocked with water and fruit, lounge chairs, and couches, and you can have lunch delivered directly to your cabana.

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Little ones can ride safely in your lap on many of the water slides. 

Kids Rides

While it’s not specifically labeled as a kids’ area, many of the rides and attractions for younger kids are concentrated in one area, including the fun Fishing Village (another hit with my 6-year-old), The Hook (a great beginner slide), a “lazy river” style pool, and a sprayground splash pad. There are bathrooms nearby, too.

The Slides

There are plenty of slides to choose from, and height requirements are indicated at each ride and on the overall map. As a parent, I liked that many of the slides were tandem, so we could do them together in a double float. We loved Thunder Run, Alpine Rush, and Colorado River in particular. (While my 6-year-old was tall enough to do the Colorado River, you should prep kids ahead of time that it moves fast.) Also to keep in mind: For almost all the rides, you have to carry the floats from the bottom of the slide to the top entrance yourself, so make sure you have sturdy shoes (and, hopefully, a kid who's willing to help).

Beyond all the water fun, there are lounge chairs and picnic tables throughout the park to take a break. Overall, the park is manageable and not overwhelming, and we didn’t feel like we missed out on seeing or trying any of the rides we wanted after spending the whole day there.   

Where to Eat at Mountain Creek Waterpark

For lunch options, there’s Mountain EATS and Big Bear BBQ, both located near the wave pool. At Mountain EATS, there’s a covered pavilion with numerous tables for families to sit and eat. Nearby, you’ll also find Sugar Shack, where you can score some ice cream post-lunch. If you rent a cabana, you can order lunch there, which is what we opted to do. The menu included crowd-pleasers like burgers, fries, chicken fingers, and hot dogs. There were also a few food trucks, near the kiddie rides, including a taco truck, though they weren’t open when we visited.

Mountain Creek Waterpark: Know Before You Go

• The resort is cashless, so have your credit card on hand.
• There’s lots of walking involved, so water shoes/sandals or other footwear that can get wet is a must. 
• There are first-come, first-serve lockers available near the entrance, which range from $20 to $40 (not including seasonal), depending on size. $5 is refunded when you return the key. Cabanas have lockers as well.   
• Lounge chairs and tables are available throughout the park. There were plenty when we visited, though be mindful if you’re going on a busier day.   
• There are plenty of bathrooms at the resort and those near the wave pool also include changing rooms.
• Strollers are welcome and the roads from ride to ride are paved.

Photos courtesy of Mountain Creek.