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New Jersey | Ocean County / Double Trouble State Park and Barnegat Bay watershed

Cedar CreekOre Pond Canoe Access to William J. Dudley Park

A bounded Cedar Creek planning reach from the named Ore Pond canoe access through Double Trouble Village and Western Boulevard to William J. Dudley Park.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 6.4 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical time4.5–6 hours depending on debris clearance
ShuttleCar shuttle
A New Jersey Pine Barrens river channel used as moving-water context for the Cedar Creek route.
Route photoNew Jersey Pine Barrens water-trail context for the Ore Pond to Dudley Park Cedar Creek reachPhoto by U.S. National Park Service via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceApproximately 6.4 river milesOre Pond Canoe Access to William J. Dudley Park
DifficultymoderateThe named source describes recreational moving water. Shallow sections, current, strainers, bridges, cold water, and access restrictions remain material.
ShuttleCar shuttleDo not stage or unload until NJDEP and the local manager confirm the trail is cleared and both endpoint facilities are open. If reopened, stage at Dudley Park under current municipal rules, then carry from the Ore Pond access road; do not use White Bridge, Western Boulevard, bridge shoulders, private banks, or the former loading shoulder as substitute vehicle access.
PermitsCheck posted rulesFollow current NJDEP Double Trouble hours and closure advisories, municipal Dudley Park rules, New Jersey boating/PFD requirements, local ordinances below the Garden State Parkway, and any posted water-quality or weather notice. The older trail guide and club trip do not override the current closure.
CampingDay tripNo on-route camping is identified. Double Trouble and Dudley access points are day-use facilities; use separately managed lodging or a lawful regional campground and do not treat Cedar Creek shoreline, park parking, or the launch road as overnight camping.
SeasonMar-NovSpring through fall is the practical planning season. Check current flow, recent rain, debris, water temperature, daylight, and park alerts before every launch.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A bounded Cedar Creek planning reach from the named Ore Pond canoe access through Double Trouble Village and Western Boulevard to William J. Dudley Park.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Ore Pond Canoe Access
Open mapDirections to put-in

NJDEP names Ore Pond and White Bridge as state-park canoe/kayak access locations, but its current storm-damage advisory controls and advises alternate locations until debris is cleared.

Finish

Take-out

William J. Dudley Park
Open mapDirections to take-out

Ore Pond parking and access are off a sand road; confirm the current road, carry trail, launch surface, debris, and waterline before unloading.

Road shuttle

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Access planner

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This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.

On-water distance6.4 miMixed access
On-water time4.5–6 hours depending on debris clearanceFull route option
ShuttleCar shuttleChoose a shorter in/out pair for a shorter day.

Ore Pond Canoe Access to William J. Dudley Park is about 6.4 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.

Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • NJDEP names Ore Pond and White Bridge as state-park canoe/kayak access locations, but its current storm-damage advisory controls and advises alternate locations until debris is cleared.
  • Ore Pond parking and access are off a sand road; confirm the current road, carry trail, launch surface, debris, and waterline before unloading.
  • White Bridge is walk-in/livery restricted and is not counted as an independent vehicle-access endpoint. Western Boulevard is retained as a route checkpoint, not a current take-out entitlement.
  • Dudley Park is outside Double Trouble State Park and subject to local ordinances; confirm current beach/park conditions, parking, landing, and any swimming/lifeguard controls before taking out.

Watch for

  • USGS 01408900 direct Cedar Creek at Western Boulevard route-context station, recent rain, flow trend, visual depth, and the current NJDEP closure/clearance notice
  • downed trees, strainers, beaver dams, Ore Pond dam portage, shallow water, submerged wood, bridge hydraulics, cold water, wind, and missed Dudley landing
  • Ore Pond sand-road access, Double Trouble hours, White Bridge walk-in restriction, Dudley municipal parking/beach rules, local ordinances, daylight, and shuttle failure

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Short-route forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

A New Jersey Pine Barrens river channel used as moving-water context for the Cedar Creek route.
New Jersey Pine Barrens water-trail context for the Ore Pond to Dudley Park Cedar Creek reachPhoto by U.S. National Park Service via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: public domain

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named moving-water corridorCedar Creek canoe/kayak water trail from Ore Pond through Double Trouble Village and Western Boulevard to Dudley Park

    NJDEP’s current Double Trouble page names the three state-park access locations, gives the Ore Pond-to-White Bridge, White Bridge-to-Western Boulevard, and Western Boulevard-to-Dudley approximate timing chain, and identifies the downstream Dudley/rail-trail context.

    Source

  • Public endpoint evidenceNJDEP Ore Pond canoe/kayak access plus NJDEP Dudley Park/Cedar Creek downstream endpoint context

    Ore Pond has nearby parking; Dudley is a downstream municipal park. Both require current clearance, parking, carry, waterline, landing, and local-rule confirmation; current storm debris is a hard no-go.

    Source

  • On/near-water coordinate evidenceOre Pond water-entry coordinate and NJDEP Pinelands/NJDEP water-quality coordinate for Cedar Creek at Dudley Park

    Ore Pond coordinate is a documented paddling water-entry anchor corroborating NJDEP’s named access. Dudley coordinate is an NJDEP program stream-site anchor at the named park; neither is a surveyed wetted-edge or current-condition guarantee.

    Source

  • Direct flow evidenceUSGS 01408900 Cedar Creek at Western Boulevard near Lanoka Harbor, downstream of Double Trouble State Park

    Use the direct station’s available telemetry and trend only with current park clearance, recent rain, visual depth, debris, wind, and local conditions; no numeric recreational cutoff is inferred.

    Source

  • Route-specific flow and hazard guidanceNJDEP approximate segment times, portage posture, PFD/tubing restrictions, and current storm-debris advisory

    The route remains closed for practical purposes until NJDEP confirms clearance. When reopened, paddle only within the current water/trail conditions, portage the Ore Pond dam, and turn around for unsafe wood, depth, current, or access.

    Source

  • Camping postureNearby basecamp only

    No state-park, Dudley Park, launch-road, or Cedar Creek shoreline camping entitlement is claimed.

    Source

  • Live gaugeUSGS 01408900, Cedar Creek at Western Blvd near Lanoka Harbor, NJ

    Direct route-context station: use current discharge, gage height, recent rain, and visual conditions together; no numeric recreational cutoff is transferred.

    Source

  • Approved route imageryRights-cleared same-river or same-water-trail context image

    Approved public-domain New Jersey Pine Barrens moving-water context image; it provides same-water-family context and does not depict the Cedar Creek access points or certify debris clearance, flow, water quality, access, or safety.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in New Jersey

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New Jersey route guideBrowse every tracked New Jersey route.Ocean County / Double Trouble State Park and Barnegat Bay watershedJump to routes in this region.

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Quick answers

Cedar Creek paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Ore Pond Canoe Access to William J. Dudley Park route on the Cedar Creek?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Ore Pond Canoe Access to William J. Dudley Park route on the Cedar Creek start and end?

This route starts at Ore Pond Canoe Access and ends at William J. Dudley Park, Approximately 6.4 river miles on the water.

Is the Ore Pond Canoe Access to William J. Dudley Park route on the Cedar Creek suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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