Cheesequake Park is basically our neighbor, and definitely a favorite park to frequent. We have spent many a summer camping here, and swimming in the lake. The trails are beautiful, and varied in length for however much time you have to explore the park. You will always find something new in some nook or cranny. The dogs love walking here, as well as the humans. :) The marshes are so cool, and there's educational information everywhere. Make sure you wear good sneakers! Plenty to do and see in here, you will never run out of new options. read more

I love this park. I came here with my best friend to go for a nice hike. This park is very nice, if you looking to escape from the world for a lil bit go on the different trails and enjoy nature!! read more

Cheesequake State Park - They have certain different trails to follow - Parks Near Me - Matawan, New Jersey

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This park is huge and has a bunch of trails and even camping areas. They also have a big lake that you can swim in. I would 100% recommend coming here especially if you have dogs. There's dog parks here as well and many dog friendly trails read more

Cheesequake State Park - My dogs enjoying a hike - Parks Near Me - Matawan, New Jersey

Beautiful park, several well kept trails, but not well marked in many spots. I believe there should be more blazers. The lake has a concession stand and clean shower rooms. Multiple Hiking trails are well traveled. read more

We found this park because we are looking for a picnic area, dog friendly and has to be half way between nyc, nj & pa. We are meeting with relatives so it has to be convenient for everyone. For our purpose it didnt dissapoint. There a playgrounds for kids, we had our picnic by the lake which offers a nice view of the water. picnic tables are available, lots of parking on a Saturday & clean bathrooms on the vicinity. We didnt go hiking that day but lots of little insect / mosquitos ??? by the trail head so we turned around. Make sure to bring Insect repellent for your visit. No swimming allowed on our visit. I dipped my toes in the water. But to be honest the water looks suspicious for swimming. Every thing considered, I enjoyed my first visit here! read more

Came here for a hike and was lucky enough to pair up with more experienced hikers. I would not recommend hiking here alone if you're not experienced or if it's your first time at this park. The woods are marked with the path but it's very easy to get lost. There's a lot of steps, uneven paths and etc so it's a fairly advanced hike. I was disappointed that weren't any waterfalls or other scenic views during the hike like other spots I've been to. All in all parking was pretty easy to find and the trails gives you a great workout. I would come back with a group to explore the other trails. read more

I was pleasantly surprised by this park. What started as a trip to do a simple one hour hike turned into something much better. This park is relatively small compared to others in NJ but has much to offer. We hiked the green trail which was about 3 miles (feels like much longer with the rugged terrain and hills). On a comfortable October afternoon the weather was a little chilly but the sun peeking through the trees along with constantly moving was enough to stay warm. Nice thing about hiking around this time of year is that there are hardly any bugs. The only bad part of this trip was seeking so much litter from people on the ground. Kinda sad.. There was also a strange sheen on all the creeks we walked past as if oil or something similar had spilled into them. read more

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As much as I have always enjoyed walking a lot, in the city that is, hiking is something that I have to force myself to do. I've never been one with nature. I much rather be in a city. But I do explore from time to time with my son who is an avid hiker. He's already done the top ten in New Jersey and always wants to do a day of it whenever we travel in other states and overseas. He's hardcore and can spend an entire day hiking. He knows me well as I always ask these following questions... - is there lots of shade along the trails (don't like the sun) - is it going to be a long hike (2 hours max is good enough for me) - is it easy to walk (don't like slippery rocks cause I'm clumsy) And that is what Cheesequake State Park in Matawan, New Jersey offers. There are 5 trails clearly marked. Blue Trail - 2 miles Green Trail - 3 miles Red Trail - 1.3 miles Yellow Trail - 0.7 miles White Trail - 2.7 miles We chose the Blue Trail which crosses a salt marsh on a long boardwalk, it runs along the Perrine Pond. There are quite a few spots with long stairs. This is probably my favorite, I like to think that I got some good exercise in. Good for the glutes and leg muscles. What I appreciated most was that this trail offered a ton of shaded areas. Pros: - plenty of parking - pet friendly - great for families with young kids Cons: - not enough garbage cans read more

