Dates, times, and leaders for SHBO field trips can be found
on our
calender.
ALLENDALE CELERY
FARM
Follow the Garden State Parkway and turn onto Route 17 (north)
at Exit 163.
After approximately 7 miles, take the Allendale exit.
Follow East Allendale Avenue west for 1 mile and turn right onto
the Franklin Turnpike.
After approximately 0.2 miles, turn right into the parking lot.
BARNEGAT LIGHT
Exit the Garden State Parkway at Exit 63 (Manahawkin), head east
on Rt. 72 for 7 miles, and cross over the Barnegat Bay Bridge
onto Long Beach Island.
At the third and last traffic light after crossing the
bridge, turn left and head north on Long Beach Boulevard for
approximately 8 miles, where you will see the lighthouse.
The road name changes to Central Ave.
At the end of the road, turn left and follow the road around
to the entrance to the state park on the right.
BELLEPLAIN STATE
FOREST
From northern New Jersey, take the Garden State Parkway south to
Exit 17.
At the stop sign, make a left turn onto Sea Isle Blvd.
Go a short distance to the 1st traffic light and make a right
turn onto Rt. 9 north.
Take Route 9 north a short distance to Route 550 (Woodbine-Ocean
View Road).
Make a left onto Route 550 west and go approximately six miles
into the town of Woodbine.
Continue on Rt. 550 west through town (turning left at
Washington Avenue and right at Webster Street).
In about a mile you should see signs for the Belleplain State
Forest headquarters on the left. Turn here and go to the
Headquarters building, where we will meet. There are restrooms
and a park map here.
CHARLESTON SPRINGS
GOLF COURSE
Meet the leader, Andrew Spears, at the Stone Bridge Trail
Access, 40 Stagecoach Road (Route 524), Millstone, NJ.
For Mapquest search, enter “Freehold” for town.
Directions:
Take Route 9 or Route 33 into Freehold.
Exit for Route 537 West.
Continue on Route 537 West out of Freehold.
A short distance after the traffic signal for Smithburg Road
(Route 527), watch for Route 524 on your right.
Turn right onto Route 524.
Continue on 524 for less than a mile.
The trail access parking lot will be on your right.
Note: if you follow directional signs for Charleston
Springs Golf Course, you will end up at the Clubhouse and main
entrance on Route 527 and NOT the trail access on Route
524.
In case of problems, you can reach Andrew at his cell number:
(732) 801-1404.
FRANKLIN
PARKER PRESERVE (DEMARCO CRANBERRY FARM)
The meeting point is the parking lot of the Visitor’s Center of
Batsto Village.
From the north: take the Garden State Parkway to
Exit 52.
Turn left onto Route 654.
After approximately one mile, make a right hand turn onto
Route 9, and proceed for less than 2 miles.
Turn right onto Route 542 and follow this (less than 15
miles) until you reach Batsto Village.
From the south:
Leave the Garden State Parkway at Exit 50.
Proceed for approximately one mile on Route 9 and turn left
onto Route 542.
Follow this (less than 15 miles) to Batsto Village.
GARRET MOUNTAIN/RIFLE
CAMP PARK
Take the Garden State Parkway north to Exit 155P, which is a
left exit.
Proceed north (stay straight) on Route 19 for about 2 miles to
I-80, following signs for I-80 west.
Take I-80 west for about one mile to the Squirrelwood Road, Exit
56.
Follow signs for Squirrelwood Road, West Paterson. You want to
take the ramp over the interstate to the south side of I-80.
Once you're on the south side of I-80 on Squirrelwood Road,
proceed 1.2 miles.
A landmark is a Sunoco gas station on the right. As soon as you
reach the gas station, look to your left for the second driveway
immediately after passing the gas station. Turn left there for Rifle Camp Park.
Proceed up the hill for about a 1/4
mile to the theater parking lot on the right. (There is a
sign for it.) We meet here in the parking lot, near
the restrooms.
LIBERTY STATE PARK
From the West: take Rt. 78 East (which turns into the NJ
Turnpike extension) to Exit 14B.
After the tollbooth, turn left onto Bayview Avenue.
After approximately 300 yards, stay to the right on a small
circle. (The road is called Morris Pesin Drive).
Continue for less than 0.5 miles and turn into the parking lot
on the right.
(Do NOT turn left onto Freedom Way. Stay straight on Morris
Pesin Drive to the end by the Visitor’s Center and park in the
last lot.)
From the North or South: Follow the NJ Turnpike to Exit
14 and follow the NJ Turnpike extension as described above.
MANASQUAN INLET
Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 98, and get on Rt. 34
South until it merges with Rt. 35 (approx. 4 miles).
Continue south on Rt. 35 and cross the Manasquan River
Bridge.
After the bridge, stay in the left lane, and then take the
first left and U-turn onto Rt. 35 North.
