Ocean CountyBoard of Chosen Freeholders

Virginia E. HainesChairwoman of Parks and Recreation

John P. KellyGerry P. LittleGary Quinn

Joseph H. Vicari

Ocean County Department of Parks and RecreationMichael T. Mangum, Director

Mary Jane Bavais, Assistant Director

Administrative Offices1198 Bandon RoadToms River, NJ 087531-877-OC-PARKSFax: 1-732-270-9464

www.oceancountyparks.org

Prepared and Printed by the Ocean County Printing & Graphic Arts DepartmentPrinted January 2019

About Lochiel CreekCounty Park

Lochiel Creek County Park opened in2014 and is the hidden gem that coversover 177 acres of forests and wetlands.Its unique name dates back hundreds ofyears to the original landowners who hadan estate in Scotland of the same name.The park is located along the westboundside of Barnegat Boulevard in BarnegatTownship. As you enter the park, theroads wind among pines and blueberriesinto a quiet and pristine setting.

One of the most convenient features ofthe park is i ts accessibil i ty to theBarnegat Branch Trail. The parking areaserves as a trailhead where visitors canaccess 6.5 contiguous miles of theBarnegat Branch Trail. A short connectortrail leads from the parking area atLochiel Creek County Park to the inter-section of Barnegat Boulevard and theBarnegat Branch Trail.

We hope that you enjoy your visit to thisstunning natural area, and take advantageof all the park has to offer!

The property on which the park is locatedwas slated to be developed into residentialhousing. The site was identified as a highpriority for protection because of a largepopulation of rare plants that are federallyand state listed as protected. The prop-erties that make up the park were acquiredby Ocean County in 2002, 2004, and2008.Amenities include a comfort station withrestrooms, ample parking and a 1.75 milemarked nature trail. The trail highlightsthe park’s diversity as it meanders throughrolling hills; relic sand dunes from a timewhen the area was a prehistoric beach.The trail also crosses the park’s namesakeLochiel Creek, which flows through anAtlantic White Cedar swamp rich withstrange carnivorous plants and beautifulnative orchids. The diversity of wild-flowers and wildlife within the parkprovide for a stunning walk no matterwhat time of year you visit.

The Atlantic White Cedar swamps that borderLochiel Creek harbor a diversity of wildlife. Ashort walk along the blazed hiking trail revealshummocks where American Cranberry, GoldenClub, Blueflag Iris, Swamp Azalea, and Sweet-bay Magnolia grow alongside these uniqueplants:

Green Wood OrchidBeginning in late July,look for the greenish-white flowers of thisinconspicuous plant.The flower stalk ex-tends from a singlelong leaf to about sixinches above the carpetof Spagnum Moss.

Spatulate-leavedSundew

This deminutive plantis easily spotted in wetareas thanks to theglistening “dew” on itsleaves. It gets its en-ergy from the sun, butabsorbs vital nutrientsfrom insects trappedand digested by thesticky dew.

Pink Lady SlipperThis native pink orchidcan be best seen inMay to the middle ofJ u n e w h e n i n f u l lbloom. The orchidshaped like a moccasino r l a d i e s s l i p p e rthrives in the acidicsoil of the Pine Bar-rens and grown insmall colonies.

Native Plants You May See

www.oceancountyparks.org

Ocean County Parks andRecreationLochiel CreekCounty ParkBarnegat Boulevard North,NJ 08005

C.P. 151

http://www.facebook.com/OceanCountyParks