Cheesequake is one of those places I always end up at because of its convenient location and drama-free hiking paths - any of my chums with working legs can roam around here, which isn't always the case when it comes to my outdoor adventures. That's sometimes the downside of having Hindpaws of Steel. I came here with one of my chums this past weekend for a constitutional on an unseasonably toasty February day. Given the weather, it was pretty busy (not a surprise) and we ended up having to park in the lot directly north of Hooks Creek Lake on State Park Road and walked back to the parking lot on Gordon Road where basically all of the trails begin. We didn't have an official hiking agenda but ended up taking the yellow trail down to the lake (my friend was adamant that we needed to get a close-up look at it for reasons that escaped me), and then traversed the blue/green/red loop that takes you back to the parking lot. Probably about 2 1/2, 3 miles in total. I'm not crazy about Cheesequake - depending on where you are in the park, there's a decent chance you're going to be treated to the sounds (and sometimes sights) of the Garden State Parkway. It's also not particularly challenging either in length or strenuousness, so I usually go to the gym beforehand to justify the calories I intend to consume afterwards. A little inefficient, but these are the choices we make as the metabolism slows to a crawl. That said, it's not entirely flat, and the landscape DOES offer variety - you have a lot of fun boardwalks throughout, particularly in the swampy areas, and there are some hilly sections by the nature center with stairs to mix it up a bit. Also, by virtue of the fact that it's sort of a hybrid terrain (you have the sandy/marshy ecosystem of South Jersey and a bit of the foothill/woodsy ecosystem of North Jersey), this is actually a park where it makes sense to come year-round, weather permitting. Other strong points? The trail markings, particularly at the trailheads, are excellent. If you end up on the wrong trail, that's absolutely on you. Super easy to locate and follow. This is also a strong pooch park - I usually end up introducing myself to at least three or four canines who are thrilled to be out and about. Given how ridiculously easy it is to access Cheesequake off the highway, this is one of the better parks in the area. There isn't a lot of competition though for that honor. read more

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On the whole, Cheesequake State Park is AOK. Pros: You'll see lots of different plants in the area surrounding the swamp The staff is friendly and helpful Cons: There are no garbage cans During insect season, you're likely to be eaten alive :-( Swimming is not permitted outside of the summer months read more

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Went to Cheesequake for a four mile hike with some friends and a pup last Saturday for Earth Day. Honestly, Cheesequake is really convenient and a great place to get some mileage in. Some positive points of Cheesequake are that there's plenty of parking, the trails are clearly marked, and lots of different scenic views on your hike. Since the trails are so clearly marked, it's really easy to extend or lessen the length of your hike, which I appreciate. The trails were decently crowded and we passed many hiking groups and some pups. On the downside, the hike is not quite strenuous if you're looking for a difficult hike. The trails are pretty level overall. To turn this negative into a positive, because it's not too strenuous, it's quite easy to bring a four legged friend! We also passed a lake that had A LOT of deceased fish- while I understand Mother Nature happens, it was quite a sight. Additionally, we reached a picnic area where all the restrooms were closed (locked) and there were zero garbage cans. I understand the concept of taking out what you bring in, but this spot was near a paved road too, so would be easy for a park ranger etc. to empty any trash cans. Thankfully, there was not much litter, but it seems odd to me to encourage people to bring in food, but have nowhere to dispose. The one trash can near the entry, also was small, so we couldn't even dispose of our coffee in it. Pros: well marked trails & scenic views Cons: lack of garbage cans and very flat overall Overall, Cheesequake is a great reliable park for some mileage, that is not too difficult, but it is limited on trash cans & restrooms. read more

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It is so beautiful I had no idea this was within an hour of me!! My cousin and I had so much fun!! read more

Cheesequake State Park - A river - Parks Near Me - Matawan, New Jersey

For about a month now the family has been bouncing around different state parks and this one was by far our favorite all around. (But take that with a grain of salt... I hate summer because of bugs and insects and never camped a day in my life.) We opted to do the 'Green Trail' (much to the chagrin of my kids when they realized it was the longest of the bunch) and it was great. A majority of the trail is a mix between wooden stairs and small boardwalks (perfect for someone not that into 'the great outdoors') and an almost-paved walkway with just enough dirt and mud and tree roots to remind you of where you're at. We lathered liberally with Off! bug spray at the start and the only time entomophobia started to kick in was when we took a detour for "Steamboat Landing" which was a complete bust. Once we found our way back to the actual trail the bugs kept their distance. Lake, camping, picnic areas, ample parking - this place seemed to have it all. (Well, except a bathroom that was actually open. I understand we're all in this together because of COVID but we tried three different ones - including the one that was definitely supposed to be open - and we had no luck.) Worth mentioning: this was also the cleanest of the parks we visited with almost no litter anywhere. read more

