Sandy Hook
Spit
Sandy Hook seen from an airplane (looking west) on its approach toJFK International Airport inQueens,New York City
Sandy Hook
Coordinates:40°27′11″N73°59′42″W / 40.4530°N 73.9950°W /40.4530; -73.9950
Location	Middletown Township,Monmouth County,New Jersey, United States
Offshore water bodies	Atlantic Ocean(to the east) Shrewsbury River(to the west)
Age	Last Glacial Maximum ("LGM"; ≈25,000 years old)
Formed by	Wisconsin glaciation period
Operator	National Park Service
Area
• Total	2,044 acres (827 ha)
Dimensions
• Length	6 miles (9.7 km)
• Width	0.1 to 1.0 mile (0.16 to 1.61 km)
• Depth	250 to 300 feet (76 to 91 m)[1]
Elevation	2 m (7 ft) [2]
Designation	Barrier spit

Sandy Hook is abarrier spit inMiddletown Township,Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States.^[3] The barrier spit, approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) in length and varying from 0.1 to 1.0 mile (0.16 to 1.61 km) wide, is located at the north end of theJersey Shore. It encloses the southern entrance ofLower New York Bay south ofNew York City, protecting it from the open waters of theAtlantic Ocean to the east.

The Dutch called the area "Sant Hoek", with theEnglish "Hook" deriving from theDutch "Hoek" (corner, angle), meaning "spit of land".^[4] For over three centuriesmariners tasked with guiding ships across the Sandy Hook bar have been known asSandy Hook pilots.^[5]

Most of Sandy Hook is owned and managed by theNational Park Service as the Sandy Hook Unit ofGateway National Recreation Area.

Geologically, Sandy Hook is a large sand spit or barrier spit, the extension of abarrier peninsula along the coast of New Jersey, separated from the mainland by theestuary of theShrewsbury River. On its western side, the peninsula enclosesSandy Hook Bay, a triangular arm ofRaritan Bay. The 2,044-acre (8.27 km²) peninsula was discovered byHenry Hudson,^[6] and, historically, Sandy Hook has been a convenient anchorage for ships before proceeding intoUpper New York Harbor.

Sandy Hook is part of Middletown Township, although not contiguous with the rest of the Township. Because the peninsula is also federal enclave, Middletown and the federal government have aConcurrent jurisdiction. The community ofHighlands overlooks the southern part of the hook.

Sandy Hook is owned by the federal government. Most of it is managed by theNational Park Service and U.S.National Park Service rangers as the Sandy Hook Unit ofGateway National Recreation Area. The eastern shoreline consists of public beaches: North Beach,Gunnison Beach, and South Beach. The southern part of the spit consists of public beaches and fishing areas. The peninsula's ocean-facing beaches are considered among the finest in New Jersey and are a popular destination for recreation in summer when seasonal ferries^[7] bring beachgoers from its various docking points including NYC. Gunnison Beach is one of the largestclothing optional beaches on theEast Coast.^[8][9]

Sandy Hook Lighthouse is located within the fort grounds, as is theMarine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST), a magnet high school, part of theMonmouth County Vocational School District. At the entrance to Fort Hancock is Guardian Park, a plaza dominated by two Nike missiles. Some of the buildings of Fort Hancock are closed to the public because their structural integrity in decay, and to preserve its profile for future visitors. A proposal was recently accepted to allowadaptive reuse of some of the buildings in Fort Hancock for private use. This partnership will hopefully help these historic structures to be maintained more effectively.

The defunctU.S. Army postFort Hancock at the north end of the peninsula is open to visitation by the National Park Service. TheSandy Hook Proving Ground was used for many years—beginning after theCivil War until 1919, when the facility was moved toAberdeen, Maryland—and was later the site of aNike missile defense installation. The Sandy Hook Nike station is one of a very few stations that are still intact. Almost all of the fort's gun batteries are closed to the public due to their hazardous condition. The exceptions to this are Battery Potter and Battery Gunnison. Battery Potter is open frequently for tours on the weekends, as well as Battery Gunnison which is being restored by volunteers and has twosix-inch (152 mm) M1900 guns installed; the weapons were placed there in 1976. Guided tours show visitors a Nike missile, the missile firing platforms, and a radar station with 1960s-era computers. A Civil War-era 20-inchRodman gun is also in the park; this was an experimental gun that was the largest type produced by either side of that war.

North of Fort Hancock on the western part of the "hook" is an active station of theUnited States Coast Guard. This is one of the original Life Saving Stations built in 1848 at a site "on bay side, one-half mile south of point of Hook." The site was changed several times through the years due to a change in land or at the request of the War Department, which owned the land.^[10] This area is administered by theDepartment of Homeland Security and is closed to the general public.

The beaches along the Atlantic shore of Sandy Hook—North Beach,Gunnison Beach and the Southern Beaches, A, B, C, D, E—feature parking lots, lifeguards, rest rooms and seasonal concession stands. They do not permit pets on the beaches yearly after March 15. Nude or partially nude sunbathers may be encountered at Gunnison Beach as it isclothing optional.^[6] In contrast, the western shore includes vast acres of sand and trails and a paved path without lifeguards or rest rooms. These stretches are favored bycyclists andkite surfers, and leashed dogs are permitted.

