The North Shore and More

The North Shore and More Bike Tour joins together two of New Jersey’s outstanding places to bike: Sandy Hook, part of Gateway National Recreation Area, and the Henry Hudson Trail. These are two of New Jersey’s nicest and most accessible shared use paths. The route connects over 20 miles of paths using just 2 miles of on-road connections.

The Henry Hudson Trail
Although there are many places where one could begin/end this tour, this ride begins at a parking area just a half mile east of the Garden State Parkway. From the trailhead adjacent to the Bayshore Trail segment of the Henry Hudson Trail in Aberdeen, this route starts off with a beautiful 10 miles of traffic free riding. However, there are numerous roadway crossings and the surface often has large bumps from tree roots. The full Henry Hudson Trail is a 24-mile trail along a former railroad right-of-way that is part of the Monmouth County Park System and the National Rails to Trails Network. Mostly tree-lined, the trail traverses Monmouth County through both man-made and natural environments with views of wetlands, streams, and fields.

The Atlantic Highlands
The historic Atlantic Highlands is the highest natural elevation on the entire eastern seaboard between Maine and the Yucatan, and offers commanding views of Sandy Hook Bay, Raritan Bay and the New York City skyline. A good place to take in the view is Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook, 266 feet above sea level, It is also the site of Monmouth County’s 9/11 memorial. The Atlantic Highlands is a place where history is visible at places like the nearby Twin Lights State Historic Site and National Historic Landmark. The “Twin Lights of the Highlands” was once the best and brightest light in North America, guiding seafarers sailing in the New York Harbor. The beacon of the historic lighthouse was visible for 22 miles. Though decommissioned, the Twin Lights now has a museum to illuminate its history.

Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook is a 7-mile peninsula that extends into lower New York Harbor. This bike tour brings you into the Park where you can bicycle the length of the Park on a shared-use path that runs adjacent to fabulous beaches, through a shady holly forest, and along the salt marsh that skirts the beach. There are many sites to see and things to do at Sandy Hook, so plan your trip to allow time to explore. Stop by the Visitor Center to find out about Sandy Hook’s diverse attractions, activities and special events. Since bicyclists are not charged an entry/parking fee (as are cars), bicycling is an ideal way to reach the Park’s sites of interest. Sandy Hook is also the site of Fort Hancock, a former military installation that guarded the entrance to the New York Harbor since the 1800s. Learn about this National Historic Landmark at Fort Hancock and tour the Fort’s restored remains and the Sandy Hook Lighthouse,the oldest surviving lighthouse in the United States.

File Formats

KML (16k)
Use to view tour guide routes in a mapping application on a desktop computer, mobile device or GPS device.
Geospatial PDF (1.9m)
Use to view your current location along the tour guide routes using a GPS enabled mobile device.
PDF (2.3m)
Use to view or print the tour guide routes in a brochure format.

Instructions for using these files formats is available.