Gateway National Recreation Area | BEACHES ON SANDY HOOK BAY


SANDY HOOK BAY BEACHES


Sandy Hook Unit Home Page | Sandy Hook Beaches Home Page


If you have small children or just prefer not to deal with large waves when swimming, you might want to try the beaches along Sandy Hook Bay in the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. There is a significant difference in wave size due to the fact that the bay is protected from the wind, though that’s not to say the bay can’t get rough on a stormy or windy day. To illustrate the point, the following photos were taken within twenty minutes of one another on opposite sides of the peninsula.

Beach on Sandy Hook Bay in the Sandy Hook unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

Beach on Sandy Hook Bay in the Sandy Hook unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

Atlantic Ocean beach in the Sandy Hook unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

Atlantic Ocean beach in the Sandy Hook unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

Other than the waves, I did notice that the bay beaches have more trash on them. On the Atlantic side, trash can wash on down to Florida, but once in the bay, it is stuck and can only wash up on the shore. Also, there are no bathhouses or lifeguards on the bay beaches. The water tends to get deep rather quickly, so keep an eye on little children and don’t let them wade more than a few feet from the shore.

As I explored Sandy Hook on a busy summer weekend, I saw people everywhere on the bayside beaches, all up and down the peninsula. I don’t even know how they got to some of these places. For those who want easy access, the following is a list of the popular Sandy Hook Bay beaches and their access points.

PLUM ISLAND

Pond on Plum Island in the Sandy Hook unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

Pond on Plum Island in the Sandy Hook unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

Plum Island—which really isn’t an island—and the beach directly to the north (Kite Beach) are accessed from Parking Lot B at Sandy Hook. Keep in mind that you must pay a fee to use this parking lot from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend between the hours of 8 AM and 6 PM. Daily and seasonal passes are available (no cash accepted). See the National Park Service’s official Gateway National Recreation Area Fees and Passes web page for the latest prices.

There is an access point at the center of the parking lot (across from the bathhouse) that leads to Plum Island. A couple of sand paths run between two small, land-locked ponds (no swimming in the ponds). I suggest staying straight on the wider path, but no matter which route you take, you’ll end up at the bay. Be sure to stay away from the vegetation as much as possible, because ticks do live in the grass.

Sand path leads across Plum Island to the beach on Sandy Hook Bay in the Sandy Hook unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

Sand path leads across Plum Island to the beach on Sandy Hook Bay in the Sandy Hook unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

Plum Island at the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

Plum Island at the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

Beach on Plum Island at the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

Beach on Plum Island at the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

The better choice for swimming and sunbathing is at Kite Beach, the beach north of Plum Island. To get there, park at the north end of Parking Lot B and walk directly across the road from the north entrance of the parking lot.

Bay beach north of Plum Island in the Sandy Hook unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

Bay beach north of Plum Island in the Sandy Hook unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

Satellite view of Plum Island

Satellite view of Plum Island

BEACH C PARKING AREA

A much better bay beach, and one that’s easier to get to than the one at Plum Island, is located across from Parking Lot C at Sandy Hook (again, there is a fee to use this parking lot from Memorial Day through Labor Day). If I were going to the bay, this is the beach I would choose. However, being better also means being busier.

Bay beach across from Parking Lot C at the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

Bay beach across from Parking Lot C at the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area

The bay beach at Sandy Hook’s Parking Lot C is also a popular sportsman’s beach, not only for fishing, but for windsurfing and paddling. You can even rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards from Sandy Hook Kayaks.

Kayaks and paddleboards for rent at the bay beach at Parking Lot C at Sandy Hook, Gateway National Recreation Area

Kayaks and paddleboards for rent at the bay beach at Parking Lot C at Sandy Hook, Gateway National Recreation Area

Launching kayaks into Sandy Hook Bay from the bay beach at Parking Lot C, Gateway National Recreation Area

Launching kayaks into Sandy Hook Bay from the bay beach at Parking Lot C, Gateway National Recreation Area

Windsurfer in Sandy Hook Bay, Gateway National Recreation Area

Windsurfer in Sandy Hook Bay, Gateway National Recreation Area

Horseshoe Cove

Horseshoe Cove is located near the entrance of Fort Hancock directly across the street from Parking Lot H. Unfortunately, that parking lot is for Sandy Hook Campground patrons only, and you will get a ticket for parking there without a camping permit. There is a small roadside parking area for Horseshoe Cove that might fit four vehicles at most, or you can use Lot L a quarter mile to the south. There is no fee to park in Lot L.

Satellite view of Horseshoe Cove

Satellite view of Horseshoe Cove

North End of Sandy Hook

The very north end of Sandy Hook is on the bay, and this can be reached by hiking .6 mile on the Fishermen’s Trail—way too far to carry beach gear and kids. If that doesn’t dissuade you, the currents can be swift here because it is at the mouth of New York Harbor, plus there is a lot of trash on the beach that washes up from New York City.

Sandy Hook Bay at the north end of Sandy Hook, Gateway National Recreation Area

Sandy Hook Bay at the north end of Sandy Hook, Gateway National Recreation Area

Trash on the beach at the north end of Sandy Hook, Gateway National Recreation Area

Trash on the beach at the north end of Sandy Hook, Gateway National Recreation Area

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Last updated on December 4, 2024
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