Parker Cove

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Map(s)

Little Egg Harbor.jpgOverview map (637x608), 126K size.

Scenery

The cove looks east to LBI and the Marshelder Islands.  To the north is marsh land, with Rose Cove to the south.

Going around the marshes to north makes for an interesting trip: Paddle towards LBI, then round the peninsula.  Head N-NE, take a break at Cedar Run Dock Road, coming back through Westecunk Creek.  If you have Garmin's MapSource program, look at these 3 tracks through the marshes.  (All 3 tracks are for the same route, just captured on different days.)

Fees

None.

Directions

Take route 195 east, to exit 8.  Bare to the right; this puts you on route 524 south.  In a few seconds, after passing the gas station on your right, make a left onto the route 526 bypass.  Make a left at the stop sign & take route 526 to the traffic light.  Turn right onto Sharon Station Road, which eventully leads into route 539.

Take route 539 past the Garden State Parkway.  The first left is Thomas Ave.; take the 2nd left, which is Parkertown Dr.  Take this to the end, which is the route 9 intersection.  Turn right, then left onto Fern Dr.  (You will be on route 9 less than 0.1 mi)  Fern Dr. joins with Dock St.  Take Dock St. to the end, which is Parker Cove.

Parking

Plenty of parking, even during the summer months.  At the end of the road, driving into the parking area, watch out for craters; this section of road is great for destroying your wheel alignment.  Asphalt, but watch out for broken glass.

VERY IMPORTANT: During near & full moons, this parking lot can suffer from tidal flooding.  SUVs should be okay, but low-to-the-ground sports cars will get salt water in their exhaust system.  (What were you thinking, transporting a kayak with a sports car?)

Distance to the Launch Area

You will have to remove your boat, while on the asphalt parking lot, then carry it over the sandy swimmer's beach, to the water.  Borderline kayak cart territory.  Better: Park near the stream, to the SW of the beach, then launch from there.  This is Parker Run.

Restrooms

NEVER have I seen the restrooms open, but the port-a-john is.

Status of Launch Area

Sandy, but slightly exposed.  With heavy winds coming off of the bay, launching becomes interesting.  The swimming area is roped off; when there are swimmers, stay out of that area.

Wind Conditions

Given that this is large bay, winds can get very nasty.  They are at their meanest, when coming from the east, since they can build up the waves in Little Egg Harbor.

If the winds are coming out of the west during the summer, watch out for the greenheads.  It blows them out of the marshes, onto the beaches & water.

Powerboats

The sky is the limit.  Powerboats & jet skis abound.  Stay out of the channels, indicated by red & green markers.  If ever there was a place to go out in groups, this it; multiple kayaks have greater visibility than lone ones.

Foliage

Boring!  Driving on route 539, to get here is beautiful, but the launch area & surrounding landscape is drab.

Rolling Practice?

Little Egg Harbor is huge, and includes a lot of boat traffic.  Some of the coves & marshes may be okay.  Best Bet: Consider the in-land lakes.