Take the first right onto Broadway. (There is a boat
dealership on your left as you make the turn.)
Continue on Broadway until you cross a small bridge and come
to a stop sign.
For Bruce Fetz's Sunday trips: Make a left at the stop sign
and go a couple of blocks to a parking lot overlooking the
Manasquan River.
For all other trips: Go straight after the stop sign, and
park in the angled parking on both sides of the street.
MERRILL CREEK RESERVOIR
The trip will start at the Visitor Center at Merrill Creek
Reservoir.
Directions:
Follow Interstate 78 to Exit 4 and take Route 637 north.
After less than 2 miles turn right onto Route 638 and follow
this until you reach Route 57 (approx. 2.5 miles).
Cross Route 57 and follow Montana Road.
After approximately 2 miles you reach a fork in the road;
bear left here.
After 0.3 miles turn left onto Merrill Creek Road and follow
signs for the Visitor Center.
PINE BARRENS
Meet at Lucille’s Country Cooking on Route 539 in Warren Grove,
NJ.
Directions:
This may be reached via the Garden State Parkway Exit 58.
Go north on 539 to Warren Grove.
Or:
From the Garden State Parkway, take Exit 88 to Route 70 west.
Go through Lakehurst.
Take 539 south (a left turn) at Whiting, south to
Warren Grove.
Or:
From Interstate 195 east or west, take 539 south.
You will pass through Allentown. Continue south
to Warren Grove.
NOTE: Knee-high rubber boots should be brought
by those who wish to explore Webbs Mills away from the
boardwalk.
SALEM COUNTY
From northern New Jersey: take the NJ Turnpike
south to Exit 2 (Swedesboro).
Go west on U.S. 322 about 4 miles and get onto I-295 heading
south.
Take I-295 about 1.6 miles to Exit 10 (Center Square Rd.)
Go west (a right turn) on Center Square Rd.
The first crossroads (about a mile down Center Square Rd.) is
Pedricktown Road. (The sign may be missing). Turn left here, and
proceed about a mile to the marsh.
Park off the road just before you cross the causeway over the
marsh (at the east end of the causeway). Do NOT park on the
causeway itself.
From the Philadelphia area: take either I-76 or I-676 to
I-295, and get on I-295 going south.
Then follow the instructions in the preceding paragraph
(leaving I-295 at Exit 10, etc.)
From southern NJ: take the Atlantic City Expressway to
I-295.
Head south on I-295.
Then follow the instructions in the first paragraph (leaving
I-295 at Exit 10, etc.)
SANDY HOOK
From the north: Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 117 and
proceed on Route 36 South for 13 miles to the entrance to Sandy
Hook - Gateway National Recreation Area.
From the south: Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 105 and
proceed on Route 36 North.
The road will take you in an easterly direction until you
reach Ocean Avenue, where you and Route 36 North both make a
left turn.
Proceed north on Ocean Avenue for 5.5 miles to the entrance
to Sandy Hook - Gateway National Recreation Area.
Once you reach the park: Proceed straight into the park on
Hartshorne Drive. A fee is charged for parking in beach
access lots from 7 AM to 4 PM, Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Tell the toll booth attendant that you are visiting the Sandy
Hook Bird Observatory or that you are birding and not parking in
beach access lots, and they will waive the entrance fee. The
only free parking areas are the Visitor Center, Horseshoe Cove
(both lots), Guardian Park, and Fort Hancock.
Most trips at Sandy Hook begin at the Bayberry (B)
Parking Lot. The Bayberry lot is the first one on the
right after you pass the toll/entrance booths.
EXCEPTIONS:
- The Thursday morning short walks will start at
Guardian Park (Lot M).
- Birding for Beginners meets in the parking lot of the
Gateway visitor center.
For Guardian Park, you will continue north 2.5 miles, passing
the Ranger Station (the only building in the center island of
the road).
After another 1.2 miles, bear left along the bay (west) side
as Atlantic Drive forks right on the east side heading to the
beaches.
Continue north on Hartshorne Drive for another 0.8 miles,
bearing right at a fork. You will see the model rocket in
Guardian Park in front of you. Turn left
into Parking Lot M (Guardian Park).
SWARTSWOOD STATE
PARK
Take Interstate 80 to Exit 25.
Proceed on Route 206 north to the town of Newton, about 12
miles.
In Newton, turn left at the second traffic light (the
intersection of Route 206 and Spring Street).
Follow 206 as it turns to the right on Water Street.
At the next light, turn left onto Route 519 (Mill Street).
Take 519 about a half mile, and then turn left onto Route 622 at
the Sussex County College sign.
Proceed on Route 622 for about 4.5 miles.
Turn left (south) at Route 619.
Go another 0.5 miles to the park entrance (on your right).
Park in the large parking lot near the park headquarters office.
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