Island Beach State Park, NJ - Bike

ABOUT THE PARK: 

Island Beach State Park - NJ Department of Environmental Protection

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 39.90612, -74.08130

I parked in the center strip just outside the park entrance so I could bike the entire park.

TRAIL MAP: 

Island Beach State Park Trail Map - NJ Department of Environmental Protection

BIKE DISTANCE:

20.1 miles which includes about 3 miles hiking on trails.

THE BIKE: 

I had hiked here in November 2020 and absolutely hated it.  I always remember it as being the worst hike ever.  Why?  I found hiking on a beach amidst vehicular traffic to be horrible.  Yes, cars are allowed on the beach.  I decided to go back and bike the entire road through the park on an off season weekday with less traffic while incorporating hiking the trails on the Barnegat Bay side.  That was much more pleasant.

No need for bikes to stop at the gate, just onward into the park on the main road.

No fox seen.

This crushed shell surface was one step up from loose sand as far as pedaling a bike goes so the bike was locked up and I went on foot.

Coming up on Barnegat Bay.

Laughing Gull

There are mile markers every mile up to mile 8 at the far end.

Lots of ducks were flying over the entire time I was there.

No turtles seen.

I found half the cars do not move over one inch for a bike even with no oncoming traffic (the law is 4 feet).  Then others go completely into the opposite lane while passing.  You just never know.  Fortunately there was not a lot a traffic but I would not want to be here in the summer on a weekend.

Peregrine Falcon

I had hiked the Fisherman's Walkway back in 2020 so I skipped it this time.

There were lots of birds around.  I missed a shot of a laughing gull swooping down for a fish in shallow right in front of me because I happened to not be holding the camera at that very moment.

There were lots of osprey gliding around.  The Merlin Bird ID app also picked up piping plover and ruddy turnstone but I saw neither.

This brown thrasher, not the prettiest bird, was singing a beautiful tune.

Barnegat Light

Heading to that bird blind around the other side.

As I was taking pictures of this pair from the bird blind ...

... one flew off and in the picture I could see the band on the leg but nothing to see on it.

At the end of the road.

There is a bike rack and a path over to the beach.

I guess there aren't enough "KEEP OFF THE DUNES" signs around.

Heading back.

Stopping for another look at the ocean. 

I don't know if it bothers anyone else but seeing a vehicle on the beach just puts a damper on the whole experience for me.

Heading back with a view of the bay in the distance.

Stopping at the nature center to hike that trail.

Back on the road to the finish.

Riding out of the park ...

... to where I parked up head just outside the entrance.

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