Hiking Trail in Thompson Park Along Monmouth Reservoir and Swimming River Reservoir

Thompson Park in Lincroft, New Jersey

Direction to Trailhead for Reservoir Loop Hiking Trail

Sign of Thompson Park at Park Entrance at 805 Newman Springs Road (i.e., Highway 520) in Lincroft, New Jersey

The Park Entrance at Park Entrance at 805 Newman Springs Road (i.e., Highway 520) in Lincroft, New Jersey

Go straight in from entrance gate

Skip the first parking lot on right side and continue going straight further to the second parking lot that is closer to the Swimming River Reservoir

The second parking lot closer to wooded area near Swimming River Reservoir.

The sign of Old Orchard near the north end of second parking lot as an identification land mark.

From the south end of the second parking lot, walk on the paved Thompson Loop Trail going south for a short distance (about 400 feet) toward the wooded area closer to the Swimming River Reservoir. It is a paved trail for pedestrian and bicycle. (Not the paved vehicle park road going west.)

When you are walking south on the paved Thompson Loop Trail for a short distance, you will see this sheltered picnic area on left (east) side as a land mark.

From the paved Thompson Loop Trail, take this very narrow but straight trail pointing south from the Thompson Loop Trail to the Trailhead of Reservoir Loop Trail. This very narrow trail on the lawn is only about 200 feet long.

Then you will see this sign for the Trailhead for Reservoir Loop Hiking Trail.

This trail sign is about 600 feet south of the second parking lot near Old Orchard in Thompson Park in Lincroft.

Once you get on this trail, the first thing is to go down to cross a small bridge over a small creek as shown on the picture above. Then continue going south through the woods for about half mile to reach an opening to see the Swimming River Reservoir.

It takes less than half mile from the trailhead through wooded area to reach the Swimming River Reservoir as shown in this photo.

A view of Swimming River (or Monmouth) Reservoir from the Reservoir Loop hiking trail. The far end is the Phalanx Road. Brookdale College is on left side.

Reservoir Loop Hiking Trail along the shore of Swimming River Reservoir

Hiking Trail along reservoir

A small bridge on the hiking trail along the reservoir

Another small bridge on the hiking trail along the reservoir

The hiking trail along Swimming River Reservoir

2 Canada geese on the reservoir

3 rabbits and a robin on the hiking trail

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