Earlier in the week, I decided to take a trip to Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold, NJ. I’ve heard it’s a cute park surrounded by a small lake. Most Monmouth County Parks have a campground office, park ranger, picnic areas and picnic tables, paddle boats, water and electric hookups, travel trailers, picnic areas, fire rings, water spigots, and drinking water.
Turkey Swamp Park is just over 2,200 acres in the pine barrens. The major attraction at Turkey Swamp Park is the 17-acre lake. In the summer it’s used for fishing and boating. Turkey Swamp Park also features miles of trails and even an archery range. While walking through Turkey Swamp Park, I wondered what kind of range it was but after googling found out archery (obviously, no one was practicing).
While I didn’t run through Turkey Swamp Park, you can. Turkey Swamp Park actually hosts a trail series and even a looped marathon. The trails are accessible and even if you don’t consider yourself a “trail runner”, you can run through.
In all, it was a fun few hours in Turkey Swamp Park and I enjoyed the warmer weather. This spring and summer, I want to get out to more parks in NJ and enjoy them. I haven’t been to many down the shore so that’s where you’ll find me.
At Turkey Swamp Park, two main trails join together and create about 5 miles of hiking. There are plenty of sections of the parks on boardwalk but most of the surface is flat and dirt.
The shorter, Alder, is 1.6 miles and an easy loop around the lake.
The Longer, Manasquan Loop is about 3.8 miles from the Nomoco parking lot. Both are easy to follow.
In all, it was a great morning at Turkey Swamp Park of relaxing before a busy day. There weren’t any turkeys out, but I can’t complain about that. At Turkey Swamp Park, there were plenty of geese and their babies (which I had no interest to go near territorial geese…or any geese).
You can see other hikes I’ve done here.
Questions for you:
What are some things you want to do this summer? Have you been to Turkey Swamp Park?
Do you have a favorite park near you?
Have you been to the Maasquan Reservoir in Howell? My favorite!
I have not. I’ve wanted to run there though!
When I’m up to running more than a mile we should meet there sometime!!
*Manasquan
My summer plans are to get out and hike more often. I’d like to do the Mt. Tammany and Mt. Minsi hikes in the same day. Mainly, spend as much time outside as possible, given my schedule.
I have yet to say one baby goose. Usually the bike path I run through is filled with goslings in the spring, but I haven’t seen them. 🙁
Baby geese hang around of parks here too. Your more than welcome to come see them (but I’ll stay away). Do you have any parks you plan to go this summer?
Probably High Point State Park to check the Monument Trail off my list. I can’t remember if you’ve done that one. There’s a fun 10-14 mile loop in Ringwood I’ve been meaning to go back and do (it starts off near the Van Syke castle ruins), because I got turned around and made a 10-miler hike into 14.