Cheesequake State Park

05/16/2026

The pink lady’s slippers are in bloom! 🌼

The pink lady's slipper, also known as moccasin flower, is a flowering orchid with a wide range - it can be found in Canada all the way down to Alabama. It typically blooms from early to mid-May. Like many orchids it exhibits a persistently low reproductive rate and takes many years to go from seed to a mature plant, sometimes taking 16 years or more to bloom for the first time. This orchid has a symbiotic relationship with the underground mycorrhizal fungi, making it almost impossible to transplant. So please remember to observe, do not disturb!

Join us on our Guided Nature Hike today at 10:00am to catch a glimpse of these wonderful orchids!

04/30/2026

Join the lifeguard team at Cheesequake State Park and help create a safe, welcoming space for every visitor! 💪

No prior experience? No problem! New Jersey State Park’s will train lifeguards in CPR, Automated External Defibrillators, First Aid and other necessary medical practices. Each lifeguard will also receive a U.S. Lifesaving Association certification.

Lifeguard salaries start at $19 an hour. Junior lifeguard salaries are $17.50 an hour.

🛟Lifeguards develop lasting strengths and qualities including teamwork, leadership, clear communication, preparedness, situational awareness and the ability to remain calm and respond effectively in emergency situations. Applicants must be 16 years of age or older.
🛟Junior lifeguards work on skills training, giving new recruits a head start on their experience. Junior lifeguards cannot perform lifeguard duties for the public until age 16. Applicants must be 15 years old.

To get started, apply online and attend a regional swim and run test.

LIFEGUARD TEST DATES:
Saturday, May 2, 9 & 16
📍Oldbridge Family YMCA, YMCA of Greater Monmouth County
1 Mannino Park Dr, Old Bridge, NJ 08857

Walk-ins are allowed with a completed lifeguard application form. More detailed information about the Lifeguard employment test including and a permission slip for applicants under 18 can be found here:https://dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/parksandforests/lifeguard-test-infosheet.pdf

🔗Learn more and apply today at: https://nj.gov/dep/workinparks

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day! 🌎

Earth Day was established in 1969 to raise public awareness on environmental issues and encourage positive stewardship to help reduce our carbon footprints.

As you hike our trails, please remember to keep it clean and green! New Jersey State Parks are carry-in and carry-out. We recommend bringing a trash bag or two to properly dispose of any waste. Don’t forget to recycle when you can! ♻️

04/13/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended our Hike to the Historic Big Tree program! 🌳 It was a beautiful morning to hike in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. We learned about the importance of big trees and the history of this area over the last 250 years.

Our next walk is Birding for Beginners this Sunday, April 19th at 9:00am. 🐦 We hope to see you there!

04/07/2026

Boardwalks, birds and beautiful views at Cheesequake State Park! 🐦

Spring is calling and there’s no better answer than getting outside into the fresh air at Cheesequake State Park with a hike on the trails and soaking up the sunshine.

If you haven’t already, now is also the perfect time to join the New Jersey State Parks Celebrate 250 Challenge, a yearlong initiative encouraging New Jerseyans to get outdoors, get moving and celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary throughout 2026: https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/get-outside/celebrate-250-challenge/

03/29/2026

In celebration of AmeriCorps Week, we partnered with Betsy Chernoff of AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors Program on an invasive species removal at Hooks Creek Lake. Everyone did an incredible job helping to clear away phragmites, autumn olive, pear and more from along the edge of the lake. This work also helped to open up a lookout spot where visitors can relax and observe the wildlife in the lake. Thank you to all the volunteers for your hard work!

03/21/2026

Join Cheesequake State Park and WMA7 AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassador, Betsy Chernoff, in removing a variety of different invasive plants at the beautiful Cheesequake State Park! Help us clear out invasives to allow for native species to be able to flourish, and provide visitors scenic lookout spots, to watch the wildlife in the lake. Cheesequake State Park is a one-of-a-kind ecosystem, being the only park where the northern hardwood forest connects a southern pine barrens ecosystem at sea level, which makes it that much more important to protect this amazing park!
🗓️ Saturday, March 28th
🕣 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
📍Meeting Point- Hooks Creek Lake Day Use Area, Old Bridge NJ 07747 (40.440116, -74.270776)

‼️Pre-Registration is required and all volunteers must be 14years of age or older‼️

Please wear long sleeves, full length pants, and closed toed shoes.

For more information and registration, please scan the QR code on the flyer.

Email Betsy Chernoff at [email protected] with questions or concerns.

Cheesequake State Park Invasive Plant Removal

Join Cheesequake State Park and WMA7 AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassador, Betsy Chernoff, in removing a variety of different invasive plants at the beautiful Cheesequake State Park! Help us clear out invasives to allow for native species to be able to flourish, and provide visitors scenic lookout spots, to watch the wildlife in the lake. Cheesequake State Park is a one-of-a-kind ecosystem, being the only park where the northern hardwood forest connects a southern pine barrens ecosystem at sea level, which makes it that much more important to protect this amazing park!

🗓️ Saturday, March 28th
🕣 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
📍Meeting Point- Hooks Creek Lake Day Use Area, Old Bridge NJ 07747 (40.440116, -74.270776)

‼️Pre-Registration is required and all volunteers must be 14years of age or older‼️

Please wear long sleeves, full length pants, and closed toed shoes, in case of any thorns or poison ivy, even though these areas have been marked off.

For more information and registration, please scan the QR code on the flyer or sign up using this link; https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://forms.gle/52dr28AivMjDt3V68__;!!J30X0ZrnC1oQtbA!PMWp6a2T3jiU6_24ZHFWUOQTXw-LFPRWkTncooCpYiLfosBjnSvsibCne__HlbegAtMWvU2j3Iz2JXx5J1TmISq_qjA$

Email Betsy Chernoff at [email protected] with questions or concerns.



AmeriCorps AmeriCorps New Jersey New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection NJDEP’s Water Resource Management New Jersey State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites Cheesequake State Park

03/19/2026

Learn more and apply today!

01/24/2026

01/24/2026

Due to the impending winter storm, all New Jersey State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites will close to visitors at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24.

Existing camping reservations will be honored, however campers should be prepared for the conditions.

Parks will reopen to visitors for winter activities once maintenance crews complete snowplowing operations.

View the real-time operating status of state parks, forests and historic sites at stateparks.nj.gov