Cheesequake State Park
Park Overview:
The uniqueness of this park lies in its geographical location in a transitional zone between two different ecosystems. In its 386-acre Natural Area one can see a diversity of plant species and community types characteristic of both northern and southern New Jersey.
Park Description:
This park is a botanical preserve comprised mostly of salt marsh, pine barrens and mixed oak forest. A Nature Center, located a short distance from the trailhead parking area on the Red/Green/Blue Trail, offers informative exhibits, providing the public with an educational journey through the park's ecosystems. The building has a small auditorium as well as a covered front deck that makes a wonderful spot to birdwatch. Check its website for a calendar of events, or call for details at (732) 566-3208.
Trails Overview:
Cheesequake State Park has four marked loop trails for hiking only. Click for trail map.
- The 2.0-mile Blue Trail crosses a salt marsh on a long boardwalk, runs along Perrine Pond, and returns to the start along several roads.
- The 3.0-mile Green Trail is the longest and most varied trail in the park. It leads through a designated Natural Area, with pitch pines, a hardwood forest, a freshwater marsh and an Atlantic white cedar swamp.
- The 1.3-mile Red Trail is a shortened version of the Green Trail, suitable for easier hikes.
- The 0.7-mile Yellow Trail is a short loop trail marked with signposts that identify a number of interesting features along the trail.
In addition a wiggly, 2.7-mile white-blazed multi-use trail is open to hikers, bicyclists and cross country skiers. It has several acrobatic hike jumps along the way, with pedestrian bypasses.
The NJ DEP has prepared a very help Step by Step Trails Guide for each of the park's hiking trails.
A portion of the park is ADA accessible near the Family Campground parking area.
Want to view a hike in the park? Click here.
Park Acreage:
1610.00 acresMunicipality:
MatawanThe uniqueness of this park lies in its geographical location in a transitional zone between two different ecosystems. In its 386-acre Natural Area one can see a diversity of plant species and community types characteristic of both northern and southern New Jersey.
This park is a botanical preserve comprised mostly of salt marsh, pine barrens and mixed oak forest. A Nature Center, located a short distance from the trailhead parking area on the Red/Green/Blue Trail, offers informative exhibits, providing the public with an educational...
Thus begins a NJ DEP press release in its "Hidden Gems of New Jersey's Park Sysem" series:
"A light breeze rustles tall saltmarsh grasses on Cheesequake Creek as kayakers peer at marsh wrens through binoculars. Diamondback terrapins sun themselves on logs and rocks, while tiny fiddler crabs peek out from the muddy banks. This bucolic scene may seem like a distant destination from the beaten path. But in reality, the subtle and natural wonders of Cheesequake State Park are just a stone’s throw from the Garden State Parkway."
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