Directions to Rides & Meetings
Below are directions to Brookdale Community College, where most monthly club meetings are held and most of our road rides meet; and the NJ State and Monmouth County parks where we not only meet for remote road rides, but also mountain bike rides
***NOTE: There are now map links included for each destination..
Allaire State Park - We meet at different locations for Mountain Bike Rides and Road Bike Rides. For MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDES: Meet in the lot on Hospital Road. From the Garden State Parkway take exit 98. Follow the exit ramp to Rt 34 South. Make the first right (at a light) onto Allenwood Rd. At the T, turn right onto Atlantic Ave Rt 524. Cross the Parkway and turn left onto Hospital Rd. The lot is at the top of the hill on the right. For ROAD BIKE RIDES continue straight on Rt 524, do not turn on to Hospital Rd, to the main park entrance.
MTB Rides at Allaire State Park: Easy to Intermediate. Allaire has a lot of intersecting trails. The race course is a five mile loop. There is also a trail that follows the Manasquan River along a twisting course. Careful, it's easy to get lost in the maze and you may hit some deep sand if you don't know where you are going. For the most part, the hills are relatively gentle and the singletrack is relatively non-technical. You can do some fast, smooth loops. (Allaire is also known for it's large tick population).
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Allenwood School: 3301 Allenwood-Lakewood Road in Allenwood. From NJ Rte 34, go south west on
Allenwood Rd to end. Turn left on Atlantic Ave and go about 300 feet and make first right on West Side Dr. School is about 0.3 miles at intersection with MC Rte 21.
Brookdale Community College is located on Newman Springs Road (Route 520) less than 1 mile west of Lincroft, NJ and 2 miles west of Exit 109 of the Garden State Parkway. The parking lots are numbered. For meetings, park at lot 2. For weekend rides, we normally meet in Lot #1 near the Monmouth Museum. For Thursday night rides, meet in Lot #7. Campus maps are available here.
Cheesequake State Park - We meet in the first parking area on the left inside the park. Take the Garden State Parkway to exit 120. At the end of the ramp, turn right if you are southbound, left if northbound on to Laurence Harbor-Morristown Road (toward Matawan). Turn right at the first light onto Morristown Road. Turn right again at the next light onto Gordon Road. Follow Gordon Road to the park entrance. Go through the park gates and park at the first parking lot on the left.
MTB Rides at Cheesequake State Park: Easy to Hard. The fire roads are an easy warm-up. The multipurpose trail is probably the most technical trail that we ride.
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Chimney Rock (Washington Valley Park) - Garden State Parkway North to exit 127 (Rt 440 South/Rt 287 North). Follow signs for 440 South/287 North. You will be traveling on 287 North approximately 12-13 miles. Take exit 14A (Rt 22 East/ New York). Follow Route 22 East to Chimney Rock/Thompson Roads exit in Bridgewater (less than a mile from 287 exit). You will need to make the U-turn and cross back over Route 22. At the end of Thompson Road, bear right onto Chimney Rock Road. Drive approximately 1.5 miles until the road ends. Turn left onto Washington Valley Road. Make the first left onto Newman's Lane. Travel on Newman's Lane until you cross over a small bridge. There will then be a paved parking lot on the left side. On the left there is a green and white park commission sign for Washington Valley Park.
Clayton Park - Take I-195 to Exit 11 (Imlaystown/Cox's Corner); from I-195 eastbound, turn right off exit ramp; from I-195 westbound turn left off exit ramp. Follow to the end. Turn left onto Rt 526 and make immediate right onto Imlaystown-Davis Station Rd. Go straight across bridge and up hill. Left on Emley's Hill Rd. The parking lot is down the road on the left. Rt 537 west to Rt 526 west, turn right. Follow Rt 526 (becomes Red Valley Rd) to Imlaystown-Davis Station Rd. Turn left and follow Imlaystown-Davis Station Rd to Emley's Hill Rd, turn left and follow to park on left.
MTB Rides at Clayton Park: Intermediate. It's similar to Tatum Park with its nice sweeping down hill runs and some twisting, turning trails with ups and downs. However, you will find more roots and logs than at Tatum (i.e., no hybrids at Clayton). Good introduction to technical riding.
