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Hartshorne Woods Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,336 Google reviews · Running trail in Highlands, New Jersey · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Hartshorne Woods Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Forested park home to WWII-era bunkers, popular for 14 miles of hiking, biking & equestrian trails.
What runners say about Hartshorne Woods Park
“The trails are very well maintained and the map is easy to read and find your way around.”
“A beautiful and safe place to get lost in the woods - but not too lost as I typically have a limited sense of direction.”
“Great place for an easy hike with incredible views and some NJ history.”
A friend who we were visiting took us here to take a 5.5 mile walk in this 812-acre park. While we didn’t get to see everything in this beautiful park we walked on many of the trails. The park has lots of paved paths to walk and many miles of dirt trails. It was about 900 feet of elevation gain over our walk.
Great paths through the cliffs overlooking the ocean. Dog friendly and plenty of shade down the paths on hot days. There are plenty of trails for bike riding too. If you manage to find your way down to the water, you will find some of the most unique views I've seen in the area.
Pretty cool park with a history. Brought my bike and read that the hills were steep, and they sure are. If you are in for a bike challenge, this is it. If I go back, I will be on foot. Place is not too big but does have some great water views.
A wonderful long trail system to spend the entire day. The trails are decently marked but if your not paying attention there are a few confusing splits in the path and it’s easy to get lost. Dogs and mountain bikes share the path with hikers so be mindful.
Trail conditions & character
“A beautiful and safe place to get lost in the woods - but not too lost as I typically have a limited sense of direction.”
“The main trails are paved but there are also "in the wood" type trails to the immediate right when coming into the lot.”
“I think it was around 2 miles in total starting from the parking lot in the rocky trail.”
“There are picnic tables in lots of areas and also bathrooms were open and clean.”
“Paths are narrow, steep in parts and riders can loose control very easily.”
“The paved trail is really great work walking, running and, biking and I love all the wooded unpaved trails.”
“Dogs and mountain bikes share the path with hikers so be mindful.”
“Check out the rocky point trail it’s the best one and most challenging but it’s easy enough for you to do it!”
Plan your run at Hartshorne Woods Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitemonmouthcountyparks.com
- Phone(732) 842-4000
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–9 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–9 PM |
Running trails near Highlands
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Hartshorne Woods Park, Rocky Point entrance
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Hartshorne Woods Park, Buttermilk Valley Entrance
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