HomeNew JerseyManahawkin › Manahawkin Lake Park III

Manahawkin Lake Park III

4.7 ★★★★★ 491 Google reviews · Running trail in Manahawkin, New Jersey · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Manahawkin Lake Park III's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ScenicDog-friendlyRestrooms

Kid-friendly park featuring a playground, picnic tables, a beach and a free lending library.

What runners say about Manahawkin Lake Park III

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (491 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 4 mentions

“The park itself is nice and clean and has lots for the kids to do.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 10 mentions

“The lake, gazebo and flowering trees are a beautiful backdrop for the beautiful students from PRHS.”

👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

“Beautiful playground with new, accessible equipment for all ages.”

Always beautiful no matter what time of year it is. Just to walk the dog is why I go there. Love the 2 tree's so I had to take a picture of them.

★★★★★ — Desiree , Feb 2022

Great park, but it gets very, very crowded and you might have to run circles around the playground the whole time your there to keep an eye on them. The park itself is nice and clean and has lots for the kids to do. My son like going down by the sandy area by the lake to play too.

★★★★★ — Julie , Nov 2023

Nice park. Benches spaced throughout and picnic tables. Nice shade trees and new trees with plaques of donor names. Gazebo and slides for kids. Bathrooms available. Relaxing place to spend for a walk or to sit and enjoy lunch or look out onto the lake.

★★★★★ — Victoria , Aug 2021

Nice walking trail with access to the lake shoreline. The bridge over the dam spillway could use updating. Overall, a good experience.

★★★★☆ — Joseph , May 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 491 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 11 mentions

“The lake, gazebo and flowering trees are a beautiful backdrop for the beautiful students from PRHS.”

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🚻 Restrooms 4 mentions

“Then there's space for people to play football like I saw today, picnic benches, and there's bathrooms there.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“Just to walk the dog is why I go there.”

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Plan your run at Manahawkin Lake Park III

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitetwp.stafford.nj.us
  • Phone+1 609-597-1000

Hours

Monday 7 am–8 pm
Tuesday 7 am–8 pm
Wednesday 7 am–8 pm
Thursday 7 am–8 pm
Friday 7 am–8 pm
Saturday 7 am–8 pm
Sunday 7 am–8 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Manahawkin Lake Park III

86 N Main St, Manahawkin, NJ 08050

Get directions

Running trails near Manahawkin

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Stafford Township

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Park providing facilities for kids and disc golf.

1.4 miles away

Ocean Acres Lake Park

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ScenicDog-friendly

Park with tennis and basketball courts, plus a playground, picnic areas, and walking paths.

2.9 miles away

Nautilus Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 115 reviews

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Park with multiple playgrounds and baseball and soccer fields, plus grass areas to run around in.

3.2 miles away

Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area

4.5 ★★★★★ 126 reviews

West Creek, NJ

Natural surfaceDog-friendly

Natural area with opportunities for hiking, fishing, swimming, and kayaking.

3.8 miles away

Cedar Bonnet Island Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 31 reviews

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Crushed gravelScenicDog-friendly

4.4 miles away

Cedar Bonnet Island

4.9 ★★★★★ 12 reviews

Manahawkin, NJ

4.4 miles away

All running trails in Manahawkin, NJ →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.