Sandy Hook

Sandy Hook is a barrier spit on the northern New Jersey shore in Monmouth County that projects into Lower New York Bay. It is part of Gateway National Recreation Area and combines beaches, wildlife habitat and a number of historic military and navigational sites.

The spit provides several miles of Atlantic-facing beaches, tidal flats and dunes used for swimming, birdwatching and shoreline walking. Historic features include the Sandy Hook Lighthouse and the former Fort Hancock military complex, both of which are interpreted by the National Park Service.

Sandy Hook has long served navigational and defensive roles for New York Harbor; the lighthouse and later coastal fortifications reflect its maritime and military importance from the 18th through the 20th centuries. Management shifted to the National Park Service when the area was incorporated into Gateway National Recreation Area.

The spit sits at the northern tip of the Jersey Shore near the borough of Highlands, facing New York Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean. It forms a protective barrier for the bay and is directly accessible from the New Jersey mainland via the town of Highlands.

• Size and management: The barrier spit extends several miles into Lower New York Bay and is managed as part of Gateway National Recreation Area by the U.S. National Park Service.
• Historic lighthouse: The Sandy Hook Lighthouse dates to the 18th century and is one of the oldest lighthouses in the United States, serving as a prominent historic landmark on the spit.

What to See #

• Sandy Hook Lighthouse: A late 18th-century brick-and-stone lighthouse located near the base of the spit; it is one of the earliest surviving lighthouses on the U.S. Atlantic coast and a focal historic feature of the area.
• Fort Hancock and historic military sites: Fort Hancock and associated military batteries and buildings from the 19th and 20th centuries, now preserved ruins within the park.
• Beaches and coastal habitats: Several miles of public Atlantic-facing beaches and tidal flats used for swimming, birding and coastal recreation, with designated areas for different activities.