Cheesequake State Park - "The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness." - John Muir - Parks Near Me - Matawan, New Jersey

Family enjoyed the hike here. We elected to do the green trail because we wanted something a bit longer. At 3 miles, this was about perfect for the family. There were some inclines and descents, but it was not bad at all even for my 6yr old, because they have steps. Most of the paths were fairly wide so it didn't get too crowded. There was a small parking lot which was fairly full when we arrived (warmer holiday in Winter) but the spots emptied out fairly quickly. Pet friendly. They do supply bags for the dogs, and there is a trash can at entrance to dispose waste. read more

First time visit this park for hiking. It's peaceful and calm. I was worrying I will get attacked by bugs and mosquitoes, however it didn't happen. Although I already sprayed myself. The bathroom is nice and clean. It is nice place to hike and get to explore. While walking through the trail, we got to visit the beach. read more

Cheesequake State Park - Parks Near Me - Matawan, New Jersey

Love this park! There's a beautiful trail that starts right off the crabbing bridge and takes you all around the park. In the summer you can swim at the lake and they have some food there for purchase. Super dog friendly, just be prepared to put bug spray on so you don't get bit when you're on the trails. read more

Cheesequake State Park - Parks Near Me - Matawan, New Jersey

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Not the best park in New Jersey, but certainly not the worst. It has its pretty parts, overlooking the Garden State Parkway, Hooks Creek Lake (which is kinda nasty if you ask me, whether it is high season or not), and the Manhattan skyline (I also get a nice view of the North Jersey Coast Line), but the walking/hiking trails are nice. There are several of them labeled by colors; Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, and White. Something I guess of note is the all the wildlife here, because the various terrain and trees (it is in the Pine Barrens), for nature conservationists, this is a great place to observe nature at its finest. I liked how well maintained the park is, it is clean and people do a great job picking up after themselves. People were also very friendly. It is a nice place to spend the day, if you like the great outdoors, maybe longer. read more

Great park for some fishing and camping with the family ! The park is free this summer but normally is about 20$ or less to get in an the staff is very helpful ! They keep the park very clean and theirs lots of camping spots always available! They have a small concession stand near the water for food n drinks and lots of parking spots ! Definitely bring ur bug spray and garbage bags to take ur garbage home but great spot all around read more

Yes, Central Jersey is a thing. And this is hands down one of my favorite parts in this area (of heavily debated existence). They have a range of walks for any level of experience. Whether with family or a significant other, the trails are manageable and scenic. Even during a post-rain situation, you can still see views of flora and fauna with informative checkpoints at every corner. Head to Sciortinos Pizza in neighboring South Amboy as a post-hike reward :) read more

Nice state park, just make sure to bring Deet cause the mosquitoes will go through your clothes to feast on you. The trails are cool, the water that you can swim in looked kind of gross and had that stagnant smell to it a little. The crabbing area looked cool although I don't crab. And at least if you decide to go in the stinky ass water there is a shower there for afterwards which is great. Personally I didn't find it very appealing to venture in the water on the day I visited even though it was really hot. read more

Great trails very convenient to get to plenty of parking my dog loved the day in the woods

LOVE the lake. My kids have a great time here & the water is always a nice temperature, not cold like the ocean can be. There's a snack bar & lifeguards on duty. The lake is small enough where I don't have to worry about loosing a child. The nature trails & staff are amazing - a must try. When we go we stop by the visitors station & feed the chipmunks peanuts. My kids love it here & we make sure to come all the time. There is a fee to enter between $5-$10 during the summer months the rest of the year it's free. read more

