Jersey Shore Sea Kayak Association – Launch site directory

Driving Directions:

• From North
• I287 South to exit 57 (Skyline Drive).
• Bear left on exit ramp toward Pompton Lakes.
• At stop sign, cross northbound lane of Skyline Drive to merge into southbound lane of Skyline Drive. (Use caution, the intersection is confusing, and cars are traveling at high speed.)
• Proceed straight under I287, through 2 traffic lights, over railroad tracks, and past Hans Volvo repair (on left).
• Approx 1/10 mile past Hans is the entrance to dirt parking lot (on Left).

• From South
• I287 South to exit 57 (Skyline Drive).
• At traffic light, make right RIGHT on West Oakland Avenue.
• Proceed straight over railroad tracks, and past Hans Volvo repair (on Left).
• Approx 1/10 mile past Hans is the entrance to dirt parking lot (on Left).

Address:

West Oakland Avenue

Oakland, NJ 07436, Bergen County

Land owner: Township

GPS Coordinates: L 41^o 01' 20.6" N    Lo 74^o 15' 33.7" W

Water: Fresh

Water type: Lake

Launch area is: Ramp

Launch area surface is: Dirt, Stones

Facilities: Trash Receptacle

Launching considerations / restrictions:

Park closes at dusk. No fee.

Parking situation:

Plenty of parking in lot.

Comments:

You should see a bridge with the "Green Acres" sign on it. You can actually drive across the bridge; unload boat here and park in main parking area. The boat launch is quite steep and is rocks/dirt. There are NO signs there but there is a garbage can there and no other facilities. There is a post with a bulletin board there but nothing is posted.

Site visitors reports:

The West Oakland launch is at the northernmost tip of the lake, you'll have to paddle towards the bridge you can see on Doty road and a wide channel to get to the lake proper.

I explored a little by foot from the new boat launch. The dam just north of it actually deflects water 2 ways around the lake. Both side streams start just above the dam. The little bridge to the ramp crosses one of these streams. The stream by the park seems quite paddlable, but with enough current probably only downstream. If you try you can probably find a rock. At the end, it splits into 3 little channels, one going under a bridge to a home on an island, the other on the far side of the island, and the main goes into the lake on the north side an island just north of the Doty Road Bridge. It's a nice place for walk or picnic. It would be possible to miss the dam if you are coming from up river. The clue is the large pipe crossing the Ramapo by the Oakland Soccer fields, and the rip rap north of the dam. Or it looks like an easy portage around the dam on the park side.

Related Links:

Picture of parking area. (pic.jpg 62k)

Picture of putin. (pic.jpg 53k)

TopoZone Topo map

Mapquest street map

Click here for alternate launch site at Lakeside Avenue in Pompton lakes.

Click here for alternate launch site at Terhune Park in Wayne.

Last Update: 04/24/2004

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