Live stream will be available after this brief ad from our sponsors
  • Listen Live

Jimmy Steal

Jimmy Steal

Check out our list of 7 great places to bring the whole gang leaf peeping to view some of the best Fall foliage in Ocean County over the next month!

The Fall Foliage in Ocean County is about to pop bigtime and you better be ready! Grab your favorite flannel, some sun block, shades, comfy sneaks or hikers, maybe a pair of binoculars, and of course some form of camera!

Ocean County is about midway towards our leaves turning full color, with vibrant shades of red, yellow, orange and brown surrounding the landscape.

fall foliage map for october 11th
NJ Forest Service

Getting out and enjoying the beautiful fall foliage in Ocean County is easy when you know where to go! For many people, they need just look out their window to see an array of amazing changing colors. However, when you travel to a park, or forest area, it becomes even more intense. With dozens, sometimes hundreds trees, ranging from varieties of Maple and Oak, to Dogwood, and Birch. Check out the Best Trees in New Jersey for Fall Color.

 

Why Leaves Change Color In The Fall

According to the US Forestry Service, the timing of color changes and the onset of falling leaves is primarily regulated by the calendar as nights become longer. None of the other environmental influences – such as temperature, rainfall, food supply – are as unvarying as the steadily increasing length of night during autumn. As days grow shorter, and nights grow longer and cooler, biochemical processes in the leaf begin to paint the landscape with nature’s autumn palette, for our beautiful fall foliage in Ocean County.

Check Out What Spirit Halloween In Brick Is Set To Become

 

Furthermore, a color palette needs pigments, and there are three types that are involved in autumn color:

  • Carotenoids: Produces yellow, orange, and brown colors in such things as corn, carrots, and daffodils, as well as rutabagas, buttercups, and bananas.
  • Anthocyanin: Gives color to such familiar things as cranberries, red apples, concord grapes, blueberries, cherries, strawberries, and plums. They are water soluble and appear in the watery liquid of leaf cells.
  • Chlorophyll: Gives leaves a basic green color. It is necessary for photosynthesis, the chemical reaction that enables plants to use sunlight to manufacture sugars for food.

Autumn season time, retro vintage alarm clock in dry fall leave
stevanovicigor/ Getty Images

Trees in the temperate zones store these sugars for the winter dormant period.

Both chlorophyll and carotenoids are present in the chloroplasts of leaf cells throughout the growing season. Most anthocyanins are produced in the autumn, in response to bright light and excess plant sugars within leaf cells.

 

Children's fall artwork made from leaves
Bohdan Bevz/ Getty Images

 

During the growing season, chlorophyll is continually being produced and broken down and leaves appear green. As night length increases in the autumn, chlorophyll production slows down and then stops and eventually all the chlorophyll is destroyed. The carotenoids and anthocyanin that are present in the leaf are then unmasked and show their colors.

So let’s get you out there to some of the best spots around. Here are 7 great places to view fall foliage in Ocean County! 

 

  • Island Beach State Park Berkeley Township

    You might think IBSP is just Pine Trees and Beach Plum bushes. No sir! Many varieties of Maple, Birch, Holly, and Oak can be found. Plus it’s a fantastic place to take a bicycle or even a kayak leaf peeping tour!

     

     

  • Forked River State Marina 311 S Main St, Forked River

    the marina is a great area to hang out and view amazing fall colors. It’s even better if you have a boat and haven’t taken it out of the water yet.

    fall foliage in NJ state park
    NJ State Parks Website

  • Double Trouble State Park 581 Pinewald Keswick Road Bayville

    This is one of mine and my family’s favorite parks in Ocean County. Plenty of trails to hike, spots to fish, visit the historic village, and of course check out awesome fall foliage, right down the road in Bayville.

  • Barnegat Lighthouse State Park 208 Broadway Barnegat Light

    One of the last remnants of maritime forest on Long Beach Island is found at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park.  The forest, which is dominated by black cherry, sassafras, eastern red cedar and American holly, is an important resting and feeding area for migratory birds on their long journey to and from their breeding sites.  The Maritime Forest Trail is a 0.2-mile-long, self-guided loop trail through this unique environment.

  • Wells Mills County Park 905 Wells Mills Road Waretown

    Wells Mills has the distinction of being the largest park in the Ocean County park system with over 900 acres of pine and oak forest within southern New Jersey’s environmental marvel known as the Pine Barrens. Miles of hiking trails with varying degrees of difficulty can be found here. The three-story Nature Center offers a great display floor, a library, and the third floor “Elizabeth Meirs Morgan Observation Deck”, a great place to see a large swath of foliage.

  • Garden State Parkway Various Locations

    Yesssirrr! The good ol’ GSP is a great place to see possibly the MOST trees turning color. It can make a sometimes stressful drive a bit more relaxing. However, only whip out your phone if you’re a passenger please!

     

  • Jakes Branch County Park 1100 Double Trouble Rd Beachwood

    Breathtaking views of the surrounding Pine Barrens forest can be taken in from the observation deck perched 5-stories atop the nature center. Jakes Branch County Park also offers families the opportunity to picnic, walk the discovery play trail or hike and bike  8+ miles of nature trails.

     

Get The ClubRat Update Newsletter Delivered To Your Inbox

Jam packed with Rock & entertainment news, concert info, what's happening around town, plus exclusive contests, games, and more.

*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.