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Still river in the winter with leafless trees on either side Photo: Tim Kiser

Great Egg Harbor River

National Park Service site · New Jersey

Both the harbor and river were named for the shorebird and waterfowl eggs covering their meadows.

Plan your visit Directions
  • LocationEstell Manor, NJ
  • Entrance No fee listed
  • HoursDaily, Sunrise to Sunset
  • Weather now79°F Overcast
  • Alerts No active alerts

During the American Revolution, privateers hid here. Established as a National Park Service site in 1992, Great Egg Harbor National Wild and Scenic River is one of nation's best birding spots.

Local jurisdictions administer its lands. The 129-mile river system flows through Pinelands National Reserve.

Topics
  • Animals
  • Astronomy
  • Birds
  • Climate Change
  • Deciduous Forests
  • Estuaries and Mangroves
  • Fish
  • Forests and Woodlands
11 more topics
  • Headwaters
  • Natural Sounds
  • Night Sky
  • River and Riparian
  • Scenic Views
  • Thickets and Shrublands
  • Trails
  • Water Trails
  • Watersheds
  • Wetlands
  • Wilderness
Sun setting over the river.
Gibson Creek — NPS Photo

Things to Do

24 activities. Pick one to find other parks that offer it.

Show 12 more activities
School group examines a fish held by the instructor.
Students learn about river resources on a floating classroom. — Akers

Plan Your Visit

Hours

Daily, Sunrise to Sunset · Great Egg Harbor River Hours

Hours details
  • Great Egg Harbor River HoursDaily, Sunrise to Sunset

    The Great Egg Harbor River is a 55.0-mile-long (88.5 km) river in southern New Jersey in the United States. It is one of the major rivers that traverse the largely pristine Pinelands, draining 308 square miles (800 km2) of wetlands into the Atlantic Ocean at Great Egg Harbor, from which it takes its name. At river location in Estell Manor Park - please check (609) 625-1897 for hours.

    MondaySunrise to Sunset
    TuesdaySunrise to Sunset
    WednesdaySunrise to Sunset
    ThursdaySunrise to Sunset
    FridaySunrise to Sunset
    SaturdaySunrise to Sunset
    SundaySunrise to Sunset

Entrance fees

No entrance fees listed.

Weather

79°F
Overcast · feels like 82°
  • Today 82° 62°
    Overcast
    26% rain
  • Tomorrow 72° 67°
    Overcast
    17% rain
  • Saturday 69° 60°
    Overcast
    74% rain

Updated 4 hr ago

What to expect by season

Temperate, with a moderating influence of the Atlantic Ocean. NOAA Weather Seven-Day Forecast for Mays Landing, New Jersey: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=39.4521478&lon=-74.7275318 Tide information for Mays Landing, Great Egg Harbor River, New Jersey: https://www.usharbors.com/harbor/new-jersey/mays-landing-great-egg-harbor-river-nj/tides/

Contact the park

Photos

  • Winding river surrounded by grasslands on a cloudy day.
    The Great Egg Harbor River — Palmer
  • Medium sized Osprey in a next along the river

Getting There

Route 50
Estell Manor, NJ 08330

Estell Manor Park, where visitors can see the Great Egg Harbor National Scenic and Recreational River, is located 3.5 miles South of Mays Landing, New Jersey, off of Route 50. It is approximately 17 miles west of Atlantic City.

Full directions

There is a stamper for Passport Stamp Books at the Fox Nature Center, and a stamp can be obtained at the mailing address provided below.

Get directions NPS directions Official NPS site

Mailing address: Great Egg Harbor National Scenic and Recreational River, Philadelphia, PA 19107

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