Parking: The closest lots to the entrance are by the visitor center and the trailhead. Before Memorial Day, parking is free. Visitor Center: Expect 1-2 park rangers behind a counter, a few chairs, a bunch of local tourism pamphlets, and a wide open lobby space with air conditioning. The gender-specific restrooms behind the visitor center each have one sink and 1-2 stalls. The Nature Center and most of the restrooms outside of the Visitor Center are closed until Memorial Day, so plan accordingly. Trails: The trailhead for the Yellow, Red, Blue, and Green Trails can be found about a 3-minute walk behind the Visitor center. The terrain is a mixture of woodland and swamp (or mostly swamp after a rainstorm). Colored trail markers on metal posts can be found at every half mile. Take note that the porch in front of the Nature Center is mosquito central, since they like hanging out in dark, sheltered spaces. Two of the four mosquito bites I got were from the mosquitoes at the Nature Center. Green Trail: On my first visit, I decided to try the Green Trail (the longest trail at 3.0 mi.) the day after a thunderstorm, so I enjoyed fending off mosquitoes and caking my ankles in fresh mud on parts of the trail that were not covered with wooden walkways. I managed to keep my feet dry and clean until the last third of the trail, which has a lot of off-road terrain (including a brook crossing after the Great White Pine). Other thoughts about the Green Trail: - Consider wearing footwear that drains water or keeps water out. - The Green Trail has quite a few stairs, which are narrow in some places. - A few wooden benches are scattered throughout, but anyone sitting is literally a sitting target for mosquitoes. - I saw a lot of chipmunks, but no snapping turtles or exotic birds. Yellow Trail: Although Hooks Creek Lake has its own parking lot, it is also accessible via the Yellow Trail. The west side of the trail is considerably more walker-friendly than the east side, so I would consider taking the west side both there and back. Some stair climbing is required. The lake, which has its own beach, is popular for obvious reasons, and permits fishing but not diving. The roofed pavilion houses concession stands and restrooms, which are (surprise) both closed until Memorial Day. read more

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A beautiful state park so close to home. There are several trails of varying difficulty levels. We went early Nov to see the foliage. It's still beautiful but if you want to see the foliage, I'd recommend going a week or two earlier. We were on the yellow trail, which is the shortest and easiest route, a completely do-able route if you have young kids. There are stairs so that you do not need to climb up a hill and the trail is virtually all paved. There were a lot of leaves on the ground though and there was mud underneath, which makes it very slippery. The lake, in front of the beautiful, colorful trees makes for a nice scenic photo. There were no waterfalls though. Partway through the trail, where all of the trails seem to converge, we saw a nature center. It's a small indoor area with bathrooms and some interesting nature facts and specimens. It's a nice place to take a break. read more

PERFECT FOR BIRDWATCHING and HIKING WITH YOUR DOGS! I love to go to all different parks in our area and Cheesequake is definitely one of them. The park is large with extensive trails for everyone. Endless things to see and do. We are really into bird watching and photography. We have taken some fantastic pictures here of nesting Bald Eagles, Osprey and owls. Excellent place to see many nesting birds in the marsh area, as it is the perfect place for them to feed since the park borders Cheesequake Creek and near to the Raritan Bay in Keyport. Others sited include: Wood Thrush, vireos, Woodpeckers, flycatchers, warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, Baltimore Orioles, Green Heron, Snowy Egrets, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Clapper Rail, Marsh Wren, Rough-legged Hawk and Short-eared Owls. Keep it green....whatever trash you bring in be prepared to take it out. No garbage cans. read more

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Cheesequake State Park in Middlesex County, NJ is the perfect place to get some fresh air, exercise and take in some scenic views! You will have cell service throughout the park so don't worry about losing any signals or not being able to post pics to yelp ;) Located less than 15 minutes off of the Garden State Parkway (near exit 120) is the easy to find entrance to hiking trails. I visited on a Saturday afternoon in July to hike with my boyfriend. Even in the heat, the trails are almost entirely shaded which is a nice perk! There is an entrance fee per car. For NJ residents, $5 on the weekdays and $10 on the weekends/holidays. Out of state visitors pay slightly more, and motorcyclists pay slightly less! There are 4 different types of trails, Red (1.3 miles), Yellow (.75 miles), Green (3 miles) & Blue (2 miles). Each trail also has a different level of difficulty which is explained on the map upon entering. We decided to take the Green Trail which took us almost 2 hours to complete. We were definitely taking our time, stopping for photos etc. I am giving this park 4 stars instead of 5 because the views weren't that incredible in comparison to other hiking trails in north jersey. There weren't any waterfalls or much running water at all. Perhaps this was just the time of year. I didn't find that WOW moment that I was looking for. Also, at times, the trail became unclear based on the color markings. We found our way but i wish it was a little more direct. Overall, for a park in central jersey, where there really aren't that many to begin with I had a great day here and would recommend it for anyone who wants to get outside and enjoy the weather! Until next time, Tara B. read more

