Barnegat Lighthouse State Park

Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, on the northern tip of Long Beach Island at Barnegat Inlet, protects the famous Barnegat Lighthouse — ‘Old Barney,’ the 1859 red-brick lighthouse standing 172 feet tall at the inlet to Barnegat Bay, one of the most beloved landmarks on the New Jersey shore. The 217-step climb to the lighthouse gallery rewards visitors with panoramic views across Barnegat Bay and Inlet, Island Beach State Park, the barrier islands and the open Atlantic.

The park is exceptional for winter seabird watching (harlequin ducks, long-tailed ducks, eiders, razorbills, and occasional rare alcids concentrate at the inlet in winter), and for the migrant songbirds that funnel through the isolated lighthouse grove in fall. The beach, the fishing jetty and the historic lighthouse combine to make this one of the most compelling lighthouse parks on the East Coast. Barnegat Lighthouse is a treasured natural and cultural icon of New Jersey.

Barnegat Lighthouse State Park offers climbing the 217-step lighthouse tower (from Memorial Day to Labor Day; a fee applies) for panoramic Barnegat Bay and Atlantic views, winter seabird watching from the jetty (harlequin ducks, long-tailed ducks, eiders, razorbills and occasional rare alcids in December through February), fall migrant birding in the lighthouse grove (warbler fallouts in late September), fishing from the jetty (striped bass and bluefish are prime targets), beach walking on the inlet beach and the nature trail along the bay side, and photography of the lighthouse and the dramatic inlet scenery. Lighthouse climbing and winter seabirds are the signature draws.

Summer (June through August) is the most popular season for lighthouse tours and beach visits, but winter (December through February) is the best for the remarkable seabird watching at the jetty — harlequin ducks and long-tailed ducks are reliable, with occasional eiders, razorbills and even a thick-billed murre or dovekie. Fall (September through October) brings migrant songbirds to the lighthouse grove and hawk migration. The lighthouse is open for climbing in summer; winter for the seabirds is the underrated highlight. Winter morning visits to the jetty for the seabirds, and summer evenings for the lighthouse sunset views, are the highlights.

The original Barnegat Lighthouse (a shorter structure) was built in 1835 but was undermined by erosion and became unstable. The current lighthouse — designed by General George Meade (later famous for commanding Union forces at Gettysburg) and built in 1858-59 of Philadelphia red brick — stands 172 feet tall. It was one of the most important aids to navigation on the New Jersey coast and guided mariners through the treacherous shoals of Barnegat Inlet. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1944 when the lightship Barnegat took over. It was subsequently donated to the state. Barnegat Lighthouse is a treasured historical icon of New Jersey.

Barnegat Lighthouse State Park sits on the northern tip of Long Beach Island, a barrier island formed by longshore drift of sand along the New Jersey coast. Barnegat Inlet separates Long Beach Island from Island Beach State Park to the north. The barrier islands protect the Barnegat Bay estuary from the Atlantic. The inlet and the surrounding shoals are dynamic — the inlet has migrated and the shoals shift with storms. The lighthouse was built on the northern tip to guard the inlet and its dangerous shoals. The barrier island, the inlet dynamics and the Barnegat Bay estuary created the dramatic landscape of the park.

Barnegat Lighthouse is world-famous among birders for its winter seabirds — harlequin ducks (a small, exquisitely marked sea duck) are the flagship species, found reliably in the rocks at the jetty base from December through February, along with long-tailed ducks (large numbers in the inlet), common and red-throated loons, scoters, buffleheads, and occasional razorbills, thick-billed murres or dovekies (rare alcids, the ‘bonus birds’ of winter jetty birding). Breeding oystercatchers nest on the inlet beaches; terns and skimmers use the inlet area in summer. The lighthouse grove produces excellent fall migrant concentrations.

