Cheesequake State Park is perhaps one of the most overlooked state parks in New Jersey — even though a lot of you drive through it on the Parkway every day!
If you’re looking for a diverse park with hiking, relaxing, and some great fall colors, look no further than this Central Jersey park. Here are the best spots to check out before the leaves fall.
Hike Through the Forest
Head over to the White Trail in Cheesequake State Park to hike through the forest. You won’t even be able to tell you’re just a couple miles from the GSP since this trail transports you straight to the heart of the trees.
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Explore Hook’s Creek Lake
Take the Yellow Trail down a few stairs that will take you to Hook’s Creek Lake. You can fish here for trout, largemouth bass, catfish, and sunfish. The lake is also accessible from a parking lot.
In the summer, arrive at the park early and take a swim in the beachfront lake.
Wander over the Crabbing Bridge
The bridge transports you to another part of the park. Contrasting the semi-dense forest of other hikes in the park, you can walk through the marshlands here and hike in sand, through some forested areas, and across boardwalks.
You can get to the bridge from the Hook Creek’s Lake parking lot.
Bonus: Hike, Bike, and Camp!
There are SO many things to do at this park other than hike! You can mountain bike on the multi-use White Trail, crab from the crabbing bridge, camp in-season, and boat/canoe as well.
Did we miss your favorite spot? Let us know in the comments.
