Perimeter Trail

Perimeter Trail is a 5.1-mile loop around the Manasquan Reservoir in New Jersey, on county land. The route is rated easy, with a total elevation gain of 64 feet, and it makes a low-effort outing for a walk around the reservoir. The trail rises to a high point of 121 feet and drops to a low of 51 feet, with the steepest stretch at about 4.6 miles in, where the grade reaches 9 percent. That makes it a mostly flat loop with one short climb to work around. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Freehold-Marlboro show May highs around 72°F and September highs around 78°F, while July averages climb to about 86°F. Several other trails sit close by. Bracken Trail is about 0.2 miles away and Cove Trail about 0.3 miles. Reservoir Run is roughly 1.4 miles off, and paddlers can reach the Manasquan River about 4.1 miles away.