Trails: Hedgerow, Old Parsonage, and Red Trails
Hike Location: Monmouth Battlefield State Park
Geographic Location: west of Freehold, NJ (40.26369, -74.32036)
Length: 3.6 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: September 2025
Overview: A loop hike through a major Revolutionary War battlefield.
Park Information:
https://nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/monmouthbattlefieldstatepark.html
Hike Route Map:
On The Go MapPhoto Highlight:
Hike Video: (coming April 17, 2026)
Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of US 9 and SR 33 BUS in Freehold, take SR 33 BUS west 1.6 miles to the signed park entrance on the right. Turn right to enter the park, and park in the large parking lot in front of the Visitor Center.
The hike: The first 2 years of the Revolutionary War did not go well for the American Patriots. Victories were almost nonexistent, the British captured the American capital at Philadelphia in September 1777, and the American Continental Army nearly starved and froze to death at their Valley Forge camp during the winter of 1777-78. But on February 6, 1778, a major ray of hope shined through the gloom: France signed a treaty of alliance with the United States, and several weeks later both France and Spain declared war on the British. For the first time, the upstart American patriots had some official European help.
Worried they would be trapped inland by the new alliance, the British abandoned Philadelphia on June 18, 1778 and marched their troops to the safety of their navy in New York City. Although he was outnumbered nearly 2 to 1, Patriot General George Washington knew the British would be exposed during their march. Thus, he chose to ambush the British at Monmouth, NJ, which features some of the highest hills between Philadelphia and New York.
The ambush happened on June 28. When British General Sir Henry Clinton realized a large number of American troops were in the area, he counter-attacked aggressively, hoping to destroy the American Continental Army once and for all. At first the British advanced westward rapidly, and the Americans traded ground for time. But eventually the British ended up in a field where they came under attack from 2 directions: General Washington to the west and General Nathanael Greene to the south. At 11pm, the British withdrew to continue their march to New York, and the Americans had won a battle against British regular troops for the first time.
Since 1961 the battlefield at Monmouth has been protected as Monmouth Battlefield State Park. An impressive Visitor Center sits atop Coombs Hill where General Greene was stationed, and it features many exhibits and an interpretive video that ends with a live view of the battlefield. The park also features 13 trails that total nearly 18 miles. This hike tours the main battlefield, but it also explores the wooded areas around Coombs Hill, thus allowing you to experience both the human history and natural scenery this park has to offer.
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| Trailhead at back of Visitor Center |
From the 2 interpretive signs at the back (north side) of the Visitor Center, notice the footbridge downhill and to the left; that bridge will be our return route. Angle right and start heading downhill to the north to find a second eastern footbridge that is not visible from the Visitor Center. A very informative interpretive guide is available in the Visitor Center for the first part of this hike, and numbered posts correspond to points of historical interest in the guide. |
| Eastern bridge over wetlands |
As you cross the eastern bridge, notice the wetlands that make these bridges necessary. These wetlands were critical to the battle's outcome: they prevented the British in front of you from charging General Greene's artillery position atop Coombs Hill behind you, thereby eliminating one of the Americans' 2 angles of attack. After crossing the bridge, turn right at the next 2 intersections to begin a gradual climb into an apple orchard. While hiking through an apple orchard may seem unusual and uninspiring, this land was being farmed at the time of the battle. Thus, the orchard gives the correct historical ambiance.
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| The Hedgerow |
At 0.5 miles, you come to an area known as The Hedgerow. The Hedgerow was the center of the battlefield, and it changed hands several times with the British charging from the right and the Americans retreating to the left. A reconstructed wooden fence stands here today, and the next segment of the hike takes you north along this fence. The Hedgerow is stops #3 and #4 in the interpretive guide, and the guide gives detailed information about the fighting that happened here.
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| North end of the Hedgerow |
Where the dirt orchard access road turns right, continue straight to keep heading north on mowed-grass trail. The trails through the historic battlefield are unmarked, so the interpretive guide helps keep you on course. At 0.8 miles, you reach the north end of The Hedgerow; railroad tracks and a road can be seen just ahead. Do not cross the railroad tracks or road, but turn left to walk west, still on unmarked mowed-grass trail.
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| Interpretive sign marking The Parsonage |
Turn left again just past 1 mile, and reach the former site of The Parsonage at 1.1 miles. The Parsonage was the turning point in the battle, and it marks the furthest advance of the British: retreating Patriots used the parsonage's shelter and good sight lines to hold their ground. Nothing of The Parsonage remains today, but interpretive signs describe the action here.
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| Western bridge over wetland |
The trail curves right and then left as it goes up and over a low ridge before descending gradually. At 1.6 miles, you cross the western bridge over the wetland, and the Visitor Center comes in sight uphill directly ahead. If you are getting tired, running out of daylight, or only want to tour the battlefield, you could head directly to the Visitor Center and conclude your hike now. To also see this park's natural areas, angle right as you head uphill to find the start of the Red Trail. |
| Start of the Red Trail |
Natural area hiking trails at this park are marked with brown carsonite posts bearing color-coded stickers, and no less than 4 different colors appear on the first post. The White, Green, and Yellow Trails are all shorter versions of the Red Trail, and I followed the Red Trail for its entire distance. All 4 trails head west on a wide dirt/grass path with Spotswood South Brook close on the right. The forest is young and brushy, making the scenery less than attractive.
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| Hiking near Spotswood South Brook |
First the Yellow and then the Green Trails exit left. At 2.2 miles, the Red Trail angles left to head away from the brook and enter the nicest forest on this hike. Large old trees live here. A brief steep climb brings you to the uplands. Where the White Trail continues straight, turn right to stay on the Red Trail.
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| Old Coombs Farm field |
The southern arm of the Red Trail takes you through the grassy former fields of the old Coombs Farm. Highway noise from SR 33 filters in from the right. At 3.2 miles, turn right to stay on the Red Trail. A final segment through a sunny field brings you to the park entrance road, where a left turn and short road walk return you to the parking lot to complete the hike.
