A Guide to Navigating the
New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail
The New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail is a joining together of the Jersey shore areas with Coastal Habitat, Maritime Heritage, and Wildlife Migration.
The New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail is not really a trail; it is a route designed to be leisurely seen by auto for the benefit of the public, providing education, understanding, and enjoyment of the natural, maritime, and cultural sites of the coastal area of New Jersey.
The concept is to join together the Jersey Shore areas into five regions with three major themes: Coastal Habitat, Maritime Heritage, and Wildlife Migration
The trail hugs the coastline of New Jersey and runs nearly 300 miles, divided into regions from Sandy Hook Region along New York Harbor, south to Barnegat Bay Region, the Absecon Cape May Region, and the Delsea Region along Delaware Bay.
You can meander along the east of the Garden State Parkway from Raritan Bay south to the north and west of Cape May and south of Route 49 to the vicinity of Deepwater.
The trail includes many New Jersey state parks and facilities, and all of the Trail's destinations are loosely owned and operated by other agencies and organizations. Since September 30, 2011, as a result of a sunset clause, the National Park Service is no longer the legislative authority to be involved in the management of the Trail.
Currently, there is no single authority responsible for the management of the trail, although there are legislative efforts to reinstate the NPS as the legislative authority.
Although the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route is designed for vehicular touring, it connects areas of interest to hikers. In addition to the five themes, the Trail is divided into five regions, linked by the common heritage of life on the Jersey Shore and the Raritan and Delaware bays.
Two on New Jersey's scenic byways, the The Bayshore Heritage Scenic Byway and The Pine Barrens Scenic Byway can be found along the Coastal Heritage Trail.
The trail sites are identified by the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail logo
Along the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail's route, visitors will experience freshwater creeks and tidal marshes that are ideal for canoeing, kayaking, and camping. Rentals are available from local outfitters, and there are also many bike routes along the Trail.
The Three Coastal Heritage Themes
Coastal Habitat
See the large variety of coastal species and habitats, and learn about the habitat and the importance and value of species diversity and habitat maintenance.
Maritime heritage
Here you can experience the history of trade, navigation, and coastal defenses. The ocean, bays, rivers, and tributaries were key to the fishing industry, boat building, and other maritime activities. Lighthouses were erected as maritime navigational aids to warn mariners of hazards to their ships and prevent the loss of crew and cargo.
Wildlife Migration
New Jersey's coastal regions provide critical habitat for many migrating species in the Western Hemisphere. The New Jersey coast is a critical route for migrating many birds, marine animals, and insects. Dolphins, whales, seals, fish, hawks, eagles, warblers, and butterflies are many animals that nurture New Jersey's coastal habitats. The visitor learns about the habitats that serve as seasonal refuges for the migrating species.
The Five Coastal Heritage Trail regions.
Sandy Hook Region
The regions highlights include the Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area where you can enjoy the beach with a view of the New York City skyline, and . Fort Hancock, the location of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse. A must stop is the visit to the Sandy Hook Visitor Center. The Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook at 266 feet above sea level, it's one of the highest points on the East Coast.
Barnegat Bay Region
The regions highlights include Barnegat Bay, bordering the barrier islands and the communities with a rich maritime history and love of the ocean. The Barnegat Lighthouse for a view of the coastline and inlet. Double Trouble State Park to enjoy the Pinelands, cedar swamps, and the 1800s village. The Toms River Seaport Society Museum where you can learn about the inventor of the corrugated metal life car that saved thousands of lives in shipwrecks. Island Beach State Park, a beautiful beach with sand dunes and a good example of a barrier island ecosystem. Cattus Island State Park, home of the Cooper Environmental Education Center. Grate Great Bay Boulevard Wildlife Management Area with almost 6,000 acres of salt marsh and nesting shore birds.
Absecon Region
The regions highlights include The Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area, Corson's Inlet State Park , Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen's Museum, a replica hunting shanty with display's of a decoy carver's work. Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge protecting more than 48,000 acres of southern New Jersey coastal habitats. More than 82 percent of Forsythe refuge is wetlands, of which 78 percent is salt marsh , interspersed with shallow coves and bays.
The Cape May Welcome center is a good place to visit . It includes an exhibit on the NJ Coastal Heritage Trail with an audio-visual orientation program. It's located at the Ocean view service area at the Garden State Parkway mile post 18.3.
Cape May Region
The regions highlights include the best white, powdery sand beaches along the east coast. The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse. The Cape May National Wildlife Refuge where you can witness the fall bird migration as they cross Delaware Bay. Cape May Lighthouse situated on 6,000 acres of coastal wetlands with exhibits, an observation tower and nature trails. Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area with 1,100 acres of state-managed land featuring dunes, forest, scrub-shrub, and fields to help preserve and protect endangered, threatened, and non-game wildlife.
Delsea Region
The Regions highlights include the Eldora Nature Preserve, protecting more than 950 acres of pristine pine barrens. Bellplain State Forest containing the greatest variety of habitats anywhere in New Jersey, including saltwater marsh, Atlantic white cedar swamp, mixed hardwood swamp and oak-hickory forest. The East Point Lighthouse, the Pesalee Wildlife
Management Area, and Fort Mott State park with the Delsea Region Welcome Center.
National Wildlife Refuge
The Cape May National Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest in the National Wildlife system. It was established to protect migratory birds along New Jersey's coastline.
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