Sandy Hook National Recreation Area

Sandy Hook National Recreation Area, part of Gateway National Recreation Area, occupies a barrier spit of sand extending 6 miles into Lower New York Bay at the northern tip of the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The peninsula encompasses seven distinct beach zones — Areas A through G — ranging from the family-friendly south end to the clothing-optional Gunnison Beach at the north. Sandy Hook is unusual among Atlantic shore beaches in offering views back across the bay to the Manhattan skyline from the shoreline, making it a distinctive landscape for both swimming and photography. Fort Hancock, an active US Army post from 1895 to 1974, occupies the northern tip of the hook; its 36 historic buildings including mine storage structures, gun batteries, and restored officers' quarters are open for self-guided tours. The Sandy Hook Lighthouse, first lit in 1764, is the oldest standing lighthouse in the United States and is open for seasonal tours up its 103 steps. The barrier spit also encompasses a holly maritime forest, one of the oldest in New Jersey, threaded by a two-mile nature trail. During summer (June through Labor Day), the park charges a per-vehicle entrance fee of $20. The Seastreak Ferry from lower Manhattan operates seasonally, connecting the city directly to Sandy Hook and offering a car-free alternative. Swimming is supervised at lifeguarded beaches in summer; water temperature peaks in August.