Barnegat Lighthouse State Park is an important stopover for migrating birds and a significant seabird concentration site at the inlet. The isolated lighthouse grove provides crucial resting and feeding habitat for exhausted migrant songbirds. The jetty and inlet attract concentrations of wintering sea ducks that are rarely accessible to observers elsewhere. Protecting the beach and dune system, the grove habitat, and the inlet environment sustains both the ecological and recreational value of the park. Barnegat Bay, which the lighthouse guards, is a critical estuary for migratory birds, fish and shellfish.

Barnegat Lighthouse holds a treasured place among the icons of New Jersey — ‘Old Barney,’ one of the most beloved and recognized lighthouses on the East Coast, a historical landmark designed by George Meade and beloved by Jersey Shore visitors and residents for generations. Its winter seabird spectacle makes it a pilgrimage site for birders, and its summer lighthouse tours a beloved summer tradition. Barnegat Lighthouse is a cherished natural and cultural icon of New Jersey.

Barnegat Lighthouse State Park is at the north end of Long Beach Island, in Ocean County, off New Jersey Route 72 (which crosses the Manahawkin Bay Bridge from the mainland onto Long Beach Island) and then north on Long Beach Boulevard to Barnegat Light borough. The park parking area is in the park; a fee may apply for parking in summer. The lighthouse is at the northern tip of the island. Long Beach Island communities (Beach Haven, Harvey Cedars, Barnegat Light) have full services. Check NJ State Parks for current lighthouse tour hours (seasonal), fees and conditions before visiting.

New Jersey State Parks manages Barnegat Lighthouse State Park. The jetty rocks are essential winter habitat for the harlequin ducks — visitors help by watching from above the jetty and not scrambling down to the waterline (which flushes the ducks off their rocks and causes them to expend critical winter energy reserves). Protect the beach and dune system (stay on paths, do not trample dunes). Respect any shorebird or tern nesting areas marked on the inlet beaches. Support the Barnegat Bay restoration efforts (the bay has been impacted by storm surge and development). Protecting the inlet, the dune system and the winter seabird habitat sustains the character of the park.

The lighthouse tower climb (217 steps on a tight spiral staircase) is strenuous; those with limited mobility or acrophobia may want to assess before committing. The jetty rocks are slippery at any time and extremely dangerous in wave action or heavy swell; do not scramble on the lower jetty rocks in any wind or wave conditions. The beach and inlet are subject to rip currents in heavy surf conditions. Winter visits to the jetty involve cold, wind and wet sea spray — dress warmly in layers. Respect the lighthouse climb fitness requirements, the slippery jetty, the rip currents and the winter cold.

Park is free; lighthouse climbing fee (seasonal — Memorial Day to Labor Day; check NJ State Parks for current rates). Dogs must be leashed and are not permitted inside the lighthouse. Stay on designated paths and do not climb the lower jetty rocks. Respect any shorebird nesting closures on the inlet beaches. Check NJ State Parks for current lighthouse hours, fees and park rules before visiting.

Long Beach Island resort communities (Beach Haven, Harvey Cedars, Surf City — classic Jersey Shore resort towns), Island Beach State Park (directly across Barnegat Inlet, with remarkable ocean beach, dune ecology and birding), Barnegat Bay (with kayaking, clamming and ecotourism), the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge (on the mainland — one of NJ’s premier birding areas for shorebirds, wading birds and waterfowl), and the southern New Jersey barrier island shore define the region. Barnegat Lighthouse anchors the northern Long Beach Island experience, the perfect complement to Island Beach State Park and the Forsythe NWR on a complete southern NJ barrier-island birding trip.

Visit in December for the harlequin ducks — stand on the jetty (upper portion only — do not go to the water level) and look toward the base of the rocks for the small, colorful ducks bobbing in the surge. Bring a spotting scope for the best views of the long-tailed ducks in the inlet channel. Climb the lighthouse in summer for the panoramic view of Barnegat Bay and the barrier islands. Fall mornings at the lighthouse grove (the trees immediately behind the lighthouse) can produce excellent warbler concentrations after cold fronts. Check NJBirds for current reports before winter jetty visits.