Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
Encyclopedia
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park is located on the northern tip of Long Beach Island
in Ocean County
, New Jersey
, United States
. The area where the lighthouse stands was regarded as one of the most important navigational points for ships bound to and from New York Harbor
. The ships were dependent upon the Barnegat Lighthouse
to avoid the shoals extending from the shoreline. The swift currents, shifting sandbars, and offshore shoals challenged the skills of even the most experienced sailors. The park is included as a maritime site on the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail
. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
.
to Labor Day
(weather permitting).
, bluefish
, weakfish
, summer flounder
, tautog
, winter flounder
, and black sea bass
. Access for the handicapped is available.
s, snowy egret
s, and brown pelican
s. Each winter, BLSP is a reliable place to see Harlequin Duck, Long-tailed Duck, Common Eider and all 3 scoter species as well as Purple Sandpiper and "Ipswich" Savannah Sparrow.
Long Beach Island
Long Beach Island is a barrier island and summer colony along the Atlantic Ocean coast of Ocean County, New Jersey in the United States...
in Ocean County
Ocean County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 510,916 people, 200,402 households, and 137,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 803 people per square mile . There were 248,711 housing units at an average density of 151/km²...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The area where the lighthouse stands was regarded as one of the most important navigational points for ships bound to and from New York Harbor
New York Harbor
New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
. The ships were dependent upon the Barnegat Lighthouse
Barnegat Lighthouse
Barnegat Lighthouse or Barnegat Light, colloquially known as "Old Barney", is a historic lighthouse located in Barnegat Lighthouse State Park on the northern tip of Long Beach Island, in the borough of Barnegat Light, New Jersey, on the south side of Barnegat Inlet.-19th century:The development of...
to avoid the shoals extending from the shoreline. The swift currents, shifting sandbars, and offshore shoals challenged the skills of even the most experienced sailors. The park is included as a maritime site on the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail
New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route
The New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route extends along New Jersey's Atlantic Ocean shore for nearly 300 miles, from Perth Amboy to Cape May and westward along the Delaware Bay to the Delaware Memorial Bridge...
. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
The New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry is responsible for the management and operation of New Jersey's 42 parks, 11 forests and 3 recreation areas, as well as for the more than 50 historic sites and districts...
.
Barnegat Lighthouse
With a panoramic view of the Island Beach, Barnegat Bay, and Long Beach Island, the lighthouse is a popular tourist site. The lighthouse is open from Memorial DayMemorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
to Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
(weather permitting).
Fishing
Saltwater fish can be caught along the bulkhead next to the picnic area. These fish include striped bassStriped bass
The striped bass is the state fish of Maryland, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and the state saltwater fish of New York, Virginia, and New Hampshire...
, bluefish
Bluefish
The bluefish , called tailor in Australia, is a species of popular marine gamefish found in all climates. It is the sole species of the Pomatomidae family....
, weakfish
Weakfish
The weakfish, Cynoscion regalis, is a marine fish of the drum family Sciaenidae.The head and back of this fish are dark brown in color with a greenish tinge. The sides have a faint silvery hue with dusky specks, and the belly is white. The origin of its name is based on the weakness of the mouth...
, summer flounder
Summer flounder
The Summer Flounder is a marine flatfish that is found in the Atlantic Ocean off the East coast of the United States and Canada. It is especially abundant in waters from North Carolina to Massachusetts.-Description:...
, tautog
Tautog
The tautog or blackfish also known as the "poor-man's lobster" , Tautoga onitis, is a fish of the wrasse family found in salt water from Nova Scotia to Georgia...
, winter flounder
Winter flounder
The winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, is a right-eyed flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae. It is native to coastal waters of the western north Atlantic coast, from Labrador, Canada to Georgia, United States...
, and black sea bass
Black sea bass
The black sea bass is an exclusively marine fish. It is a type of Grouper found more commonly in northern than in southern ranges.It inhabits the coasts from Maine to NE Florida and the eastern Gulf of Mexico....
. Access for the handicapped is available.
Picnicking
Picnicking areas are available. Handicapped access is available. Picnic tables are located along Barnegat Inlet. Two picnic shelters with tables are also provided. Fires, propane stoves, and alcoholic beverages are prohibited at the sites.Birdwatching
The birds that can be spotted at the Barnegat Lighthouse State Park include but are not limited to shorebirds and wading birds, including black-crowned night heronBlack-crowned Night Heron
The Black-crowned Night Heron commonly abbreviated to just Night Heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, except in the coldest regions and Australasia .-Description:Adults are...
s, snowy egret
Snowy Egret
The Snowy Egret is a small white heron. It is the American counterpart to the very similar Old World Little Egret, which has established a foothold in the Bahamas....
s, and brown pelican
Brown Pelican
The Brown Pelican is the smallest of the eight species of pelican, although it is a large bird in nearly every other regard. It is in length, weighs from and has a wingspan from .-Range and habits:...
s. Each winter, BLSP is a reliable place to see Harlequin Duck, Long-tailed Duck, Common Eider and all 3 scoter species as well as Purple Sandpiper and "Ipswich" Savannah Sparrow.
Trails
- The Maritime Forest Trail is a 1/5-mile long, self-guided loop trail through one of the last remnants of maritime forest on Long Beach Island. The trail is classified as easy to moderate.
- All trail classifications and descriptions are made by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees the State Park System.