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D & R Canal - Bulls Island - Take Route 195 West to the end. Follow signs to Route 29 North. Stay on Route 29 North to Bulls Island, which is about 5 miles north of Lambertville. Travel Time: approximately 2 hours from Brookdale.
Freehold YMCA -
Used for Winter Saturday Road Rides. The Freehold YMCA is located in Freehold Township on East Freehold Road in Freehold Township (just west of where Kozloski Road changes to East Freehold Road). From US Route 79, south of Freehold, go west about 0.3 mile on East Freehold Road and the Freehold YMCA is on the left. From US Route 9, go east about 1 mile on East Freehold Road and the Freehold YMCA is on the right.
Actually, we start from the parking lot of a new park (Opatut Park) immediately west of the YMCA that has no signs. The entrance is the turn immediately west of the Freehold YMCA.
Frenchtown - New starting location for the NJ Covered Bridge Ride. We meet at the Old Frenchtown Field, just 1/2 mile north of downtown Frenchtown. Turn left at the stop sign for Route 12 and Bridge Street in Frenchtown, go around the corner and make a right turn onto Harrison Street. Go up about .5 to .7 miles to Old Frenchtown Field on the left (between 10th and 12th Streets). Use this link on Google Maps to get directions...
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Hartshorne Woods Park
***NEW STARTING LOCATION - We no longer meet in the parking area on Navesink Ave.***
In order to get to our new starting location, take Route 36 East, and make a right turn right before the Highlands bridge onto Portland Road. Follow Portland Road to end. Henry Hudson High School is at the end of the road on the right, and our parking lot is on the left.
Alternatively, you can follow these directions which take you to our old starting location, and then you can continue on to our new starting location. From Route 35 take Navesink River Rd (north of Cooper Ave Bridge, Red Bank) east and continue 4.7 miles. Turn right onto Locust Rd (Monmouth County Rt 8A). Cross Clay Pit Creek bridge to five way intersection. Bear right onto Navesink Ave and continue to park on right. From Rt 36 take Navesink Ave. That is, from southbound Rt 36, turn right on Navesink Ave; from northbound Rt 36, use jughandle for Locust/Navesink Ave. Follow Navesink Ave to the parking area on the left. Garden State Parkway to Exit 109. Southbound, turn left onto Rt 520. Take jughandle for Half Mile Rd; northbound, go straight at exit. Follow Half Mile Rd to the end. Turn right at traffic light onto East Front St. Follow East Front St to Hubbard Ave. Turn left onto Hubbard Ave and follow (.6 mile) to Navesink River Rd. Turn right onto Navesink River Rd and continue 4.7 miles. Turn right onto Locust Rd. Cross Clay Pit Creek bridge to five way intersection. Bear right onto Navesink Ave and continue past the parking lot on the right (that was our old starting location).
Make a right at the top of the hill at the light onto Route 36 East, then follow the directions above.
MTB Rides at Hartshorne Woods Park: Intermediate to Hard (Not for beginners!). This is the best Monmouth County has to offer. Start with some smooth, but steep, climbing then face many other challenges from logs to technical hills. You can test your true mountain bike mettle in this park.
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Henry Hudson Trail - From northbound Rt 35 or Rt 36, follow signs to the Garden State Parkway North. About 100 yards before the GSP toll booth, turn right onto Clark St. Follow to Lloyd Rd (at traffic light). Trail entrance is off the near right corner .You can park at the ball fields on the far right corner.
MTB Rides on the Henry Hudson Trail: Easy. This trail is paved for 9 miles (running just north of and parallel to Rt 36, crossing many quiet neighborhood roads) from the Aberdeen/Keyport border at intersection of Lloyd Rd and Clark St to the Middletown/Atlantic Highlands border at N Leonard Ave. Holmdel Park - Garden State Parkway to Exit 114. Southbound, turn right onto Red Hill Rd; northbound, turn left onto Red Hill Rd. Follow Red Hill Rd to Crawfords Corner Rd, turn right (heading morthwest). Follow Crawfords Corner Rd to Roberts Rd, turn left. Follow Roberts Rd to Longstreet Rd, turn right to park entrance on left. State. Hwy 34 to Roberts Rd (1.75 miles north of Rt 520). Southbound, turn left; northbound, turn right. Follow Roberts Rd to Longstreet Rd, turn left. Park entrance in on left. State Hwy 35 to Holmdel/Keyport Rd Rt 3. Northbound, turn around left; southbound, turn right. Follow Holmdel/Keyport Rd Rt3 to a left on to Crawford Corners Rd. Turn right on to Longstreet Rd, Park is on right.
