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Thompson Park
Lincroft, NJ - Monmouth County
Summary: Easy hike through fields and forest around Swimming River Reservoir and Marlu Lake in Monmouth County.
Trail surface: mostly easy; forested areas have some roots, and some grassy areas were quite muddy. Mostly flat, no big elevation changes.
- This route: 6.4 miles (Reservoir Loop). note: the park map lists this trail at 4.8 miles; we feel that is incorrect.
- Shorter: Marshy Walk (.3 mile.), Woodland Trail (.6 mile), and Marlu trail (.8 mile.)
- Also, a 1-mile track loop for runners (it's forest and not an artificial surface)
Map: Print the Thompson Park Trail Map. There were also printed copies in the trail kiosk.
Note: The Reservoir Loop is sparsely marked, BLUE marker posts were only at some junctions. By referring to the map you can figure your location OK, but if you prefer really marked trails then this is not the hike for you.
Books: Not in any books that we're aware of.
Parking: N40 19.822 W74 08.388
Garden State Parkway to exit 109. Southbound, turn right onto Rt. 520 West (Newman Springs Rd.); Northbound, turn left onto Rt. 520 West 2.2 miles to Park (past M.T. Thompson park and Brookdale College entrance ) on left.
State Hwy. 34 to Rt. 520 east. Southbound, turn left; northbound, turn right. Follow Rt. 520 east to Park entrance.
This hike starts from the Old Orchard parking lot.
Restrooms: Porta-john in parking lot.
Hike Directions:
0.0 - Look for the trail kiosk at the end of the parking lot. There is a marker post for the GREEN trail. Facing that, turn RIGHT and walk along the Paved Trail. We saw no indication for the BLUE trail near the lot.
As the Paved Trail curves to the right, watch for a BLUE marker post at the treeline. Walk toward that and into the woods.
Arrive shortly at an area with a wide path (Track Loop). Veer LEFT instead onto the trail. We saw no indication of BLUE markers anywhere.
0.4 - Just before getting to the reservoir, the path turns RIGHT. (Walk out to the view of the reservoir first, then come back to the turn)
Follow the trail as it hugs the reservoir, traveling above it.. Barely any BLUE markers.
1.6 - Come out into a clearing and parking lot. Follow the Paved Trail as it curves around to the LEFT. A BLUE marker post is near the fence, indicating the trail continues on the Paved Trail.
Follow the Paved Trail a short distance to another BLUE marker post. Turn RIGHT and walk along the field. At another BLUE marker post turn RIGHT as the trail re-enters the forest and hugs Marlu Lake.
2.0 - Come to an unmarked T-intersection. Turn RIGHT. This area had some deep muddy spots. Cross over a small footbridge.
2.3 - Bench with view of Marlu Lake. Just after that, the trail opens into a field. Turn LEFT and walk along the field (straight will lead you to Route 34 and the Marlu trail). We saw no markers and just followed the path in the grass.
Continue following the grassy path in the field (was muddy). Road and a farmhouse is visible. The trail curves around to the LEFT. Walk along a plowed field.
Turn LEFT back into the forest, between two very large trees. The trail continues through the forest, unmarked.
2.8 - Cross over the Paved Trail, continuing on the trail. Just after the Paved Trail; turn LEFT and continue on the trail. (the trail also goes straight. There is are no markers.)
3.0 - Pass an old house on the right and come out to a large open field. Walk across the field, following a path in the field. No indication that was the trail.
Continue following the field path across the open field towards a driveway.
3.4 - The path crosses the driveway, continues along the edge of the forest, then loops around.
4.3 - We missed the trail entering the woods at some point in this area, and just crossed onto the trail when it was visible again.
Veer RIGHT at the BLUE marker post. The trail is again in the forest, with the reservoir on the right side.
4.7 - Come to a Paved Trail near park buildings. Follow this Paved Trail straight (there are no signs).
4.9 - Veer off to the RIGHT, getting back on the field path. (there are no signs)
5.2 - Arrive back at the junction from earlier; turn RIGHT and follow the Paved Trail as it curves around to a parking lot (not the one the hike started at).
We continued on the Paved Trail back to the parking lot instead of turning right back into the forest and retracing our steps on the Reservoir Loop, but that is of course an option.
[Based on our GPS data, taking the Reservoir Loop vs the Paved Trail back at this point would add .5 mile to the route]
Hiked: 11/20/11
