Here, the trail travels adjacent to the road past private beaches and residential homes. Army.Ĭontinuing to follow Hartshorne Drive 4.5 miles from the missiles, the sun-dappled pathway travels south past various beaches with public access until Hartshorne Drive merges with Ocean Avenue. About 0.7 mile south of Sandy Hook Chapel, you will pass Guardian Park and two Nike missiles, honoring the Cold War missile men of the U.S. Heading south, the pathway follows the shoreline, providing a beautiful view of the Sandy Hook Bay. Here, the trail winds past Sandy Hook Chapel to the right and History House to the left, a lieutenant’s quarters built in 1898 that the NPS maintains to depict an officer’s life at Fort Hancock during World War II. The pathway continues toward the western edge of the peninsula to loop around Fort Hancock. This northern portion of the peninsula also houses an array of unnamed multiuse trails that split off from the Sandy Hook Multi-Use Pathway. The two pathways converge at the intersection of South Bragg Drive and Knox Road. To the left a bike path follows Knox Road and features a sandy outdoor gym area with exercise equipment. The multiuse path continues to the right. Immediately before Ford Road, the trail diverges into two pathways. Starting at the northern trailhead, you’ll find sand dunes and trees that provide small pockets of shade throughout the ride. This trailhead features beach access, restrooms, drinking fountains, and a bike-maintenance station, as well as food trucks throughout the summer. The northern trailhead is east of the intersection of Atlantic Drive and Ford Road, with parking in nearby Lot G. Once deactivated, the fort was turned over to the National Park Service (NPS), eventually becoming part of the three-part Gateway National Recreation Area, where former landfills have been converted into wildlife habitat and recreation areas. The fort was built to protect New York Harbor, but its uses have changed over time.

Army installation that housed 12,000 soldiers at its peak during World War II. Traveling south alongside Hartshorne Drive/Ocean Avenue, the route also offers beach access and unique glimpses of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, the oldest working lighthouse in the United States.įort Hancock is a former U.S. The pathway begins in the Gateway National Recreation Area and loops around the historic Fort Hancock. The Sandy Hook Multi-Use Pathway travels 8.7 miles alongside the picturesque beaches and historical monuments of the Sandy Hook peninsula.

Sandy hook beach