Manasquan River in New Jersey

Trip Overview

We chose a supposed short trip on the Manasquan River that goes through Allaire State Park. The guidebook says this bucolic easy river section can be easily paddled in 1.5 hours. I guess that was before the flooding rains of late October 2005. It took us nearly four hours! There were at least a dozen river jams that required beaching the kayaks, climbing up the 6 foot muddy banks, dragging the boats through underbrush to find a suitable site to launch. There must be at least 50 other trees that came down in this section of the Manasquan.

I'm sure that when spring comes the local canoe/kayak livery that is upstream will clear this section, but for now I wouldnt recommend it.

Once it's cleared it would be a fun bicycle / kayak trip. Setting in at the Route 195/ 547 intersection is easy. Chain your boats to a tree, drive to the Wildlife Management area in Allenwood and then ride your bikes about five miles on a paved bike trail through farms, a golf course, Allaire state park and finally a half-mile section of country highway to the launch site. Lock the bikes to a tree and kayak to your vehicle. When the river is clear it should only be a 1.5-2 hours trip.

Accommodations:

Allaire State Park, camping and facilities in season.

Fees:

None.

Directions:

Interstate 195 to Allaire State Park exit. Turn around on 547 and head south. 547 splits when you cross over 195, there is an access road to a pump station on the left. That is where you launch. Follow signs for Allaire and continue through to Allenwood go straight through the stop sign to the wildlife management area on the right.

Resources:

Paddling the Jersey Pine Barrens