Map(s)
 Depth map (1280x954). 193K size.
Scenery 
Being in the same area of NJ, as Spruce Run, the scenery is similar, but not as much of it. The water is cold, clear, & deep; up to 160 feet deep in certain spots (i.e. near the south dam). Hugging the shoreline, yields a trip over 9 mi. Stay 200' away from the dam towers and 100' from the dam themselves. Back on 4-Dec-2001, a cop actually gave me a warning. Since this was never an issue in past, I suspect that it is fallout from 11-Sep-2001.
Water temperatures can vary significantly. One day measured the water in near the eastern shore at 74°, but as I crossed the south dam (one of deepest spots), it dropped signicantly. (Did not take an actual measurement, but felt the chill through the hull. Can't imagine it? On a very hot day, paddle from Berkeley Island Park in Barnegat Bay, up Cedar Creek ... you will get the picture.)
During a drought, stay at least 50' from the shore at all times. Even at this distance, you could be in deep water one minute, then in the shallows the next.
East of the north dam, there is a bald eagle's nest. These birds are more plentiful at Merrill Creek. Back on 25-Feb-2002, I saw a small (baby?) beaver, near the south dam, on the entrance to the southern cove. Some of the fish are monsters: I have seen big black ones, the size of kayak hatches. Fish are best seen on calm days, when you can see deep below the surface.
Other animals of interest include hawks, herds of deer & herds of wild turkeys. South of the west boat ramp, in the NW cove, is a walkway that separates the reservoir from the swimming lake. The rocks along the reservoir is a major hangout for the fishermen, but also snakes as well: Watch coordinates N40 37 49.3 W74 50 53.6; noticed over 10 snakes in this one spot on 5-May-2010! Snakes frequent rocky outcroppings near the water's edge, but this was a first.
Keep a decent distance from the southern shore. Erosion has caused some of the trees to topple over into the reservoir. If you are not careful, you may run over them.
Back on 29-Sep-2002, water levels were VERY low. I have been going here since I started paddling, and I have NEVER seen them this low. The shoreline was unrecognizable.
On a calm day, watch for mosquitoes. I was bothered by them in the eastern section of the reservoir, but they left me alone on the western side.
On the eastern shore, almost directly opposite from the boat launch, is a path (N40° 36' 10.8" W74° 48' 14.1") that leads to a picnic table, with a roof over it.
And for those of you who do not wear your PFD, go some where else: Park officials will fine kayakers not wearing a PFD. Allegely, they will go after kayakers who do not wear a drysuit, or wetsuit, from 15-Nov to 15-May.
Pre-Memorial Day update (2011): Water levels are the lowest that I have ever seen in the spring. Not as bad as in the fall, but if you have something like a Klip'N Go, to carry the kayak, use it!
Fees
There continues to be confusion over the launch fees. The boat launch area for Round Valley is not a state park! Spruce Run's boat launch is a state park.
$15 per year, for a boat ramp permit. This permit is also good at Kingwood (Delaware River access, south of Frenchtown), Assunpink Lake, Dennis Creek, Tuckahoe, Mad Horse Creek, Union Lake (near Vineland), Menantico Ponds, and Prospertown Lake.
How the permit works: It has evolved from a sticker on your car window, to a piece of cardboard that sat on your dashboard (while at the boating location), to a piece of paper that you present to a park official on request. In its previous incarnations, you had to pay a visit to the Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory, where you paid your money & you were good to go. Since no documentation was required, even an illegal immigrant could get one.
The new procedure is to either go to the NJ Department of Fish & Wildlife web site, or to one of their licensing agents Have not tried later, but the former is easy enough. Just be warned that the parking permit now contains your driver's license number, DOB, name, address, and phone number ... prime material for identity theft, so do NOT leave it laying around. When applying for a permit on the state web site, you will be questioned about any child support delinquencies. This is now standard practice for all licensees, so deal with it.
