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Print Friendly MapThe Manasquan Reservoir Trail is located in the Howell Township and provides a great natural destination in the heart of the town. The trail forms a perimeter loop around the 770 acre reservoir offering great wildlife viewing of osprey, hawks, ducks, and nesting bald eagles and a wonderful view of the entire lake from the visitor’s center. Also, within the park is an environmental center where visitors can participate in interactive exhibits, multi-media presentations, wildlife observation areas, and other wildlife educational activities. The Manasquan Reservoir serves as both a water source for the town and a natural setting for recreation. Boating and fishing are permitted with purchase of a daily or seasonal pass and fishing license. Equestrians, hikers, cyclist, and walkers are all permitted. Dependent on weather conditions; ice-skating, ice-boating and ice-fishing are permitted during the winter season.
From I-195, take exit 28B to Route 9, northbound. Right at first traffic signal onto Georgia Tavern Rd. Environmental Center entrance will be on the right before the reservoir causeway.
I hiked this on 4/22/23 ! It is a really nice!
This is a great trail to get out in the woods and enjoy nature. If you are riding a bike, there can be a good amount of people on these trails, even on a weekday.
There are a couple of narrow sections where you may have to stop and let people pass.
Has a visitor center with indoor bathrooms.
All in all a great time!
I went myself on a damp weekday morning and had a fantastic ride. The trail is wide (a car could easily fit on it) and flat, and mostly dirt and small gravel with no tree roots or potholes. It is maintained beautifully. It's mostly flat, with a few sections that require work to climb and then are fun to descend.
Enter the main reservoir recreation area and park at either the right-front or left-front end of the parking area where you'll find entrances to the trail (in opposite directions around the reservoir). The biking trail is just under 6 miles and crosses a few small bridges over inlets off of the reservoir itself. There are benches along the way and you can stop to eat or relax. I saw a few geese, ducks, and swans along my ride. The whole thing took about 60-70 minutes and was wonderful.
Happy riding -
D
Enjoyed this trail with a hybrid bike.
This is a very nice trail for biking.
I’ve done this trail many times and enjoyed it. Greenery , water views , birds twists and turns Great trail
Mostly shaded and smooth riding. There were a good amount of people biking, walking, and jogging but everyone was courteous and we all gave way to each other. Mostly flat with a couple of gradual hills and one moderate climb. Easy access, restrooms along the trail, and plenty of parking.
Great trail, though its also a very popular jogging trail so you’ll have to be careful. Definitely bring mountain biking tires if you can. The trail is mostly dirt but there are several long patches of loose rock that could prove hazardous to slick tires.
Beautiful views and diversified trail, from flat and wide to narrow and curvy. Loose gravel and dirty add to the fun. Helps if you have a hybrid bike with front suspension. Five stars!
This is a really nice short hike for new hikers and children. Try to catch sunset if you can. It’s incredible.
5 miles is a great distance and the trails are wide and well cared for. really enjoyed two loops of running and saw runners, people walking, dogs on leashes and one or two bikes.
This trail is only for hybrids
Nice views and changes in terrain. However, I think it's a more challenging trail than that of beginner's trail because of the areas that are more sandy in texture. I felt like I was gonna wipe out on some of those turns due to the path makeup. Also, like another member posted, best to go early or later as the path is quite populated during the day, mostly with dog walkers.
The Manasquan Reservoir is the most popular county park in Monmouth County. With fishing, sailing, and kayaking on the water, biking, walking, running, and horseback riding along the trail, there's something for everyone. For bikes, this actually creates a problem as sometimes the crowds make it tough to share the path. But early morning and later afternoon or early evening are excellent times to ride. The loop is just over 5 miles, with packed dirt to crushed stone for a surface. Can be muddy in the spring. Great for mountain bikes or hybrids, not too good for road bikes. If you want to go longer, just put in a few laps. It's a bit hilly, but not too much so for families. The scenery is great, with a chance to see a bald eagle. I ride there all year round except on snow or after heavy rain.
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