5 Beautiful Dog-Friendly Walks Near Rumson, NJ

Living near the Jersey Shore means we’re lucky to have some beautiful places to get outside with our dogs — from quiet wooded trails to waterfront walks with incredible views.

As a dog photographer, I’m always noticing places a little differently. I’m looking at the light through the trees, the colors changing with the seasons, the view around the next bend — and, of course, imagining how a dog would look in the middle of it all.

So I thought I’d start a new series exploring some of my favorite places to walk with a dog around Rumson and the surrounding Monmouth County area.

I’ll be visiting each of these walks myself and sharing a more detailed guide — where to park, what the trail is actually like, how challenging it is, what you should know before bringing your dog, and plenty of photographs from along the way.

For now, here are five that are on my list.

1. Claypit Creek at Hartshorne Woods

If I had to pick one to start with, Claypit Creek would probably be it.

This section of Hartshorne Woods feels wonderfully tucked away, with wooded trails and views toward the water. It gives you that feeling of getting out into nature without having to travel far from Rumson.

It’s also exactly the kind of place that catches my photographer’s eye — trees, texture, changing light and plenty of beautiful natural backgrounds.

Coming soon: I’ll take you along on my Claypit Creek walk, including where I parked, the route I took, trail conditions and, of course, what I photographed along the way.

2. Huber Woods Park

Huber Woods in nearby Locust is another beautiful option when you and your dog are craving trees rather than sidewalks.

There are several trails to explore, so it’s the sort of place you can return to without necessarily taking exactly the same walk every time.

I’m especially interested to see how this one changes through the seasons. I can already imagine those woods in autumn.

3. Hartshorne Woods at Rocky Point

For something a little more dramatic, Rocky Point is high on my list.

This part of Hartshorne Woods combines woodland trails with some spectacular views, and the old military structures give the landscape an entirely different character.

From a photography perspective, this one has enormous potential. A dog against that big landscape could make a pretty extraordinary portrait.

I’ll be scouting this one properly for a future post.

4. The Henry Hudson Trail & Popamora Point

Sometimes you don’t want a full-on hike. You just want a beautiful walk with your dog and somewhere interesting to look at along the way.

The Bayshore section of the Henry Hudson Trail around Atlantic Highlands gives us something different from the wooded trails — open sky, shoreline and water views.

I think this could be an especially beautiful walk early in the morning or toward the end of the day when the light gets softer.

Definitely one I want to explore with my camera.

5. Fair Haven Fields Natural Area

Just next door to Rumson, Fair Haven Fields offers a quieter, more everyday kind of nature walk.

And I actually think that’s important to include.

Not every adventure with your dog needs hiking boots and half a day set aside. Sometimes the best walks are simply the places where you can slow down, wander and let your dog sniff everything in sight.

I’ll be taking a closer look at this one too.

Come Walk Them With Me

Over the next few weeks, I’m going to explore these places one at a time.

Rather than simply telling you that a trail is “dog friendly,” I want these guides to tell you what it’s really like to walk there with your dog.

Where did I park? Was parking easy? How long was the walk? Was it steep? Muddy? Busy? Peaceful? Were there places to stop? What would I want to know before taking my own dog there?

And because I can’t help myself, I’ll also be looking at each location through a photographer’s eyes.

I’ll share some of the photographs and artwork I create along the way, along with my favorite little corners for beautiful light, interesting backgrounds and those moments when a dog stops being “just a dog on a walk” and suddenly looks like they belong in a painting.

First up: Claypit Creek.

Let’s see what we find.