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Cheesequake Park is the closest hiking area to me, at about 20 minutes away. Its trails are bite sized 1-2 hr paths. They even constructed wooden steps over any inclines, which I'm not sure I love, but makes it very user-friendly. If you're a couch potato and trying to get out more, this is a good place to start, just one level up from putzing about the house. Memorial Day to Labor Day, there is a $5 fee to park in the lots. That means September and the fall, it's free. The park is located in the town of Matawan and there's a couple of strip malls nearby. There's one bike trail there, for mountain biking- it's not very well marked. If, like me, you don't have a proper mountain bike, there's not that much to do there on a bike. It will get you down the road, though, and to the trail heads for hiking. Bring bug spray! read more

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Perfect for an easy morning hike in the Central Jersey area! Came here last weekend to get some fresh air. Getting to the park was a breeze, with easily marked signs and ample parking space early in the morning. At the entrance, there are easily readable signs outlining the different trails and their approximate length. The paths themselves are perfect for almost any kind of weather condition, with wide wooden planks covering watery or rocky areas along the way. The trails also had many markings and gates dictating the correct place to go. Out of the two trails I went on, the green trail was my favorite. There were trees lining the whole path, with spans of wooden planks overlooking beautiful water and plant life. The blue trail was nice as well- some highlights include a small lake and giant stairs. Bathrooms were located at the trail head and around 2.5 miles into the green trail. All in all, a refreshing place to enjoy nature in the area. So happy to have come here- I'll definitely be back! read more

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Spent a fantastic fall afternoon hiking at Cheesequake State Park. I have memories of this park as a young child, swimming in the lake with my mom. Hadn't been there since. The lake pretty much looked the way I remembered, with a snack bar building & large beach area. Of course, being fall, it was closed up. No mind, I was here to enjoy beautiful fall weather & hike in the woods with my dog. And hike we did! What I liked about the park was the trails are very clearly marked. There are I believe 4 main trails that vary in length from 1 mile to about 3 miles. We opted for the longest trail, the green trail. It was really beautiful following it through the woods with the trees changing color. There are bridges & steps built over some of the rougher areas. There are some hilly areas & with the leaves covering a lot of the paths. I recommend being very vigilant as to where you are stepping as there are many tree roots under the leaves. There are no bikes allowed on the trails, thankfully, as they are way too narrow for people, dogs & bikes. In fact in several areas we had to move off the path to let other dogs & hikers by. My only complaint is the bathrooms are closed for the season. There were still plenty of people utilizing the trails. The only bathrooms open were when you first come in by the office. One each for men & women, & no supplies in the ladies room. I think maybe making sure 'supplies' are full for the weekend would be a good idea. When all was said & done we hiked just over 5 miles. Nobody fell & broke anything so it was a good day. read more

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Love this park and it's trails. I'm always here with Gus walking the trails and meeting people and their dogs as well. It's well maintained and a good selection of walking trails from Long to short. The longest is 4 miles I believe. It's a loop so you end right back at your car lol which is good read more

DO NOT GO THERE. It's been 2 weeks and the bug bites don't seem to wear off. The itch persists and is just irritating.These were not mosquitoes but some tiny bugs and they are a lots of them. Just not worth it read more

