Best parks and trails in Monmouth County, NJ

30 local picks across 18 towns, hand-picked by Monmouth Guide.

County parks, trails and green spaces for a walk, a bike ride or a day outside with the dog. Here are 30 parks and trails across 18 Monmouth County towns, from Middletown to Oceanport.

Local favorites

Deal Lake

Interlaken · The Deal Lake Commission publishes fishing and depth maps and lists public access points and boat rentals

A 158-acre lake with 12.5 miles of shoreline that almost surrounds Interlaken. It is managed by a commission of the seven towns on its shore and is popular for fishing, boating and bird-watching.

More parks and trails to try

Asbury Park Dog Beach

Asbury Park

The city's designated dog beach, one of the few ocean beaches in the county where dogs can play in the sand.
Bayshore Waterfront Park

Middletown

A 229-acre bayfront park with a mile of beach, a fishing pier, NYC skyline views and the 1700s Seabrook-Wilson House.
Bicentennial Park

Spring Lake Heights

Borough park on Ocean Road with tennis and pickleball courts; home to Spring Lake Heights rec leagues.
Big Brook Park (fossil hunting)

Marlboro

A 439-acre park where families can hunt for Cretaceous-era fossils like shark teeth in the brook, plus meadow trails.
Capt. Ron's Fishermen Party Boat

Atlantic Highlands

A 72-foot party boat sailing daily from Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor for sea bass, porgy and ling.
Clayton Park

Upper Freehold

A quiet 456-acre western Monmouth forest with an old-growth section and about 6 miles of hilly trails.
Crosswicks Creek Park

Upper Freehold

A 2,366-acre county park along Crosswicks Creek, centered on Historic Walnford, with informal trails, creek paddling, and a fishing hole.
Deep Cut Gardens

Middletown

A 54-acre free public garden with a 180-bush rose garden, koi pond, greenhouse and display gardens for home gardeners.
Golden Eagle Party Boat

Belmar

A family-friendly party and charter fishing boat sailing from Belmar Marina for fluke, sea bass and bluefish.
Hartshorne Woods Park

Middletown

An 831-acre hilly forest above the Navesink River with some of the most challenging hiking and mountain-bike trails on the coast.
Henry Hudson Trail

A 24-mile paved rail-trail running along the Bayshore from Aberdeen to Highlands, with a southern section from Freehold to Matawan.
Heritage Park

Allentown

Borough park with a paved walking path, wooded trails, a pedestrian bridge, picnic tables, and grills, popular with walkers, runners, and dog walkers.
Holmdel Park

Holmdel

A 719-acre favorite with 10 miles of trails, an arboretum, fishing pond, playgrounds and winter sledding and skating.
Huber Woods Park

Middletown

A 390-acre hilltop park over the Navesink River with 8.5 miles of trails, an Environmental Center and a reptile house.
Joseph E. Robertson Park

Spring Lake Heights

Borough park on Allaire Road with tennis and pickleball courts; hosts Thursday-night open pickleball.
Manasquan Reservoir

Howell

The county's most-visited park, with a 5-mile perimeter trail around the reservoir, fishing, boating and a playground.
Manasquan Reservoir Kayak & Boat Rentals

Howell

Rent kayaks, rowboats or electric motorboats at the Visitor Center to paddle or fish on the reservoir.
Millstone Park

Millstone

The township's largest park, with multipurpose and baseball fields, pickleball, tennis, basketball, and sand volleyball courts, walking and equine trails, fishing, a boat launch, and a tot lot.
Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook

Atlantic Highlands

A 266-foot bluff with sweeping views of Sandy Hook, the bay and the NYC skyline, home to the county's 9/11 Memorial.
Perrineville Lake Park

Millstone

A 1,455-acre county park in Millstone and Roosevelt with a lake for bass and catfish fishing and car-top or electric boats. Trails include the 1.4-mile Lakeside Loop, the 2.4-mile Rocky Brook, and the new 2.5-mile Mine Hill Trail.
Pete Sensi Park

Allentown

Small park with a boat dock and benches on the millpond across from the Old Mill. It is a popular spot for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking.
Seastreak Ferry to NYC

Highlands

A fast ferry from Highlands to Manhattan, making a car-free day trip to New York City.
Shark River Park

Wall Township

A 1,006-acre wooded park with 7.5 miles of trails, a fitness trail, fishing ponds and shaded picnic areas.
Tatum Park

Middletown

366 acres of rolling hills, fields and woods with 6.5 miles of trails and a playground.
Thompson Park

Middletown

The Park System's 667-acre headquarters park with a 4.9-mile paved loop, playground, lake, Theater Barn and arts center.
Thompson Park Off-Leash Dog Area

Middletown

A fenced 1.5-acre off-leash area with separate large-dog and small-dog (35 lbs or less) sections.
Turkey Swamp Park

Freehold Township

A Pine Barrens-edge park with a 17-acre lake, boat rentals, 9 miles of trails, an archery range and wooded campsites.
Weltz Conservation Area Off-Leash Dog Area

Ocean Township

A nearly half-acre fenced off-leash area in Oakhurst open to dogs of all sizes.
Wolf Hill Recreation Area Off-Leash Dog Area

Oceanport

Fenced all-size and small-dog areas with shaded picnic patios, plus a free 18-hole disc golf course in the same park.

Parks and Trails by town

Quick answers

What are the best parks and trails in Monmouth County, NJ?

Local favorites include Deal Lake in Interlaken, Asbury Park Dog Beach in Asbury Park and Bayshore Waterfront Park in Middletown. This guide lists 30 parks and trails across 18 towns, each picked and described by Monmouth Guide.

Which Monmouth County towns have the most parks and trails?

Middletown (7), Spring Lake Heights (2), Atlantic Highlands (2) and Upper Freehold (2) have the most entries in this guide.

More Monmouth County guides

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