Reality is that park officials do not always check for the permit, but if they do it will most likely be on weekends between Memorial Day & Labor Day. But this is hit or miss. During 2006, there were numerous weekends when they were not checking the entire day, if at all. (My goal on those days was to get a paddle in before heat of the day, or T-storms popped up. Permits were NOT being checked when I got in, but were later when I was leaving.) Play it safe, go online & get the permit ... it's not worth the gas money to be turned away because you are a cheat. Keep in mind that you may be checked while exiting the boat ramp area.
Used to be some kid in a lawn chair; now it appears that state troopers are doing the checking. Getting in early still avoids the check ... how 'early' is early enough is a mystery, but 7:00 works.
They were also stopping kayakers from unloading on the west boat ramp.
Hours of Operation
24x7, but boating is only allowed during daylight hours. IOW, you can arrive at night, get the kayak ready, then launch at sunrise. Winds calm down at sunrise & sunset.
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Directions
Take route 31 north, 8.5 mi north of the Flemington circle, to Allerton Road. (Alternate: Drive 3/4 mi north of Allerton Road & make a right onto Valley Crest Road.) Make a right at the traffic light. Allerton Road winds its ways to Valley Crest Road, where it forms a 'T' intersection. Make a right onto Valley Crest Road. Valley Crest Road makes a 'T' intersection with route 629. Make a left onto route 629. You will pass the main Round Valley entrance on your right. (Only campers are allowed to use this boat ramp.) The next right will lead you to the north west boat ramps. Take this right, followed by another right almost immediately.
Passing through the gate, you'll see a left turn that leads to the north boat ramp, followed by restrooms. Make a left to the north boat ramp. It soon becomes a dirt road. If possible, park next to the logs on the right, then unload your boat.
Do NOT use the west boat ramp! This is reserved for power boaters only, and the park police will prohibit paddlers from using it.
Parking
Unpaved, dirt road for the northern boat ramp. The western ramp is fully paved. Sufficient parking, but it does get tight on the weekends.
Distance to the Launch Area
The parking area is close to the water's edge, but it is still easier to unload the boat, then park. (If you can't park next to a log.)
Restrooms
There are restrooms at both the park office, which is closed during the off season, and the boat launch area. The restrooms at the boat launch lack soap, paper towels, and hand dryers. And did I mention how disgusting they are? When these are closed, there is a port-a-john. There are port-a-johns near the northern boat launch & in the parking lot for the southern cove.
Status of Launch Area
Watch out for the geese droppings on the grass. The edge of the water is gravely; barely suitable for gel-coated boats. (No thick mud to get stuck in, which is a contrast to the 1999 & 2001 droughts. 11 year gap between the two bad droughts: Same as the sun's 11 year cycle ... coincidence?)
During a drought, launch to the right of the west boat ramp; mud problem is not as bad.
Wind Conditions
Because of its oval shape and surrounding mountains, Round Valley is the nastiest inland body that I have had to deal with. Even on a calm day, winds can pick up and make boating challenging. Squalls, that were not in the forecast, come out of nowhere and create wind gusts up to 25 mph. Beware that wimpy, little 8 mph winds on one side of the reservoir, can create significant waves on the opposite end of the reservoir. The western coves and boat launch area are not as bad.
Westerly winds are the easiest to deal with, while wind coming out of the NE to SE tend to be problematic. Have no scientific explanation for this, strictly based on observations in 70+ trips. (Could be that I prefer waves coming at me, as opposed to being in following seas. Starting off in the morning, when winds are weaker & finishing later in the day when they are stronger, results in strong head winds when they come out of the west & strong tail winds when they come out of the east.)
This place should not be taken lightly. The area between the two dams could turn Round Valley into a death trap. A less experienced kayaker got killed on Sun, 10-Mar-2002.
Bottom Line: If you do not see any signs of wind, and it is not in the forecast, count on it anyway.
Power Boats
Limited to 10 hp. Gas-powered boats tend to stay put once they find a good fishing spot.
Foliage
Very nice, definitely worth the trip.
Rolling Practice?
Clearest water of any lake in NJ, but practice in the small, central western cove. The wave action, even in this area, should make you consider a smaller body of water.
More information . . .
For more info about Round Valley, go to Round Valley Reservoir.
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Depth map (1280x954). 193K size.