Alder Trail

Alder Trail is a short, easy out-and-back hike in Turkey Swamp Park, a county-managed park in New Jersey. The trail is about a mile long, with a total elevation gain of about 10 feet, so it's a gentle walk that fits easily into a longer outing in the park. The route starts at a low point of about 119 feet and reaches a high of about 133 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.29 miles in, with a grade of about 4 percent. The trail is close to several other routes, so it works well as a link in a longer loop. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Freehold-Marlboro show May highs around 72°F and September highs around 78°F, with July peaking near 86°F. Manasquan Trail and Old Lenape Trail both lie within a quarter mile, and Metedeconk Trail is about half a mile away. Paddlers can reach the Manasquan River about a mile off.