AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Calm waters at Marlu Lake in Thompson Park, Monmouth County, New Jersey.jpg
ForeverFlying · CC BY 4.0
Thompson Park

Swimming River Reservoir–Marlu Lake, 5 sights

4.7 mi · ▲ 29 ft · 1 hr 35 min

Swimming River Reservoir–Marlu Lake, 5 sights is a 4.7-mile out-and-back in Thompson Park near Phalanx, NJ. The route passes Swimming River Reservoir and Marlu Lake. It is mostly level, with 29 ft of elevation gain. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi43 – 105 ft5.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.32734, -74.15153
Nearest town Phalanx, NJ
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Swimming River Reservoir–Marlu Lake, 5 sights

4.7 mi · ▲ 29 ft · 1 hr 35 min

Elevation 44–104 ft

Out & Back · Thompson Park

Trailhead: 40.32734, -74.15153

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 81°F / low 69° · precip 3% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:29 AM · sunset 7:24 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 200 ftPass Swimming River Reservoir.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left onto Reservoir Loop, heading NW.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right onto Thompson Loop, heading NE.
  5. 50 ftPass Marlu Lake.
  6. 0.1 miBear left onto Inner Loop, heading SE.
  7. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Inner Loop Shortcut, heading SE.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left onto Thompson/Inner Loop, heading SE.
  9. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  10. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  11. 0.2 miBear right onto Reservoir Trail, heading SE.
  12. 0.8 miTurn right, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  14. 150 ftReach Swimming River Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  16. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  17. 0.8 miBear left onto Thompson/Inner Loop, heading NE.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NW.
  19. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  20. 0.1 miTurn right onto Inner Loop Shortcut, heading SW.
  21. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Inner Loop, heading W.
  22. 0.2 miBear right onto Thompson Loop, heading NW.
  23. 0.1 miTurn left onto Reservoir Loop, heading N.
  24. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  25. 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/swimming-river-reservoir-marlu-lake-out-back-5-sights-8-km-aa10

Trail surface

45% dirt7% paved48% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 81°F69°
Precip3%Wind6 mphUV7Humidity67%
Rained 0.2″ 2 days ago (1.6″ over the last week)
Hourly temperature
85°65°
Sunrise 6:29 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:24 PM
Sun 72°64° 20%
Mon 80°61°
Tue 84°63°
Wed 87°65°
Thu 84°71°
Fri 76°60°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~5 min). Leave by 6:59 PM for the 7:24 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:43 PM — 9 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Phalanx, New Jersey