Monmouth
Middletown Township
Tatum Park
Middletown Township, NJ 07748
Last Updated: 02/20/2013
Overview of Selected Trail
Tatum Park contains 366 acres of beautiful woods and fields located in Middletown Township just minutes from the Garden State Parkway. There are over six miles of trails that meander through red and chestnut oak and tulip trees. Across Red Hill Road is Monmouth County’s Deep-Cut Gardens, 54 acres of gardens and greenhouses planned as a living catalogue of native and cultivated plants where visitors can tour the gardens and ask on-site staff horticultural questions. For further information, visit: Monmouth County Parks.
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Distance:
Total of 6.3 miles of trail in Tatum Park, and additional garden paths in Deep Cut Gardens across Red Hill Road from Tatum Park.
Time:
Exploration of Tatum Park could take two hours.
Markings:
Trailheads in Tatum Park are marked with wood signposts, but intersections are not all identified with trail names. Trails considered “easy” are marked with green circles, and those considered “moderate” with blue squares.
Trail Usage:
Walking/Hiking, Horseback riding, Dogs permitted on leash, Mountain biking
Elevation:
Slight uphill grades in some areas.
Difficulty:
Easy to Moderate
Parking:
30 parking places are available at the Red Hill Activity Center and 50 spaces at the Holland Activity Center.
Tips:
There are short boardwalks in the marshy areas but boots are still a wise choice.
Amenities:
There are restrooms at both Red Hill and Holland Activity Centers. There are also playgrounds and picnic tables at the centers.
Directions:
To Tatum Park, Red Hill Activity Center: Take Garden State Parkway to Exit 114. Southbound, turn left onto Red Hill Road; northbound, turn right onto Red Hill Road and follow 1.5 miles to Park entrance on the left side.
To Tatum Park from State Highway 35: Take State Highway 35 to Kings Highway: Southbound, turn right; northbound, use jughandle to turn left. Follow King’s Highway to first traffic light (Red Hill Road). Turn right and follow up hill to Park entrance on the right side.
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Holly Grove Trail, starting at the real of the playground adjacent to the Red Hill Activity Center, is an easy 0.6 mile loop through a magnificent grove of holly trees. Dogwood Hollow Trail passes by streams and through an intimate forest setting (.89 mile). Indian Springs trail is a country stroll beside Red Hill Road, then into the Tatum woods (1.2 miles). The multi-use Tatum Ramble trail explores both field and forest, and passes stands of towering tulip poplars and old beeches and oak (1.4 miles). Meadow Run, also multi-use, traverses expansive meadows (2.3 miles).
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Open fields and winding trails with Red and Chestnut oaks throughout. Look for Tulip Poplar trees in the park. The park has a variety of color in every season.
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The land once belonged to the Tatum Family, which was in the glass manufacturing business and had factories in Millville and Keyport. The family donated 73 acres in 1973 and Monmouth County bought the rest of the land. The family summer home now serves as the Holland Activity Center.
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