Cape May Point State Park occupies the absolute southern tip of New Jersey — the point where the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean converge, creating one of the most ecologically significant and historically layered parcels of coastline on the entire Eastern Seaboard. In 244 free acres you get a 157-foot 1859 lighthouse still in active navigation service, a WWII artillery battery bunker sitting directly on the beach, the continent’s most celebrated hawk migration corridor, monarch butterfly staging in late summer, and 2.5 miles of trails through a landscape that changes from pond to marsh to dune to beach within the space of a short walk.
The park is considered one of the best places in all of North America to witness fall bird migration. Cape May’s position at the tip of the peninsula creates a natural funnel: migratory birds following the Atlantic coastline south reach Cape May and find themselves at a geographic dead end before crossing the Delaware Bay. They concentrate here in extraordinary numbers — hawks, falcons, songbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl — while waiting for favorable winds. The Hawk Watch Platform has been counting raptors since the 1930s, and the Cape May Bird Observatory next door is one of the most respected ornithological institutions in the world. Over 400 species have been recorded in the park.
For World Cup visitors, this is the southernmost daytrip in this guide and the most historically dense: a functioning lighthouse from 1859, WWII military remnants, colonial-era Cape May town a short drive away, and one of the great natural spectacles of the American East Coast. The combination belongs in a full southern Cape May day that starts at the park, moves through Cape May’s Victorian streets and Washington Street Mall, and ends with dinner on the water.
The Four Signature Features
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Cape May Lighthouse
Est. 1859 · 157 ft · 199 steps · Still active
Built in 1859 — the third lighthouse on this site since 1823 — the Cape May Lighthouse stands 157 feet tall and remains an active navigational aid. Climb 199 cast-iron spiral stairs to a panoramic view of the Delaware Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Cape May peninsula stretching north. Operated by Cape May MAC; small admission fee for the climb. Gift shop at the base. The first known lighthouse here was built in 1823.
capemaymac.org →
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Battery 223 — WWII Bunker
Harbor Defenses of the Delaware · On the Beach
Battery 223 housed two 6-inch guns on shielded mounts as part of the Harbor Defenses of the Delaware during WWII, guarding against enemy naval incursion. The massive concrete bunker sits directly on the beach — partially buried by decades of shifting sand — and is one of the most visually striking WWII remnants on the Jersey Shore. Free to view and explore. Fire Control Tower 23 is also visible in the park. The beach setting makes this a genuinely surreal sight.
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Hawk Watch Platform
One of the Best Hawk Counts in North America
The Cape May Hawk Watch has been counting raptors since the 1930s. The platform offers elevated views over the point during fall migration (August–November), when thousands of hawks, falcons, ospreys, and eagles funnel through on their way south. On peak days, sharp-shinned hawks, Cooper’s hawks, merlins, and peregrine falcons pass in extraordinary numbers. Adjacent to the park, the Cape May Bird Observatory’s nature center and banding station operate some of the most respected avian research programs in the world.
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Nature Center
Live Animals · Seashells · Local History · Free
The park’s Nature Center houses live animals, seashell displays, and exhibits on the local natural and cultural history of the Cape May peninsula. A small classroom facility is used for guided interpretive programs throughout the season. Birding programs, guided walks, hawk banding demonstrations, and children’s nature clubs run spring through fall. Free with park admission.
Hiking Trails — All Start & End at the Parking Lot
Red Trail — 0.5 miles · Boardwalk · Wheelchair Accessible
Raised boardwalk path to Lighthouse Pond West and East — the best trail for viewing wading birds, ducks, swans, and osprey without muddy shoes. Several observation platforms directly at the water’s edge. Stroller-friendly. The most accessible introduction to the park’s birding experience.
Yellow Trail — 1.5 miles · Part Boardwalk, Part Dirt Path
Extends from the Red Trail through multiple habitats — wetland marsh, coastal dune, and beach. Reaches Al’s Pond, a large freshwater pond with a viewing platform excellent for waterfowl. Wear sturdy shoes — portions may be muddy. Connects to the South Cape May Meadows Nature Conservancy tract (200 additional acres).
Blue Trail — 2.0 miles · Longest · Beach Section Included
The full park trail — extends along the beach and coastal dune, offering shorebird viewing and open ocean vistas. Passes through the most varied habitats in the park. Closed for decades after 1960s hurricane damage, reopened in the 1990s. Sturdy shoes essential; beach section exposes you to the elements. Best for serious walkers and birders.
Wildlife — What to Look For & When
☀️ Summer (Jun–Aug)
Piping plovers and American oystercatchers nesting on the beach (protected areas). Herons and egrets at the ponds. Osprey throughout. Late August: first monarch butterflies begin to appear staging for migration across Delaware Bay.
🦋 Late Summer–Fall
Monarch butterflies — Cape May Point is one of the great staging grounds in the East as monarchs mass before crossing Delaware Bay. Spectacular on warm days with southwest winds. Peak typically late September–early October.
🍂 Fall Migration (Aug–Nov)
The premier season — thousands of hawks, falcons, ospreys, and eagles at the Hawk Watch Platform. Tree swallows in flocks of millions. Shorebirds on the beach. Warblers in the shrubs. Waterfowl on the ponds. Cape May is one of the world’s great migration spectacles in this window.
🌸 Spring (Apr–May)
Returning breeding birds, shorebird migration, and world-famous horseshoe crab spawning on Delaware Bay beaches (visible from nearby Sunset Beach). Songbird migration through the wooded edges and shrubby dunes.
🌿 Adjacent: South Cape May Meadows — Directly accessible from the Yellow Trail, the 200-acre South Cape May Meadows is owned by The Nature Conservancy and managed as critical habitat for shorebirds and migratory species. The combined park and meadows offer one of the most ecologically rich coastal walking experiences in New Jersey — all free, all connected from the same parking lot.
📍 Full Cape May Day: Cape May Point State Park pairs perfectly with the town of Cape May — a National Historic Landmark Victorian city 3 miles east, with the country’s most intact collection of Victorian architecture, Washington Street Mall, world-class restaurants, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, and one of the prettiest beaches on the Shore (with beach tags). Start the morning at the park, hike the trails, climb the lighthouse, see the bunker — then drive into Cape May for lunch and the afternoon. It’s one of the best full days available within 90 minutes of Atlantic City.
💚 Free Admission
🏛️ Cape May Lighthouse 1859
💣 WWII Bunker on Beach
🦅 Hawk Watch Platform
🦋 Monarch Migration
🌿 2.5 Miles of Trails
♿ Accessible Red Trail
400+ Bird Species
📍 Cape May Point, NJ
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