Sandy Hook imagery

Sandy Hook

A barrier beach peninsula at the northern tip of the Jersey shore

THINGS TO DO
  • Nature and outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy swimming, fishing or strolling along six miles of ocean beaches. The waters of Sandy Hook Bay offer opportunities for boating and windsurfing.
  • Kite flying programs, fishing clinics, beach walks, puppet shows and holly forest rambles are available for children.
  • Bird enthusiasts can view over 300 species of birds in the dunes, beaches and salt marshes.
  • Tourists can learn about the history of Sandy Hook through ranger led tours of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, Proving Grounds, Fort Hancock, Spermaceti Cove Visitor Center, Sandy Hook Museum, History House and Battery Potter. There is also a new self-guided experience in the Lighthouse Keeper's Quarters and exhibits on the history of New Jersey lighthouses.
  • Annual events include the Sandy Hook Beach Concert Series, Fort Hancock Day, and the All-Women Lifeguard Tournament.

Sandy Hook -- part of Gateway National Recreation Area -- is a 2,044-acre barrier beach peninsula at the northern tip of the New Jersey shore. The park includes ocean beaches, salt marshes, hiking trails and a maritime holly forest. Historic sites include the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, the oldest surviving lighthouse in the United States.

Special features include:

  • Fort Hancock, which provided coastal defense for New York harbor from 1895 until 1974
  • Sandy Hook Lighthouse, America's oldest operating lighthouse (not open to the public)
  • Spermaceti Cove Visitor Center, a former U.S. Lifesaving Service Station, which houses exhibits and a bookstore
  • Sandy Hook Museum and History House, a restored 1898 lieutenant's residence along "Officers Row" with exhibits and historic displays
  • Battery Potter, the oldest gun battery on Sandy Hook
  • Holly Forest, which extends 64 acres along the east coast