Final February Night Hike

It was February 27, the final Friday of the month and temperatures were unseasonably cold, in the 20s, with a fresh cover of snow and ice on the ground. Yet, a group of excited participants joined one of our Park System Naturalists for a lantern-lit night hike through the Rocky Point section of Hartshorne Woods Park, Highlands. The sky was clear, making it easy to spot numerous bright stars and planets. We told stories about plants and animals that call this park home. Best of all, the haunting hoot sound of a great horned owl could be heard not far from the group along the Bunker Loop trail. 

Nature walks are always popular with Park System visitors and are offered at different parks throughout the year. Check out some of our upcoming spring nature walk programs:

• Nature Night Hike on April 3 at Holmdel Park, Holmdel, invites ages 8 and up (under 18 with adult) on a moonlit hike as we look and listen for the nocturnal animals that call the park home.
• Evening Frog Walk on April 11 at the Manasquan Reservoir, Howell, is fun for all ages as we enjoy a nighttime hike with the sounds of frogs and other nocturnal animals around us.
• Spring Nature Walk on April 13 at Holmdel Park, Holmdel, explores the beauty of springtime as we enjoy a little fresh air and exercise.
• Sunset Wetland Walk: Mummichogs and Marsh Critters on April 24 at Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth, brings ages 7 and up (under 18 with adult) on a guided adventure in the wetlands near Sandy Hook Bay to check out the marsh fish (mummichogs) and look for the many migrating and resident birds.
• Half Day Hike and Paddle on April 25 at Huber Woods Park, Middletown. Adults will love this challenging experience that combines hiking and kayaking. We'll first walk a mile through the park to Claypit Creek while discussing the plants and animals that reside in the park. Then we'll use sit-on-top kayaks to paddle the Navesink River and observe birds and other critters that depend on our local waterways.

All of the above named programs required pre-registration, so be sure to reserve your spot soon! For additional upcoming nature programs, please check out our current Spring Program Directory. And be sure not to miss out on one of our excellent (and free!) Roving Park System Naturalist nature walks which bring you to different parks to explore nature. For a list of upcoming Roving Naturalist walks, click here.

For more information about any of the Park System's parks and programs, call us at 732-842-4000, ext. 4312, or send us an email.