Park HoursHartshorne Woods Park is open every day of the year from 7am to dusk, free of charge.
For more Information: Call (732) 842-4000, ext. 4312 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com
From Garden State Parkway Exit 117(North or Southbound) Follow Rt. 36 (East) for 12.6 miles. Turn right (before the bridge) onto Portland Rd. Follow for 0.7 miles to Rocky Point entrance.
From State Hwy 35Traveling northbound, turn right; southbound, use jughandle and turn left onto Navesink River Rd. (just north of Cooper Bridge, near Red Bank). Travel east on Navesink River Rd. for 4.7 miles (joins 8A north). Follow around bend and turn right onto Locust Ave., cross bridge. At next intersection (stone church) turn right onto Navesink Ave. (8B-East). Follow for 0.8 miles (past Buttermilk Valley entrance). Turn right onto Rt. 36 and follow for 1.2 miles. Turn right (before the bridge) onto Portland Rd., follow for 0.7 miles to Rocky Point entrance.
From Sea Bright/southern shore points:Follow Route 36/Ocean Ave. north. Cross the Highlands bridge. Make first right and follow U-turn signs (under bridge). Come up the hill turn left onto Portland Rd. Follow for 0.7 miles to Rocky Point entrance.
Fair Haven Rd.
SEA BRIGHT
MONMOUTHBEACH
AT
LA
NT
IC O
CE
AN
SANDY HOOKB AY
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS
MOUNT MITCHILLSCENIC OVERLOOK
TWIN LIGHTS HISTORIC SITE
LITTLE SILVER
Navesin
k
River
Shrew
sbury
Rive
r
GATEWAY NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
SANDY HOOK
POPAMORA POINT
FAIR
HAVEN
RUMSON
HUBER
WOODS PARK
Bay Av.
Mid
d letown- Lincroft R
d . Swim
ming R
iver Rd. Tinto n Av. Wayside Rd.
Green G
rove Middle Rd. Main
St
Laurel Av. Van Scho ick R
d. Dwigh t Rd. N
C
hurc
h St
.
P
ortla
nd
EARL
E
R.
R.
&
HIG
HW
AY
Bro
wns D
ock Rd.
Navesin
k
Av.
Bingham Av.
Bellevue Av.
Buena Vista Av.
Hance Rd.
Broad St.
Bergen Pl.
Patterson
Branch Av.
White
Sycam
ore
Av. Sycamore Av.
Little
Silver
Will
ow
D
r.
Port-
Au- Peck C
omanc
he
Dr.
Bath Av.
O
cean
Av.
Oce
an
Oce
an
A
v.
Patt
e n A
v.
Wesley Beach
520
520
520
HARTSHORNE WOODS PARK
Navesin
k
River
Rd.
Seven Bridges Rd.
Cooper Rd.
C
oop
er
Rd.
Bamm Hollow Rd. Oak Hill Rd. Chapel
H
ill
R
d.
Rumson
Rd.
Rumso
n Rd.
Front St.
River
Rd.
River
Rd.
Hardi ng
Rd. Ridge Rd.
R
idge
Rd.
West
36
36
Rd.Av.
Oceanport Av.
Rd.
Rect
or P
l.
Shrewsbury A
v.
Bay Av. Center Av.
Ocean Blvd.
35
Linden Av. W
ater
W
atch
Av
.
Sleepy Hollow
Rd
Leon
ard
Av.
520
M I D D L E T O W N
8A
11
11
8A
Locu
stA
v.
Hubbard
Rd.
W
ilson
Av.
West
Pinkney
Rd.
Locust Point Rd.
H artshorne Rd.
Hos
ford
Av.
Rd.
Front
St .
HIGHLANDS
New
M
onm
ou
th Rd.
Leonardville Rd.
Bro
adw
ay A
v.
K
King s Highway East
Monmouth Av.
U.S. NAVALWEAPONS STATION EARLE
BAYSHORE WATERFRONT PARK
Portland R
d.
GARDEN STATE PA
RK
WAY
G
AR
DEN
S
TAT
E
P
AR
KW
AY
Av.
D
Hartshorne Woods Park Locust (Middletown), NJ
(732) 872-0336 or 2670
N
HENRY HUDSON
TRAIL
Gra
nd A
v.
Highland Av.
Hillside Av.
1st A
v.
Pt. Rd.
Monmouth County Board of Chosen FreeholdersBoard of Recreation Commissioners G13445-8/13 www.monmouthcountyparks.com
Monmouth County Park System
HartshorneWoodsParkMiddletown, NJ
Welcome to Hartshorne Woods ParkThis hilly, forested 794-acre site overlooks the Navesink River & features prominently in area history as a former coastal defense site. Known for its challenging trail system and scenic views, Hartshorne Woods is a popular park for area hikers, bicyclists and outdoor enthusiasts.
Park HistoryThis park is named after Richard Hartshorne an English Quaker from London who settled here in 1669 and acquired more than 2,300 acres of land. By the early 1800s, some was sold to private individuals and the U.S. government, but large portions remained in his family.
The Park System acquired the first 660 acres of this park in 1974. Additional land was conveyed from the government in 1984, and subsequent purchases-including the 44-acre, Claypit Creek section in 2005-brought the park to its current size.
Military Installations at Rocky PointThis property was a desirable coastal defense site because of its elevation. Through the years, it hosted a number of land and air-based military installations. Interpretive panels about the park’s military history are located throughout Rocky Point.
During the WWII era, batteries for heavy artillery were built on this site. These concrete and earth encasements or bunkers – considered “bomb-proof ” at the time – protected personnel and equipment. The rise of strategic air power and nuclear weapons ended the reliance on artillery guns for coastal defense.
