Cape May Point State Park

Cape May Point State Park Cape May Point State Park is located on the historic Cape May Peninsula at the southern tip of New Jersey, about two miles west of the city of Cape May.
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Located at the southern tip of New Jersey, Cape May Point State Park is a key site for Fall bird and butterfly migration, with 2.5 miles of nature trail, a historic lighthouse and a Nature Center (featuring live animals, seashells, and local history). The 235-acre park is an ever-changing shoreline region of dunes, coastal (freshwater) marsh and ponds, wooded islands and varied uplands. It is perh

aps best known as a tranquil area where visitors can find rest and enjoy the beauty of nature. The park can be reached from the Garden State Parkway and Route 9.

Horseshoe crabs are breeding at nearby Bayshore beaches and in the Cape May Harbor. Look for their eggs in the sand. T...
05/31/2026

Horseshoe crabs are breeding at nearby Bayshore beaches and in the Cape May Harbor. Look for their eggs in the sand. The eggs feed thousands of migrating shorebirds late May. The birds are enroute to the Arctic to nest.

The clearnose skate is a harmless bottom feeder. Fishermen often treat them as a nuisance and leave them on the shore t...
05/31/2026

The clearnose skate is a harmless bottom feeder. Fishermen often treat them as a nuisance and leave them on the shore to die. This one was unlucky enough to be washed ashore by the extreme high tides, so we put him back in the water and wished him the best.

Incidentally, skates are not "trash" fish. Most fishermen simply do not know how to cut "imitation scallops" from the "wings" of the skate.

9 am Nature WalkMay 30, 2026The wind was really blowing for us on the red trail. It was a blessing because it kept the b...
05/30/2026

9 am Nature Walk
May 30, 2026

The wind was really blowing for us on the red trail. It was a blessing because it kept the biting insects at bay. The elderberry is now in full bloom. The arrowwood viburnum is almost blooming. Come back soon for it. The turkey vultures were flying on the thermals past the lighthouse. A male red-winged blackbird sang a little bit for us. A lot of invasive multiflora rose is blooming. It is difficult to manage all of the invasives in the Park.

It is awesome that people from all over, including British Columbia, Canada, come to enjoy our park. Curled dock is a native wetland plant in Lighthouse Pond.

We were elated to see the wedding proposal on the platform overlooking Lighthouse Pond. I am happy to inform you that the future husband told me she said yes! How exciting!

Lastly, a cut pitch pine from our February 22 winter storm, is showing new life.

Chris Borkowski
Visitor Services Assistant
Cape May Point State Park

Nature OutingThursday, May 28, 2026There was a lot of activity of all sizes on Thursday. While driving to the park, I sa...
05/30/2026

Nature Outing
Thursday, May 28, 2026

There was a lot of activity of all sizes on Thursday. While driving to the park, I saw a small swarm of dragonflies along the road. I knew they were spot-winged gliders because of their behavior. Then, I got onto Lighthouse Avenue and spotted another swarm of them. I had a feeling that spot-winged gliders were in Cape May Point State Park as well. Sure enough, on the Hibiscus Trail (off of the Red Trail), there were about 50 spot-winged gliders feasting on many flying insects including gnats, mosquitos, and other flies. Yum! None of the dragonflies today would perch for a close-up, so I am posting photos from years ago.

A cool, flighty, red-spotted purple butterfly enjoyed itself on the dung on the red trail. It gets its nutrients some way, of course. A female wild turkey was carefully watching her young (poults). Jakes are young male turkeys and Jennys are young female turkeys. Painted turtles were out in abundance along every trail and in our freshwater ponds.

The smallest creature I came across was a dainty native Carolina mantis. It was walking on the sand and praying along the way. It is only 1 inch long full grown.

Chris Borkowski
Visitor Services Assistant
Cape May Point State Park

The Eastern cottontail is the most common of New Jersey's rabbits, and the only rabbit species at Cape May Point State P...
05/30/2026

The Eastern cottontail is the most common of New Jersey's rabbits, and the only rabbit species at Cape May Point State Park. North Jersey also has endangered New England cottontails as well as snowshoe hares, introduced jackrabbits and introduced European hares.

National Photography Month (May)Photography has been a wonderful outlet for me since I was a kid. I vividly remember tak...
05/27/2026

National Photography Month (May)

Photography has been a wonderful outlet for me since I was a kid. I vividly remember taking photos of the various flower in my gardens and on our family outings. My love for nature photography has grown over time with my increased level of patience, knowledge, and collaboration.

Chris Borkowski
Visitor Services Assistant
Cape May Point State Park

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!Did you know that Cape May Point State Park was a busy army base during WWII? The land that is now o...
05/25/2026

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!
Did you know that Cape May Point State Park was a busy army base during WWII? The land that is now our parking lot was covered in barracks buildings. To understand why the US government needed an army base here, we must step back further in time to WWI.

During WWI, German submarines (U-Boats) patrolled strategic locations like the Delaware Bay in an attempt to sink ships carrying oil and other crucial supplies to Philadelphia. When WWII rolled around, the government assumed Germany was going to send the full Navy and built Fort Miles in Delaware with a supporting battery in Cape May, now Cape May Point State Park. The guns of the Delaware and Cape May Forts were never fired in aggression, because again, Germany sent U-Boats, not naval ships, and the sinkings resumed. All in all, 7 Allied boats were sunk in WWI and at least 27 were sunk in WWII.

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor marked the end of military coastal defense as our government assumed future attacks on the US would come from the air. However, the bases were not abandoned. Instead, they were filled with top-secret listening equipment to spy on Soviet communications during the Cold War. The Cape May Installation was finally abandoned when the '62 Storm flooded Cape May and Cape May Point with saltwater. A few years later, the land was given to the State of New Jersey to be made into a public recreation area. Likewise, Fort Miles in Delaware is now Cape Henlopen State Park.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY. Today, please do not forget our veterans and their families. Do not forget our brave men and women...
05/25/2026

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY.
Today, please do not forget our veterans and their families. Do not forget our brave men and women serving overseas.

05/24/2026

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND WASHOUT!
Join us for KIDS & CRITTERS on Sunday and Monday @ 11:00. Our Classroom is nice and dry! Cost: $1.00/person.

Shown here are giant millipedes. These harmless little monsters are enjoying some protein in the form of fish food. However, their primary diet is rotting leaves and wood, making them an essential part of the forest ecosystem. You can find little millipedes in your garden. The big ones can be found in old growth hardwood forests, including New Jersey's northern parks. The really big ones, like the one pictured here come from Africa.

Address

305 Lighthouse Avenue
Cape May Point, NJ
08212

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4pm
Friday 8:30am - 4pm
Saturday 8:30am - 4pm
Sunday 8:30am - 4pm

Telephone

(609) 884-2159

Website

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