Manasquan River Linear Park

Freehold and Howell Townships, Monmouth County, NJ

Directions:

There is parking at Southard Ave. 1/2 mile south of intersection with Yellow Brook-Squankum Rd.; at West Farms Rd. between Casino Dr. and Yellowbrook-Squankum Rd.; and Ketcham Rd. between Casino Dr. and Rt. 524.

Preserved as open space- includes a canoe launch.

Canoe and Kayak access from three parking lots at bridge crossings in Howell Township between Farmingdale and the Manasquan Reservoir.

Trails:

March 27, 2004. We stopped at the Manasquan River Access just 0.2 of a mile down Ketcham Road from its intersection with Route 524. The parking area is on the right. The trail heads down to the river where one can put a canoe into the river.

PLANT LIST:

Dr. Patrick L. Cooney

* = blooming on date of visit, March 27, 2004

Trees:

Carpinus caroliniana (musclewood)

Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum)

Picea abies (Norway spruce)

Pinus strobus (white pine) planted

Quercus alba (white oak)

Quercus rubra (red oak)

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

Shrubs:

Euonymus alatus (winged euonymus)

Ligustrum sp. (privet)

Lindera benzoin (spice bush)

Lonicera sp. (honeysuckle bush)

Rosa multiflora (multiflora rose)

Rubus sp. (blackberry)

Vines:

Celastrus orbiculatus (Asiatic bittersweet)

Hedera helix (English ivy)

Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle)

Toxicodendron radicans (poison ivy)

Herbs:

Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard)

Allium vineale (field garlic)

Cardamine hirsuta (hairy bittercress) *

Rumex obtusifolius (broad leaved dock)

Symplocarpus foetidus (skunk cabbage)