By dhoerl in August, 2011
My wife and I have traveled several times now from the Sandy Hook lighthouse down the trail in Gateway National Park, crossed the bridge (bike lane and wide sidewalks available) and taken around 4 miles of the eastern HH Trail. As the last review mentioned, much of this trail is placed right on the water - you can hear the bay lap against the stone and you get great vistas. We ride up to a marina where the trail veers to the South. This makes for a nice two hour ride.
There is one section between the bridge and the trail where you must travel on Shore Drive, but its lightly traveled and there is a dedicated bike lane for parts of it.
By dcwom in June, 2011
We rode the whole trail from Freehold to the bridge at Sandy Hook. The southern section from Freehold to Matawan is newer and smooth with few road crossings, and none of the roots as other reviewers have noted for the northern section. In fairness the county has repaved some of the worst bumpy sections, but many root bumps still remain along the older section. On the positive side the old section does provide some nice views of the tidal estuary with bridges over a number of streams, while the smooth southern section offers a more standard suburban rail-trail view.
The newest addition to the trail (about 2 miles) that runs along the waterfront in Highlands has some of the best views of the whole trail as it runs right along the waterline of the bay.
I'm giving the whole trail an overall 3 star rating with the northern bumps dragging down the southern sections rating.
By ginasadek in May, 2011
I did the northern section of the trail yesterday, 5/11/2011. All 12 miles of it, from Aberdeen to Atlantic Highlands, and back. I liked that it was close to the main roads, just in case I had to get off, or get a soda. Too many street crossings, but I didn't mind that. I liked that the trail is flat and paved, even though the pavement needs some serious work in some areas. The landscape is green on both sides. The scenery would probably look better earlier in spring, or in fall.