Take a Hike: County Parks in Middletown Recognized as Best in State

Take a hike, bike and stop to smell the roses. As area residents spring into the warmer weather activities of the spring, doing those season-driven things in one or all of the three Middletown parks recognized by New Jersey Monthly magazine’s reader as the best in the state is what county officials are recommending.

All three recognized parks, trails and gardens — The Henry Hudson Trail, Hartshorne Woods Park and Deep Cut Gardens — are part of the Monmouth County Park System.

“The fact that we enjoy these park resources and further our quality of life is a great way to share Monmouth County with residents and our visitors,” Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian Burry said in a released statement. “The Park System manages more than 15,000 acres of open space and is really worth exploring.”

The 24-mile-long Henry Hudson Trail runs through Middletown and spans down the Bayshore from Aberdeen to Atlantic Highlands. It was voted the best biking trail. The former railroad right of way hosts not only bikers, but walkers, runners and equestrians from dawn to dusk.

Hartshorne Woods Park, in the Locust section of Middletown, was voted to have the best hiking trail. Hartshorne is comprised of 787 acres among the highest elevation along the Atlantic Coast. It is a key part of local history as a former coastal defense site.

Middletown’s Deep Cut Gardens earned runner up status in the contest’s Best Public Garden/Arboretum category. Dedicated to the home gardener, Deep Cut Gardens’ 54 acres of gardens and greenhouses are planned as a living catalog of cultivated and natural plants to be observed through the seasons. The newly renovated parterre features 52 varieties of roses with more than 180 bushes.

“Besides these favorites, the Park System also offers parks, forests, wetlands and marine habitats, historic sites recreation areas and conservation properties,” Burry added. “Now that the warmer weather is on its way, I would encourage people to venture outdoors and rediscover their parks.”