Sandy Hook Bike Ride
Short bike ride at Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area
Sandy Hook is a beach peninsula located at the northern end of the Jersey Shore. It is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, which includes the Great Kills Park, Miller Field, Swinburne Island, Hoffman Island and Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island, and the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and a few other areas in Jamaica Bay.
Sign at the entrance to Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area
There are several beaches at Sandy Hook that is open to the public, with clothing being optional at Gunnison Beach. There is also a beach just for surf fishing.
Sandy Hook is also home to an operational Coast Guard station, the abandoned Fort Hancock, a US Army fort that was decommissioned in 1972 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places, the operational Sandy Hook Lighthouse, Battery Gunnison, Nike missiles site, woodlands and wetland nature preserves.
Approaching historic Fort Hancock on the bike trail
Officers Row - Houses for officers inside Fort Hancock
The Sandy Hook Lighthouse is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the US. It has been guiding ships into New York Harbor since 1764.
The Sandy Hook Lighthouse and the lighthouse keeper's home
There are hiking trails and a biking trail. Biking is the perfect way to see Sandy Hook, the 5-mile long Multi-Use Pathway begins at the park entrance to the south and ends in Fort Hancock to the north. The path loops around historic Fort Hancock.
Part of the Multi-Use Pathway in Sandy Hook looking south
Another part of the Multi-Use Pathway inside Sandy Hook looking south
It was getting late and cold, so I turned around after reaching the old Nike missile site and head back to my car that was parked inside the grounds of Fort Hancock. The path is well paved and flat. It is only 5 miles long. The wind is a factor to consider when dressing for a bike ride, especially in cool days.
Missile hull on exhibit near old Nike missile site
Another hull of an old missile on display near the former Nike missile site
Check out more pictures from my bike ride at Sandy Hook and for directions to the Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area in Middlesex Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey.
Check out other bike rides:
Bike Rides in NJ -
Cheesequake State Park
Clayton Park
Delaware and Raritan Canal Trail
Dorbrook Recreation Area
Hartshorne Woods Park
Henry Hudson Trail
Huber Woods Park
Manasquan Reservoir
Tatum Park
Thompson Park
Bike Rides in NY -
November 16th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
[...] Policy « Bull Hill (Mt. Taurus) Hike Pictures Bike Ride at Sandy Hook [...]
February 25th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
These rides look like a blast. I’m still trying to get my family back into the outdoors and getting them into biking (even if it’s just cruising) is on the list
Nice post!
Eric