No Mountain Biking in this park. However, we do meet in this popular Monmouth County park for some road rides.
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Huber Woods Park - From Rt 35 take Navesink River Rd (north of Cooper Ave Bridge, Red Bank) east. Travel east on Navesink River Rd (2.8 miles) to Brown's Dock Rd. Turn left onto Brown's Dock Rd. Park entrance is on the right at the top of the hill.
ALTERNATE ROUTE: Garden State Parkway to Exit 109. Southbound, turn left onto Rt 520 and take jughandle for Half Mile Rd; northbound, go straight at exit. Follow HalfMile Rd to end. Turn right at traffic light onto East Front St. Follow East Front St to Hubbard Ave. Turn left onto Hubbard Ave and follow (.6 mile) to Navesink River Rd. Turn right onto Navesink River Rd and continue 3.2 miles. Turn left onto Brown's Dock Rd. Park entrance is at top of hill on right.
MTB Rides at Huber Woods Park: Intermediate. Small, easier loops can be done starting in the parking area. But, Many Log Run is as challenging as the name sounds. ***Mountain biking at Huber Woods has been temporarily suspended by the Monmouth County Park System***
Lake Topanemus Park is in Freehold, NJ. While there are entrances to the park on both Robertsville Road and Pond Road, there is very limited parking at the entrance on Robertsville Road, so we meet at the entrance on Pond Road.
From the south, take Route 9 North to the East Freehold Road jug-handle. The jug-handle ends at Pond Road, where you need to make a right. Go about 0.9 miles, and the entrance to the park is on your left.
From the north, take Route 9 South to Craig Road / East Freehold Road. Make a left (heading east, across Route 9), and make a quick right onto Pond Road. Go about 0.9 miles, and the entrance to the park is on your left.
MTB Rides at Lake Topanemus Park: Easy to Intermediate. This is a relatively small park, with two different types of trails on two separate sides to the park, separated by Lake Topanemus. On the north side of the lake, there are wide packed-cinder trails, perfect for hybrid riding and great for families. Once again, this is a relatively small park, and you can cover all of the cinder-packed trails in a relatively short period of time.
On the south side of the lake is some recently developed single-track with nearly a dozen logs to help you brush up on your technical skills. Those who wish to stay on the cinder-packed trails (and avoid the single-track) can do so.
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Manasquan Reservoir - Garden State Parkway to Exit 98, Interstate 195 west. Proceed on I-195 west to Exit 28B, Rt 9 north-Freehold. Stay in right lane when entering Rt 9 north. At first traffic light, turn right onto Georgia Tavern Rd. Follow Georgia Tavern Rd for .3 mile. Turn right onto Windeler Rd. Continue 1.5 miles to Reservoir Area on left (if you come to the end of Windeler Rd, you went a few hundred yards too far). State Hwy 9 south from Freehold to Georgia Tavern Rd. Use jughandle to turn left onto Georgia Tavern Rd. Follow Georgia Tavern Rd for .3 mile. Turn right onto Windeler Rd. Continue 1.5 miles to Reservoir Area on left (if you come to the end of Windeler Rd, you went a few hundred yards too far).
MTB Rides at Manasquan Reservoir: Easy. Ride (run or walk) the wide, rolling 5 mile path around the reservoir. This is perfect hybrid riding and great for families. Also, some of our road rides start here.