Within Sandy Hook some laws and regulations are different. Sandy Hook falls underTitle 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as well as New Jersey State Code in instances where federal laws do not pertain. In Sandy Hook a misdemeanor could be a federal crime while outside the park it would be a minor infraction.^{[citation needed]}

Accommodations near Sandy Hook includebed and breakfasts such as the Sandy Hook Cottage and Seascape Manor, as well as Grand Lady by the Sea, and Nauvoo at Sandy Hook, which are all located in Highlands. Dining options have changed drastically sinceSuperstorm Sandy, which destroyed the island's only eating location, the Sea Gulls' Nest Deck Restaurant. On the peninsula, various food trucks can be found and nearby is the locally known Bahr's Landing, Moby's and Something Fishy. The Mule Barn Tavern, located near the lighthouse, was opened in 2023.^[6]

Local activities include the Sandy Hook All Woman Lifeguard Tournament in July, boat rentals for fishing, parties and tours, and paved path for biking, rollerblading, and walking. TheHenry Hudson Trail, accessible fromHighlands, New Jersey, stretches nine miles (14 km) fromAberdeen toAtlantic Highlands and is wheelchair accessible.^[6]

The northern tip of Sandy Hook is the traditional finish of the 16.1 mile Ederle-Burke Swim, which runs fromthe Battery at the tip of Manhattan Island through the Narrows and intoLower New York Bay. The first successful swim occurred in 1913, when New York lifeguard Alfred Brown came ashore in 13 hours, 38 minutes. As a prelude to her English Channel triumph,Gertrude Ederle swam the same course in 1925, finishing in 7 hours, 11 minutes.^[11]

The road that connects to Sandy Hook isRoute 36. The road to the peninsula branches from Route 36 at the northern end ofSea Bright becoming Hartshorne Drive within the park. TheHighlands-Sea Bright Bridge crosses theShrewsbury River and carries the road traffic of Route 36 fromHighlands in the west toSea Bright in the east, near the entrance to Sandy Hook.

A bicycle path parallels the motor road. TheSeaStreak ferry serves Sandy Hook fromManhattan in summertime.^[6][12][13]

According to theKöppen climate classification system, Sandy Hook has ahumid subtropical climate (Cfa).Cfa climates are characterized by all months having an average temperature > 32.0 °F (0.0 °C), at least four months with an average temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (10.0 °C), at least one month with an average temperature ≥ 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days feature slight-to-moderate humidity and a cooling afternoonsea breeze in Sandy Hook, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur withheat index values > 105 °F (41 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 99.7 °F (37.6 °C) on August 9, 2001, and the highest daily average meandew point was 78.0 °F (25.6 °C) on July 19, 2019. The average wettest month is July which correlates with the peak inthunderstorm activity.

Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 5.61 inches (142 mm) on August 27, 2011. During the winter months, the average annual extreme minimum air temperature is 6.3 °F (−14.3 °C).^[14] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −3.0 °F (−19.4 °C) on January 21, 1985. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur withwind chill values < −3 °F (−19 °C). The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is between 18 and 24 inches (46 and 61 cm), and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak innor'easter activity.

According to theA. W. Kuchler U.S.potential natural vegetation types, Sandy Hook would have a dominant vegetation type of NorthernCordgrass (73) with a dominant vegetation form ofCoastalPrairie (20).^[17] Theplant hardiness zone is 7b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 6.3 °F (−14.3 °C).^[14] The average date of first spring leaf-out is March 23^[18] and fall color typically peaks in early-November. The local forest can be considered as belonging to both theNortheastern coastal forests andAtlantic coastal pine barrens. Deer live in the area, as well as many seabirds such as theLeast tern nesting bird. Gulls such as theAmerican herring gull and theLaughing gull are native to the area, among others.

• 
  Sandy Hook Light
• 
  Lightship #51 at Sandy Hook as it appeared in the 1890s.
• 
  Aiming a14-inch gun at theSandy Hook Proving Ground
• 
  20-inchRodman gun with shells
• 
  Abandoned gun platforms of theSandy Hook Proving Ground
• 
  Part of amortar battery installation nearSandy Hook Light
• 
  Among the many beaches on Sandy Hook,Gunnison Beach isclothing optional.

• Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey
• Fort Hancock, New Jersey
• Gateway National Recreation Area
• Sandy Hook Light
• Sandy Hook Pilots
• Sandy Hook Proving Ground
• TheLeander affair

Wikimedia Commons has media related toSandy Hook (New Jersey).

• Sandy Hook Visitor Information
• National Park Service Gateway National Recreation Area
• Nike Missile Site NY-56Archived May 14, 2011, at theWayback Machine

• Sandy Hook, New Jersey
• Barrier islands of New Jersey
• Middletown Township, New Jersey
• Unincorporated communities in Monmouth County, New Jersey
• Peninsulas of New Jersey
• Spits of the United States
• Raritan Bayshore
• Gateway National Recreation Area
• Landforms of Monmouth County, New Jersey
• Beaches of Monmouth County, New Jersey
• Beaches of New Jersey

• Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlas
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from May 2019
• Coordinates on Wikidata
• All articles with unsourced statements
• Articles with unsourced statements from June 2021
• Commons category link is on Wikidata
• Webarchive template wayback links