Manahawkin Lake Park Iii

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Manahawkin Lake Park III is a popular destination in Stafford Township, New Jersey.


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Summary

The park is well known for its beautiful lakeside setting, which provides visitors with a relaxing and peaceful atmosphere. The park has a variety of activities and attractions to offer its visitors.

One of the most prominent features of the park is the lake itself. The lake is a popular spot for fishing, boating, and swimming. Visitors can rent boats, kayaks, and canoes, or bring their own and launch them from the park's boat ramp. The park also has a swimming beach area that is open during the summer months.

In addition to water activities, the park also has several hiking trails that wind through the woods surrounding the lake. Wildlife is abundant in the park, and visitors can often spot deer, birds, and other animals while hiking. There is also a playground and picnic area, making this a great spot for families.

Interesting facts about the park include the fact that it was once a cranberry bog, and remnants of the bog can still be seen in some areas of the park. The park also has a rich history, as it was once the site of a Native American village.

The best time of year to visit the park is during the summer months when the lake is open for swimming and boating. However, the park is also beautiful in the fall when the leaves change color.

Overall, Manahawkin Lake Park III is a great destination for anyone looking to enjoy the great outdoors in New Jersey. Its beautiful lakeside setting, abundance of wildlife, and variety of activities make it a must-visit spot for anyone visiting the area.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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