Jersey Shore Sea Kayak Association – Launch site directory

Driving Directions:

• Garden State Parkway to exit 120.
• Make a left onto Matawan Road / Laurence Harbor Parkway.
• Take this road (approx. 1.5 miles) to the light at Route 35.
• Cross 35 to loop around and take Route 35 North.
• Parking lot is on right 1/4 mile north. (Exit from Route 35 just before drawbridge to loop back to parking lot.

Address:

Route 35

Old Bridge, NJ 08879, Middlesex County

Land owner: Township

GPS Coordinates: L 40^o 27' 42.18" N    Lo 74^o 15' 16.68" W

Water: Salt

Water type: Bay

Launch area is: Beach

Launch area surface is: Sand

Facilities: Rest Rooms, Food, Trash Receptacle

Launching considerations / restrictions:

You can unload at edge of lot by the sand.

Parking situation:

Parking might get tight on summer weekends (based on how many cars were there on a weekday evening in the summer). Parking area has 132 parking spaces.

Comments:

This site is part of the Old Bridge Waterfront Park that has a boardwalk and was recently refurbished. This area has the Hoft Pavilion, which has all the facilities.

This site provides access to the Cheesequake Creek, which is approximately 1/4 mile north along the shoreline.

Caution: The south jetty leading into the Cheesequake Creek inlet is partially submerged at high tide.

If monitoring VHF Channel 13, the Route 35 bridge (over Cheesequake Creek) is referred to as "Morgan Highway Bridge" and the railroad bridge is referred to as "Morgan Railroad Bridge".

If planning to enter Cheesequake Creek, do so 2 hours on either side of high tide or railroad bridge clearance will be too low. In which case you will need to wait for the bridge to open for boat traffic. Railroad bridge opens on demand depending on train schedules which have right of way. Route 35 opens on hour.

If proceeding up Stump Creek, the railroad bridge has enough clearance at high tide. Note: There is no access to Cheesequake Creek from Stump Creek.

Related Links:

Picture of parking area. (pic.jpg 91k)

Picture of putin. (pic.jpg 110k)

Satellite image showing launch site. (Pic.jpg 40k)

Satellite image closeup. (Pic.jpg 42k)

History of the Old Bridge Waterfront

TopoZone Topo map

Mapquest street map

Alternate Launch site:

• In Laurence Harbor
• Garden State Parkway to exit 120.
• Make a left onto Matawan Road / Laurence Harbor Parkway.
• Take this road (approx. 1.5 miles) as far as you can and you will run right into the parking lot.
• GPS Coordinates: L 40^o 27' 29.1" N    Lo 74^o 14' 46.0" W
• Picture of sign. (pic.jpg 84k)
• Picture of parking area. (pic.jpg 99k)
• Picture of putin. (pic.jpg 72k)
• TopoZone Topo map
• Mapquest street map
• Launch area is Sand beach. No Facilities. Asphalt parking area 51 spaces.
• Launch is from the beach, which is just below the parking lot. At low tide it might be a bit muddy or rocky. There is a sign saying "no boat launching." However Old Bridge police at the park said this means boats on trailers, not cartop boats, and kayaks are okay.

Last Update: 7/5/2005

Copyright © 2008 by Jersey Shore Sea Kayak Association - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No warranties are expressed or implied.