Shark River Park, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK:
Shark River Park - Monmouth County Parks

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates  40.20108, -74.08104

Gully Road Parking  (At the time of this hike, a bridge was closed which would have resulted in a convoluted way to get to the main parking lot from the parkway so it was easier to park in this lot.)

TRAIL MAP:
Shark River Park Brochure - Monmouth County Parks

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HIKE DISTANCE:  5.9 miles

THE HIKE:

There seem to be two options to start from this parking lot - through the break in the fence at the kiosk, and to the left at the far end of the parking lot.

Either way comes out on to this field where the trails start at various points along the far side.

The trails are not named here but I just picked one and off we went.

Turns out I was on the Hidden Creek Trail but where it turns right (would be coming back that way) I kept straight on what turned out to be the Cedar Loop. 

The Cedar Loop is also the fitness trail with various exercise stations.

There was an unmarked path next to one of the exercise stations and I took that in hopes it would take me to the southern part of the Hidden Creek Trail, which it did.

At the intersection ...

... left on the Pine Hills Trail ...

... to the loop.  We started to the left.

At the fence where the trail turns right, we went left a bit ...

... for a quick look at Glendola Reservoir.  You can only go as far as the fence that surrounds it.

Because of this, we did this hike on Thanksgiving Day when hunting is not allowed.

Balloon #43 of 2017

Back on the Pine Hills loop.

At the end of the loop, we headed towards the main parking lot.

Main parking lot on Schoolhouse Road.

Continuing straight through the parking lot to the Bridge Loop.

Coming up on ...

... the first bridge.

Shark River and the Garden State Parkway nearby.

Tufted Titmouse

The trail follows Shark River almost to the parkway.

The second bridge.

After the Bridge Loop, back through the parking lot, crossing Schoolhouse Road to where the trails start.

Keeping straight on the Cedar Loop section that runs parallel to Schoolhouse Road.

Just before the steps down to River's Edge Trail, we hopped the guardrail (OK, I hopped, Brodie went under) and crossed back over Schoolhouse Road to ...

... to a quick look at the pond, which we could have seen while over on that side doing the Bridge Trail but didn't think to go there at the time.

Back over Schoolhouse Road and down the steps to ...

River's Edge Trail.

There are several sections of steps along this trail, most with an insanely high rise.  Brodie had the right idea.

Going down steps.

Multi-level steps.

Shark River from higher up.

Nearing the end of the River's Edge Trail where it meets back up with the Hidden Creek Trail to ...

... the field with the Gully Road parking lot at the far side.

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