Mercer County Park, East Picnic Area Parking: From Exit 8 (Hightstown) of NJ Turnpike: Go east on Rt 33 for 0.4 miles then west on Rt 133. After 3.4 miles, take Rt 571 west. After 0.4 miles go left on Rt 535 [Old Trenton Rd]. After 3.4 miles, turn right on Rt 526 [Edinburg Rd]. Park entrance is 0.2 miles on left. Go to East Picnic Parking on left 0.1 miles from entrance. From Brookdale, exit right on Phalanx Rd for 3.3 miles. Go left (south) on Route 34 for 0.8 miles. Go right (west) on Route 537 for about 7 miles. Bear right on Route 33 ( do not turn on business 33 [Park Ave] for about 11 miles. Go right on Rt 133 (next road after Probasco). After 3.4 miles, take Rt 571 west. After 0.4 miles go left on Rt 535 [Old Trenton Rd]. After 3.4 miles, turn right on Rt 526 [Edinburg Rd]. Park entrance is 0.2 miles on left. Go to East Picnic Parking on left 0.1 miles from entrance.
Michael J Tighe formerly Liberty Oak Park - Used for our Tuesday night and Saturday series. Michael J Tighe Memorial Park is on Georgia Rd in Freehold Twp. From US Rte 9, south of Freehold, go west about 1 mile on Rte 524 and turn south on Georgia Road (signs point to Turkey Swamp Park). Go about 1/2 mile on Georgia Road and the entrance to Tighe Park is on the left.
* Back to the Directions page TOP * Millstone Elementary School - From Exit 11 (Coxs Corner - Imlaystown exit) of I 195: Go north on MC Rt 43 (Hightstown Imlaystown Rd) about .4 mile and turn right on MC Rt 524 (if you get to MC Rt 526 you went south). Go east about 6 miles on MC Rt 524 and turn left on Schoolhouse Rd. The Millstone Twp Elementary School parking lot is about ½ mile on the left. From Brookdale, exit right on Phalanx Rd for 3.3 miles. Go left (south) on Route 34 for 0.8 miles. Go right (west) on Route 537 for about 11 1/2 miles. Bear right on Route 524 for 3.5 miles. Go right on Schoolhouse Rd to Millstone Elementary School about 1/2 mile on left.
Minnewaska State Park is in New Paltz, NY - Take the NY State Thruway to Exit 18 (New Paltz). Get on Route 299 WEST. Take Route 299 through the town of New Paltz. Stay on Route 299 West until you hit US 44 / State Route 55. Take US 44 / State Route 55 WEST. You will run into Minnewaska State Park Preserve. We typically meet in the UPPER parking lot. It's about a 2 1/2 hour drive from Brookdale.
For spectacular mountain scenery, this 17-mile loop may qualify as one of the best on the East Coast. The carriage roads gently switchback up the mountain face, revealing grander views of the surrounding mountains and lakes at each turn. From Castle Point, the nearly 360-degree view is breathtaking, as mountain ridges recede in the distance in all directions. the scenery never lets up. Good news: You don't nee dot be super-fit to enjoy this ride. Although there are some long climbs, most of the riding is on six-foot-wide converted carriage roads with gentle grades. Bring endurance, not technical riding ability. The trails are well maintained and heavily used. There is a $6 per car entrance fee on weekends and holidays.
NOTE: We typically only make this trip is there are enough people interesting in going. Trips to the park are sometimes cancelled due to weather, so watch your email before heading out. For those that don't mountain bike, you are welcome to hike. There are some beautiful hiking trails in the park. We typically get together for lunch after riding/hiking.
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Monmouth Battlefield - Some of our Saturday Series rides start from here. Monmouth Battlefield State Park is on Old (Business) NJ Rt 33 in Manalapan, 1.6 miles west of US Rte 9 in Freehold.
Mt. Misery - We occasionally do joint MTB rides with East Coast Bicycle Club (ECBC) at Mt. Misery. Meeting place is confirmed when rides are scheduled. One place we meet is the Wawa on the corner of Route 70 and Route 539, in the Whiting/Manchester area. Take Garden State Parkway to Exit 88 (Route 70 exit). At exit, take Route 70 West for approx 14 1/2 to 14 3/4 miles to intersection of Route 70 and Route 539 (traffic light at the intersection). There is an Exxon gas station across the road, and as of February 2006, there was construction by the intersection. From there, someone from ECBC leads us to the actual start, as once you get in the park, you have to make a bunch of lefts and rights on roads with no street signs. This is the Pine Barrens!
