Wading River in New Jersey

Trip Overview

The Wading River offers multiple trips available from a full day to a two hour evening run. There are public roads and parking at most of the stops.

From Hawkins Bridge to Evans Bridge will give you about a five hour run with lunch then you could add from Evans Bridge to Beaver Branch for another 2-3 hrs.

The river stays pretty high in early August with low water you may have to drag about 500 yards down the first stretch of river, but after that it is smooth paddling. No city, nothing but nature at its best.

Accommodations:

Various banks to stop at, Maybe a store at the Godfrey bridge campground, but never checked. New Gretna has a great sandwich shop on RT 9 at the light

Outfitting:

www.belhavencanoe.com/trips.htm

Fees:

None unless camping at Bodine Field about 45 mins shy by way of paddle from Beaver Branch or at Godfrey or Hawkins Bridge campgrounds (permits available at batsto)

Directions:

Garden State Parkway North to 50 exits to rt 9 drive to only stop light in new gretna, make a left on maple ave turns into rt 679 follow total of about 6.5 miles to bodine field entrance another two miles to merge with rt 563, left turn for evans bridge, right/straight about 3/4 mile to godfrey bridge campground entrance.

From 206 east on rt 30 to rt 542, about 11 miles to rt 563 about 4.5 miles to Evan Bridge parking just over bridge on right.

Launches:

put in at hawkins requires a drive down a dirt road about 2.5 miles (previously done in a honda accord) gps