During the Cold War Era, the site served as a missile defense and command center with radar, computers and electronic plotting devices. These structures have all been removed.
Bunker Loop
Fishing Anglers can cast for striped bass, fluke and flounder in the Navesink River from the pier at Black Fish Cove (a steep, 0.7 mile walk from the Rocky Point parking lot).
The New Jersey Saltwater Angler Registry now requires all anglers 16 and up to register online (for free) to fish in marine and fresh tidal waters of NJ. Visit www.saltwaterregistry.nj.gov
Protect Your ParksThe Park System preserves and manages natural and cultural resources on more than15,000 acres of land in Monmouth County.Protecting water quality, eliminating invasiveplant species, and promoting healthy wildlifehabitats are just a few objectives.
Please help protect the park by leaving flowers, plants, animals, and other features as you found them; adhering to posted park rules; using des-ignated containers for trash, recyclables and pet waste; and keeping your pets leashed. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted.
An overabundance of white-tailed deer in and around this park is threatening the health of native plant and animal species. Portions of Hartshorne Woods Park maybe open for deer hunting during all or some of the State-regulated hunting season. All hunting areas are clearly posted. Call (732) 842-4000 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com for more information.
Blackfish Cove
Foot Traffic OnlyViewing AreaFishingInformationPicnic
Tables
Trail Head
Moderate Trail
Paved
TrailMaintenance RoadPaved RoadBridgeWater
Tower
ParkingPortable Toilet
Building/OfficeWooded AreaBattery/BunkerField/ClearingRiver/PondWetlandsProperty LineStream
Easy Trail
Challenging Trail
LEGEND
Navesink River
Hartshorne Rd.
Locu
st A
ve. (
8A)
N
avesink Ave. (8A)
To Route 36
Huber WoodsPark
Wigwam Rd.
Gra
nd To
ur
Terrace
Clay
Ct.
Tan Vat Rd.
To GSP/Rt 36
Valley Dr - (8A)
Grand Tour
P ortland Rd.
Henry Hudson H.S.
ToRt. 36
BUTTERMILKVALLEY
MONMOUTH HILLS
BUTTERMILKVALLEYENTRANCE
CLAYPITCREEKENTRANCE
Cuesta Ridge
CommandLoop
Gran
d Tou
r
Laur
el R
idge
Kings Hollow
Laurel Ridge
Grand Tour
Battery Lewis
Laurel Ridge
Candlestick
Pier Black FishCove
MaintenanceArea
CLAYPITCREEK
Claypit Creek
Stone Church
Grand Tour
Cabin
Indian
Hartshorne Rd.
Cuesta Ridge
Sh
rew
sb
ury
Riv
er
Ranger Residences
Rocky Point Trail
Battery Loop
Locust Point Rd. (8A)
Interpretive Panel
Battery 219
Lewis Overlook
Rocky Point Trail
Bunk
er Loop
ROCKYPOINT
Candlestick
ROCKY POINTENTRANCE
Batte ry Loop
Information about Lyme Disease To avoid contact with the deer tick that may carry Lyme Disease, stay away from tall grass and shrubby areas, wear light-colored clothes, tuck long pants into socks, and check yourself for ticks during and after each visit to the park.
Trail KeyButtermilk Valley Section King’s Hollow: EASY 0.7 mile (1.1 km) trail through oak trees and wild flowers Foot Traffic Only Candlestick: EASY 1.5 mile (2.4 km) loop with abundant mountain laurels and wooded overlook Foot Traffic Only Laurel Ridge: MODERATE 2.5 mile (4 km) trail for a longer hike; features a wooded overlookMonmouth Hills Section Cuesta Ridge: MODERATE 1.6 mile (2.6 km) trail from Buttermilk Valley to Rocky Point Grand Tour: CHALLENGING A primitive 3.1 mile (5 km) trail through the forested heart of the parkRocky Point Section Battery Lewis: EASY paved, 0.4 mile (0.6 km) loop around the battery Lewis Overlook: EASY 0.2 mile (0.3 km) loop with spectacular views Foot Traffic Only Command Loop: MODERATE 0.4 mile (0.6 km) paved trail to the former Highlands Army Air Defense Site (HAADS) Bunker Loop: MODERATE paved 0.3 mile (0.5 km) loop to a wooded bunker site Battery Loop: MODERATE paved 1.3 mile (2.1 km) loop from Battery Lewis to a smaller bunker, other trails and scenic views of the river Black Fish Cove: MODERATE paved 0.2 mile (0.5 km) hike to the Navesink River pier. Beware, it’s a steep return! Rocky Point Trail: CHALLENGING 2.3 mile (3.7 km) natural surface trail following the outer edges of Rocky Point
Hartshorne Woods Park(732) 872-0336 or 2670www.monmouthcountyparks.com
GPS/Maps Use:Rocky Point 200 Portland Rd. Highlands, NJ 07732
Buttermilk Valley 307 Navesink Ave.Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
Claypit Creek 241 Locust Ave. Rumson, NJ 07760
Trail Standards EASY: short, well-maintained or paved trails intended for casual walkingMODERATE: longer trails with some grades/obstructions; intended for hiking (may be suitable for some walkers and runners)CHALLENGING: long, more primitive trails with steep grades, obstructions; intended for hardy, experienced hikers
YIELD TO
TrailsHartshorne Woods Park has the most extensive and challenging series of trails in the Park System: over 14 miles. Please stay on marked trails, plan your route, take a trail map with you, and wear appropriate safety gear.NOTE: At a brisk pace, it takes approximately 20 minutes to walk 1 mile (1.6 km).