Ocean County Park is in Lakewood, NJ. From US Rt 9 take NJ Route 88 east 1 1/2 miles - park entrance on left. From Garden State Parkway south, exit 90, go right [northwest] on Chambersbridge Rd for 0.3 miles then left [west]on Rt 88 about 2 miles - park entrance on right. From Garden State Parkway north, exit 91, go right [southwest] on Chambersbridge Rd for 0.3 miles then right [west] on Rt 88 about 2 miles - park entrance on right.
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Shark River Park - State Highway 18 to Exit 8 for Route 33 West. Follow to Schoolhouse Rd (last traffic light before crossing the Garden State Parkway). Turn left onto Schoolhouse Rd. Follow to park entrance on the right. Garden State Parkway to Exit 100 (Route 33 East). Continue on Route 33 East to traffic light at Schoolhouse Rd (just east of the Parkway). Turn right onto Schoolhouse Rd. Follow to park entrance on the right. State Highway 35 to Highway 33 west to Schoolhouse Rd (last traffic light before crossing the Garden State Parkway). Turn left onto Schoolhouse Rd. Follow to park entrance on the right.
MTB Rides at Shark River Park: Easy, if you avoid or walk a couple tricky spots. This park is our newest local spot for mountain biking. This is a small park, easy to explore, hard to get lost. But, watch signs to avoid the trails reserved for foot traffic only. Check your tires after riding this park, as there are lots of briars/thorns.
Six Mile Run Park - We meet at Monmouth Battlefield State Park and carpool from there 1 hour before the scheduled start time at Six Mile Run. In other words, if the ride is scheduled to start at Six Mile Run at 9:30am, we will meet at Monmouth Battlefield State Park at 8:30am. It's about a 40 minute drive from Monmouth Battlefield State Park to Six Mile Run. The park is located off of Route 27 in Franklin Park. The entrance to the trail is located at the back end of the parking lot for the Scarlet Knights soccer field. From Monmouth Battlefield State Park, take route 522 from Englishtown thru Jamesburg and across the Turnpike and across Route 1 to Route 27 North.
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Tatum Park - Garden State Parkway to Exit 114. Go East on Red Hill Road (toward Middletown) and make left onto Van Schoick Road. At the first light turn right onto Holland Rd. The park is on the right. From Rt 35 in Holmdel turn west on Laurel Ave. At the light turn left onto Holland Rd. The park is on the right.
MTB Rides at Tatum Park: Easy, if you can make it up the hills (walking is allowed). This park has plenty of hills and can test the stamina of the best riders. However, a confident hybrid rider can conquer these non-technical trails.
Thompson Park, Lincroft - Garden State Parkway to Exit 109. From Southbound parkway, turn right on Route 520 (Newman Springs Rd); From Northbound parkway, turn left onto Route 520. Continue West on Route 520 2.2 miles to the park (past M.T. Thompson Park and Brookdale College) on left. State Hwy 34 to Route 520 east. Follow Route 520 east to the park. Use the main (eastern) entrance on the right.
MTB Rides at Thompson Park, Lincroft: Easy and Intermediate. Most of our ride at Thompson Park is on dirt roads and paths, and around the edges of fields. However, we always like to attempt the 1 mile of technical single-track (many roots) along the water. Hybrids may enjoy this ride by taking an alternate route when some of the group goes through the technical area.
Thompson Park, Jamesburg, on Forsgate Drive. From the East on Rt 522, turn left at Rt 612 entering Jamesburg, cross Railroad and park is first turn on left. From NJ Turnpike, Exit 8A, go east on Rt 612/Forsgate Dr. Park is on right just before the second set of railroad tracks (about 2 miles from the turnpike).
Tip Seaman Park, Tuckerton, on Route 9. Garden State Parkway South. Take Exit 58 for CR-539 toward Tuckerton/Little Egg Harbor. Turn left at CR-539. Turn right at West Main Street/US-9. Turn right at Lakeside Drive. We
occasionally
meet here for a joint ride with the East Coast Bicycle Club (ECBC).
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