Cattus Island County Park
| Park Overview: | The preserve is referred to as an “island” because the area is surrounded by salt marshes. It has eight miles of blazed hiking trails, a boardwalk, unpaved roads, and an environmental center. |
| Trail Uses: | Hiking, Mountain biking, Bridle path, X-C skiing, Handicapped |
| Dogs: | |
| Trail Miles: | 8 miles |
| Park Acreage: | 497 acres |
| City/County/ State: | Toms River/Ocean/NJ |
| Park Description: | This Ocean County Park, north of Toms River, was funded in part by New Jersey’s Green Acres program. Seventy percent of the park consists of salt marshes, with some lowland and upland forests and a stand of the once-common Atlantic white cedar. Central to the park is the Cooper Environmental Center [see park’s web page], where visitors may see natural science exhibits and live animals, register for a variety of nature programs, or obtain a trail map and wander on their own.
|
| Trails Overview: | Four distinct loop trails [ranging from 0.7 to 2.2 miles], plus a quarter mile wheelchair accessible loop trail, are spread throughout the park. Other marked trails provide shortcuts, and the four miles of dirt fire roads that wander through wetland and wooded areas serve to connect them to form a network. The marked trails are for hiking only. Sections of boardwalk thread through the marshes, allowing walkers a close look at the complex life in the otherwise inaccessible wetland habitat. A trail map is available on the park’s web site. |
| Directions: | Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 82 [Route 37, Seaside] and continue east on NJ 37 for six miles. Use the jughandle to turn north onto Fisher Boulevard, and proceed for two miles to Cattus Island Boulevard, which leads to the park entrance. |
| Contact Information: | Cattus Island County Park 732-270-6960 |
| Region: | Jersey Shore |
| Fees: | None |
- Login or register to post comments
- Printer-friendly version
- Send by email