The Jersey Shore pulls in around 120 million visitors a year along its 130-mile stretch of sand, so solitude isn't really on the menu. Head inland to Sussex County instead and you'll find Kittatinny Valley State Park, a 5,600-plus-acre pocket of lakes and woodland between Andover and Newton that gets fewer than 200,000 visitors a year — and holds New Jersey's deepest natural lake.

That lake is Lake Aeroflex. It covers just 119 surface acres but drops to 110 feet, deep enough to support cold-water species that survive year-round, which is rare in the state. New Jersey Fish and Wildlife stocks it annually with brown and rainbow trout and salmon, alongside warm-water regulars like bass and chain pickerel. Anglers can also fish Gardner's Pond, Twin Lakes and White's Pond, all with shore access; Lake Aeroflex adds a boat ramp and Twin Lakes a car-top launch. Fishing runs all year — including ice fishing once the lakes freeze — but anyone 16 or older needs a valid New Jersey fishing license.

Paddlers tend to gravitate to Lake Aeroflex too. The full loop is about 2.5 miles, gliding past wooded shorelines, the odd waterfront house and plenty of wildlife.

On land, the park's trails run from half a mile to 6.8 miles, and sections of four rail trails — the Great Valley, Lehigh and Hudson River, Paulinskill Valley and Sussex Branch — thread through it. That mix of lengths and difficulty means there's something for a casual stroller and a serious hiker alike. Many routes double as horseback riding paths, and in winter they convert to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing terrain. Mountain bikers get 8 miles of dedicated trail. Keep your eyes up: black bears, bobcats and more than 200 bird species live in the area.

One catch — the park's campsites are closed. But Stokes State Forest, arguably the state's best fall-foliage spot, sits about 16 miles away with tent and RV camping, and Newton has a pair of campgrounds plus a scattering of hotels. Newark Liberty International is the closest commercial airport, roughly 45 miles out, and the drive passes Hopatcong State Park, home to New Jersey's largest lake, so you can tack on another stop easily.

For anyone who wants a water-and-trails weekend without jostling for beach space, Kittatinny Valley is a genuinely quieter bet than the coast — same state, completely different pace.