Cheesequake State Park
Cheesequake State Park is centrally located in Middlesex County, New Jersey in my town of Old Bridge. One of 49 state parks in New Jersey, Cheesequake is known for its hiking and biking trails, campgrounds, picnicking and recreational activities like swimming, fishing, kayaking and sledding. I thought this would offer the perfect spot to promote a popular New Jersey park that’s easily accessible minutes off the Garden State Parkway on exit 120.
Map out a plan
Before you visit Cheesequake State Park, you’ll need to have a plan. The park boasts 1,274 acres. You can’t do it all, unless you’re going to spend time camping and you spread out your activities over several days. If you’re planning a day trip like I did, then pick one or two activities to enjoy. Maybe you’ll go for a hike and do some bird-watching. Maybe you’ll go swimming and pack a picnic lunch? Or maybe you’ll take a kayak ecotour of the marshland and observe everything from fiddler crabs to pelicans. For those who enjoy winter activities, the park is open year-round with areas for sledding and cross-country skiing.
Trails
The park boasts 9 miles of trails, ranging from easy to moderate. I started my tour of the park at the trailhead entrance to the yellow, red, green and blue trails. These four trails are designated for walkers and hikers only. The white trail can be used for hiking and mountain biking. The length of the trails range from 1.5 to 3.5 miles. Check out the easy-to-read trail map before you go hiking. It provides important details and descriptions about each trail. And here’s another useful source: Comprehensive Guide to the Trails at Cheesequake State Park
Camping
Cheesequake is a popular spot for camping. The campgrounds are open from April 1st through October 31st. As I drove around the park, signs navigated me to the 53 wooded tent and trailer spots. While it’s not my cup of tea, I do have friends who’ve camped at Cheesequake and had a nice experience. But bring plenty of bug spray!
Swimming
Swimming is allowed at Hooks Creek Lake during the summer months from Memorial Day through Labor Day while a lifeguard is on duty. The beach area is clean and well-maintained. There are changing areas, restrooms and plenty of picnic tables nearby within walking distance. Visitors can also experience activities like fishing, crabbing and hunting at Cheesequake State Park.
Fishing
In addition to swimming, Hooks Creek Lake offers the opportunity for freshwater fishing. The lake features sunfish, trout, catfish and largemouth bass. While I did not see anyone fishing on this August afternoon, I was told by a park ranger the best times to fish in the lake are during the spring and fall.
Crabbing
Crabbing is also popular. The bridge over Hooks Creek provides excellent blue claw crabbing in the summer season. Fiddler crabs can be seen crawling along the banks during low tide. I made sure to capture shots of the male fiddler crabs, who are identified by their one oversized claw.
Hunting
Hunters are allowed to hunt for deer by applying for a special permit with the Deer Management Plan. The one activity you won’t see here or in my two-minute video of Cheesequake, is sledding. The hill near Hooks Creek Lake gets packed with people of all ages when the snow blankets the Garden State.
As one ranger told me, “Cheesequake is a four-season park. It’s not just for spring, summer and fall. You can enjoy all the amenities and activities year-round.”
Here’s the final two-minute product!