Monmouth GuideBest 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
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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
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The city's designated dog beach, one of the few ocean beaches in the county where dogs can play in the sand.
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A 229-acre bayfront park with a mile of beach, a fishing pier, NYC skyline views and the 1700s Seabrook-Wilson House.
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Borough park on Ocean Road with tennis and pickleball courts; home to Spring Lake Heights rec leagues.
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Big Brook Park (fossil hunting)
A 439-acre park where families can hunt for Cretaceous-era fossils like shark teeth in the brook, plus meadow trails.
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Capt. Ron's Fishermen Party Boat
A 72-foot party boat sailing daily from Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor for sea bass, porgy and ling.
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A quiet 456-acre western Monmouth forest with an old-growth section and about 6 miles of hilly trails.
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A 2,366-acre county park along Crosswicks Creek, centered on Historic Walnford, with informal trails, creek paddling, and a fishing hole.
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A 54-acre free public garden with a 180-bush rose garden, koi pond, greenhouse and display gardens for home gardeners.
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A family-friendly party and charter fishing boat sailing from Belmar Marina for fluke, sea bass and bluefish.
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An 831-acre hilly forest above the Navesink River with some of the most challenging hiking and mountain-bike trails on the coast.
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A 24-mile paved rail-trail running along the Bayshore from Aberdeen to Highlands, with a southern section from Freehold to Matawan.
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Borough park with a paved walking path, wooded trails, a pedestrian bridge, picnic tables, and grills, popular with walkers, runners, and dog walkers.
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A 719-acre favorite with 10 miles of trails, an arboretum, fishing pond, playgrounds and winter sledding and skating.
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A 390-acre hilltop park over the Navesink River with 8.5 miles of trails, an Environmental Center and a reptile house.
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Borough park on Allaire Road with tennis and pickleball courts; hosts Thursday-night open pickleball.
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The county's most-visited park, with a 5-mile perimeter trail around the reservoir, fishing, boating and a playground.
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Manasquan Reservoir Kayak & Boat Rentals
Rent kayaks, rowboats or electric motorboats at the Visitor Center to paddle or fish on the reservoir.
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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.
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Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook
A 266-foot bluff with sweeping views of Sandy Hook, the bay and the NYC skyline, home to the county's 9/11 Memorial.
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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.
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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.
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A fast ferry from Highlands to Manhattan, making a car-free day trip to New York City.
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A 1,006-acre wooded park with 7.5 miles of trails, a fitness trail, fishing ponds and shaded picnic areas.
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366 acres of rolling hills, fields and woods with 6.5 miles of trails and a playground.
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The Park System's 667-acre headquarters park with a 4.9-mile paved loop, playground, lake, Theater Barn and arts center.
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Thompson Park Off-Leash Dog Area
A fenced 1.5-acre off-leash area with separate large-dog and small-dog (35 lbs or less) sections.
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A Pine Barrens-edge park with a 17-acre lake, boat rentals, 9 miles of trails, an archery range and wooded campsites.
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Weltz Conservation Area Off-Leash Dog Area
A nearly half-acre fenced off-leash area in Oakhurst open to dogs of all sizes.
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Wolf Hill Recreation Area Off-Leash Dog Area
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
- Things to do in Middletown7 picks here
- Things to do in Spring Lake Heights2 picks here
- Things to do in Atlantic Highlands2 picks here
- Things to do in Upper Freehold2 picks here
- Things to do in Allentown2 picks here
- Things to do in Howell2 picks here
- Things to do in Millstone2 picks here
- Things to do in Interlaken1 pick here
- Things to do in Asbury Park1 pick here
- Things to do in Marlboro1 pick here
- Things to do in Belmar1 pick here
- Things to do in county1 pick here
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.
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Planning a day out? See what’s on this weekend or read the latest from the Monmouth Guide blog.