Sandy Hook New Jersey Information

Home to the Sandy Hook Lighthouse and the now-defunct Fort Hancock, Sandy Hook is a well-known barrier island located in New Jersey. It offers a blend of rich history and scenic wonders that continue to attract plenty of tourists and residents.

Sandy Hook is a barrier spit island, which is approximately 7 miles long and one-half of a mile wide. It is separated from the mainland by the Shrewsbury River. On its western side, the peninsula encloses Sandy Hook Bay, which is an arm of Raritan Bay. The community of Highlands overlooks the southern part of the hook.

Sandy Hook is owned by the federal government. Most of it is managed by the National Park Service as the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. The eastern shoreline includes public beaches such as North Beach, Gunnison Beach, and South Beach. The southern part of the spit consists of public beaches, fishing areas, and a restaurant. Sandy Hook’s Gunnison Beach is one of the largest clothing-optional beaches on the East Coast, and is well kown for this reason. At the end of the peninsula is the now-defunct Fort Hancock.

Sandy Hook is a famous hub throughout history for ships before they went into the Upper New York Harbor. After the Civil War in 1919, the Sandy Hook Proving Ground was used by the U.S. Army until it was moved to Aberdeen, Maryland. It was later the site of a Nike missile defense installation. The Sandy Hook Nike station is one of a very few stations that are still intact. Almost all of the fort’s gun batteries are off limits to the public due to their hazardous conditions. The Battery Gunnison is currently being restored by volunteers and also has two M-1900 six-inch cannon installed. These weapons were put there in 1976. Visitors can take a guided tour and look at actual Nike missiles, t he firing platforms and rdar stations.

The historical Sandy Hook Lighthouse is located within the fort grounds, as is the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST), a technology-centered high school. When you head north of Fort Hancock, there is an outpost of the United States Coast Guard. This area of Sandy Hook is administered by the Department of Homeland Security and it is off-limits to the general public.

While there is a parking fee in Sandy Hook during the summer, the park is open year-round. There are several nearby hotels and bed and breakfasts nearby in Atlantic Highlands and Long Branch.

Sandy Hook is a wonderful place to visit with your family. There are plenty of historical sights and all the splendor of the Jersey Shore.