Since I can no longer convince people to go camping, hiking is the next best thing (after outdoor BBQing). I try to go a few times a year in the Fall and always try a different park for variety. I found this park the old fashioned way....by Googling "hiking in NJ" and finding the best hikes in NJ link: http://www.njhiking.com/best_hikes_in_nj.php You have to pay an entrance fee between Memorial Day - Labor Day ($10 for NJ residents / $20 for non-residents on the weekend; it's half off during weekdays). The start of the hiking trails are at the first parking lot on the left. I did the green trail which is 3 miles long (it took about an hour and a half to complete while taking pictures). The trails were: - well marked with signs, had sand on the trail, and clean paths - had .1 mile increment signs - scenic with the boardwalks, wooden bridges, and wild animals seen (wild turkeys and deer) - had clean bathrooms at the visitor center at the beginning of the hike - had benches scattered throughout the park - perfect for beginners (its impossible to get lost) and challenging enough for a short hike There are also 2 picnic areas (one with a lake opened for swimming) within the park just a short drive from the hiking trails. Toward the end of the hike, we hiked past a campground and all the nostalgia of camping came back: the smell of the food, contentness in just watching a fire, and having no good reason but to drink. read more

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Well marked Green Trail. Easy to navigate. 3 miles of moderate hike if you are looking for a bit of a challenge. Path is clear, not jarred by over hanging branches. No water on the trail. Some steep areas which have plank steps for convenience. Nice for a family walk. Young kids and tweens should have fun on this trek through nature. Remember your bug spray! Listen to different birds singing and hear crickets chirping. On my walk, I encountered a family of deer that ran off into the woods as I approached. Public restroom is located by the lake. read more

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Do not come here to kayak, unless you're part of a paid tour. The access point to kayak is a bit of a walk back and forth for a hamster wheel of a lake and there are NO REFUNDS! Ten bucks down, we just went for a hike and enjoyed our lunch. Bring your lavender/lemon oil, the mosquitos are ruthless! This is a nice park just not for what we intended it for. read more

Park closes at 7pm. You can park in the main lot at the entrance and skip, crawl,hike, jog till your hearts content. That or until it's pitch black, whichever comes first. Enjoy!!! read more

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Beautiful and clean park, entrance fee is $10 per car. My dog has a lot of fun here. A great place for families to do picnic/bbq. (May consider to do a bbq here next time. ) read more

Cheesequake State Park - Parks Near Me - Matawan, New Jersey

Visited twice in one week paying $10 on Sunday and $5 on Tuesday. My fiancé and I went on Sunday in attempt to feed our need for fresh air and greenery. There were 5 trials to choose from, but since this was our first time hiking, we choose the blue trail (0.75) miles, fairly easy with a few inclines. When we returned on Tuesday we tried the 3 mile green trail, which was a bit more difficult with many more inclines and less wooden paths than the blue trail. We took our dog with us both times and he did pleasantly well though we have to stop a few times to give him water. This was really great way to kill 1-2 hours. As someone who is just starting to be more active, this was a great alternative to a Boring gym workout. read more

First time here in many, many, many years!! A coworker friend of mine goes here all the time and decided since it was a beautiful October Afternoon we should go walk the trails. I skipped the gym that day to do so and so glad I did. It was so beautiful! Just see my pictures. Usually there is a cost per car load to enter, however we went around 4:15/4:30 and they don't charge. The park closes at 6pm. I would like to go back when the leaves are turning more!!! read more

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Had a wonderful time here on a very hot summer day . Spent like 2 hrs in the water . Nice place for swimming, picnicking and getting some exercise by walking the trails The place is well kept there are facilities which were very convenient showers , changing rooms etc. Would definitely recommend and would be going again . read more

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I had heard only good things about Cheesequake park so I decided that in a sufficiently pleasant day I would venture there to have a look. Hoping for the NJ resident discount I brought my boyfriend and his state ID, however my Pennsylvania plated car wasn't good enough. They said they charge by the plates on the vehicle, which seems off and I'm sure if someone in a Jersey car couldn't produce Jersey ID they would say the opposite. Oh well, I digress. Despite the somewhat outrageous price this is a nice park with an abundance of things to do. Their marsh trail (forget the color name, blue maybe?) is very unique and you can see a variety of wildlife, especially the mischievous little fiddler crabs that live there. We didn't swim or fish but I can see that one could easily lose a day exploring the park. Nice to visit, I don't really know if I would commend it for those traveling a long way to get there. Also beware of the lake flies, almost two weeks later and I still have scars from their bites. read more