Directions for:
BARNEGAT
LIGHT/MANAHAWKIN
Trip starts at Barnegat Light and caravans to Manahawkin at
the end of the day.
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.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY
Meet at the Cape May Bird Observatory Center for Research and
Education, 600 Route 47 North, Cape May Court House
(Goshen).
Directions:
From Route 55: Take Route 55 south to the end
where it merges onto Route 47.
Go south on Route 347 (which rejoins Route 47 just north of
Dennisville).
Continue south on Route 47 through Dennisville and past the
turnoff for Route 83.
After you cross Route 657 (traffic signal, Southville
Restaurant on corner) continue on Route 47 one mile.
The Center will be on your left just around a bend in the
road.
From the Garden State Parkway: Take the Garden
State Parkway south to Exit 17.
Turn left (west) at the bottom of the exit ramp and proceed
to the light at Route 9.
Turn left (south) and continue for several miles until you
reach Route 83. Turn right (west) on Route 83.
At Route 47 turn left (south) and follow the directions
above.
GLOUCESTER COUNTY
Meet at the Red Bank Battlefield in National Park, NJ, at 8:30
a.m.
Directions:
From the North: Get on Interstate 295 south.
Take Exit 23 and follow signs for National Park and Route
642.
At the top of the exit ramp, turn right (west). This is also
Hessian Ave.
Follow to the end (about 2 miles).
After going through the gates (Red Bank Battlefield), make a
left and another left into this parking area.
GREAT SWAMP National Wildlife Refuge
Meet at the Wildlife Observation Center and boardwalks on Long
Hill Rd.
Take I-287 to Exit 30A (N. Maple Ave.,
Basking Ridge).
Follow N. Maple Ave. for 0.5 miles to the first traffic
light.
Turn left onto Madisonville Rd. and go 2.7 miles. (The
name changes to Lee's Hill Rd. when you cross a bridge.)
At the bottom of a steep hill, turn right onto Long Hill
Rd. (opposite the Harding Township School), and proceed 2.2
miles to the NWR entrance (a long dirt road) and parking lot on
the right. Look for NWR signs.
If you come to Whitebridge Road, you have gone too far.
MERRILL CREEK
RESERVOIR
The trip will start at the Merrill Creek Reservoir at the
Scott's Mountain hawk-watch site at the Overlook parking area on
Fox Farm Road.
Directions:
Get on Interstate 78 heading west.
Take I-78 west to Exit 3, the last exit in New Jersey.
Proceed on US Route 22 1.1 miles to the traffic light at Route 519 and
turn right (north).
Proceed 2.2 miles north on Route 519, crossing Route 57, and
turn right onto Fox Farm Road at the small sign for Merrill
Creek Reservoir.
Go 2.6 miles, bearing right at the fork after one mile, to the
entrance to
the parking lot, on the right.
NORTH
SHORE/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.
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
Parking Lot, the first one on the
right after you pass the toll/entrance booths.
Birding for Beginners meets in the parking lot of the Gateway
Visitor Center, which is about 2 miles north of Bayberry.
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. Shortly after the right
turn, turn left
into Parking Lot M (Guardian Park).
WALLKILL RIVER NATIONAL
WILDLIFE REFUGE
Meet at Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge
Headquarters.
Directions:
Take I-287 north to Route 23 north.
Proceed north on Route 23 for approximately 25 miles to the
Sussex Queen Diner, at the intersection of Route 23 and Route
565 North (with traffic light).
Turn right onto Rt. 565 North and follow this for
approximately one mile, where you will see the refuge
headquarters on your left.
Turn left into the parking lot and park close to the
bathrooms.
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