Driving Directions:
- Garden State Parkway to exit 117.
- Follow Rte 36 East for approximately 12 miles.
- Watch signs for entrance to Sandy Hook (right lane exit).
- Kayaks launch from the Chokecherry parking area or the Horseshoe Cove parking area.
Address:
Sandy Hook National Recreation Area
Fort Hancock, NJ 07732, Monmouth County
Land owner: Federal
Coordinates: 40.42N 73.98W
Map: click here
Water: Salt
Water type: Bay
Launch area is: Beach
Launch area surface is: Sand
Facilities: Port-a-Potty
Launching considerations / restrictions:
Ocean side launching NOT permitted. As far as currents
go, be very careful at the bridge which crosses over to
Sandy Hook from the mainland. According to the Rangers
the current under the bridge is second in strength only
to Hellgate in New York. At the end of the hook the wind
and current are very strong and the commercial shipping lanes
are only a few yards from shore.
Parking situation:
Parking Fee is $10, Season Pass available. For both launch sites,
you have to cross the road from the parking lots to get to the bay
side. However you can stop long enough to unload a boat at Horseshoe
Cove on the Bay side. There is a small bus loading zone there, and a
small parking lot about 50 yards away. If you are not sure where these
are, ask the Rangers in the HQ in the center of the peninsula. Note:
the $10 parking fee applies when using the Ocean beaches and thus parking
in those lots. If you tell them you're kayaking and putting in on the
bay and therefore parking in the Horseshoe lot, you don't have to
pay any toll.
Related Links:
Gateway National Recreation Area
|
