Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Hartshorne Woods Park

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Type
  
Public Park

Created
  
1974

Phone
  
+1 732-872-0336

Area
  
736 acres (298 ha)

Operated by
  
Monmouth County

Hartshorne Woods Park

Address
  
300 Navesink Ave, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716, USA

Hours
  
Open today · 7AM–5:30PMFriday7AM–5:30PMSaturday7AM–5:30PMSunday7AM–5:30PMMonday7AM–5:30PMTuesday7AM–5:30PMWednesday7AM–5:30PMThursday7AM–5:30PM

Similar
  
Huber Woods Park, Shark River Park, Thompson Park, Navesink Twin Lights, Deep Cut Gardens

Secrets of hartshorne woods park


Hartshorne Woods Park (pronounced: hearts horn) is a 736-acre (298 ha) county park located in Northern Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, in New Jersey's Bayshore Region. The park has 16 miles (26 km) of trails, several old military bunkers and a small beach with a fishing pier. It is roughly bordered to the north and west by Navesink Ave and Route 36. Its southern borders are Hartshorne Road and the Navesink River. Its eastern border is the Upper Shrewsbury River. The Park is split into three sections from west to east: The Buttermilk Valley Section, the Monmouth Hills Section and the Rocky Point Section.

Contents

Hartshorne woods park biking trails overlooking navesink river


History

The park is named after Richard Hartshorne, who acquired the land from the Lenape for thirteen shillings after sailing to the Highland in 1670. Rocky Point, the 224-acre (0.91 km2) easternmost section of the park, contains a World War Two-era Coast Artillery site known as Battery Lewis on the former Highlands Military Reservation (also called Navesink Military Reservation). Later, the Highlands Air Force Station, a long-range air defense radar installation and the Highlands Army Air Defense Site (HAADS) were constructed here. The Air Force closed its installation in 1966. The Army continued to operate HAADS through 1974 to support Nike missile batteries throughout the region, including some which were later revealed by historians at nearby Sandy Hook recreation area to carry nuclear warheads.

In January 2017 a retired US Navy 16"/50 caliber Mark 7 gun, formerly a spare for the Iowa-class battleships, was placed on display in one of the gun positions of Battery Lewis.

Major trails

Classification:

  • Green Circles indicate: Easy Trails for walking.
  • Blue Squares indicate: Moderate Trails for hikers, equestrians and all-terrain bicycles.
  • Black Diamonds indicate: Challenging Trails for experienced hikers, equestrians and all-terrain bicyclists.
  • Buttermilk Valley

  • Kings Hollow Trail- easy loop (0.7 mile)
  • Candlestick Trail- easy (1.5 miles) - Navesink Overlook
  • Laurel Ridge Trail- moderate loop (2.5 miles)
  • Monmouth Hills

  • Cuesta Ridge Trail- moderate (1.6 miles)
  • Grand Tour Trail- challenging (6 miles)
  • Rocky Point

  • Lewis Overlook- easy loop (0.2 mile) - There is a trail to the top of Battery Lewis with great views.
  • Battery Loop- moderate loop (1.3 miles) - Paved surface
  • Black Fish Cove- moderate (0.3 mile) - Steep trail to pier
  • Command Loop- moderate (0.4 mile) - Paved surface
  • Bunker Loop- moderate (0.3 mile)
  • Rocky Point Trail- challenging (4.1 miles)
  • References

    Hartshorne Woods Park Wikipedia