This trail follows the route of a former rail line built to connect inland farms with Keyport’s busy waterfront. In 1880, a line from Freehold to the Keyport Pier was completed, allowing fresh farm products to be transported quickly to shipping points along the bay. By 1889, the line was extended to Atlantic Highlands by the Freehold and Atlantic Highlands Railroad, later part of the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey. This expanded rail access gradually reduced the need for long piers reaching into the bay, reshaping how goods and passengers moved through the region. Rail service remained a vital part of Keyport’s infrastructure for decades. Passenger service ended in 1966, and freight operations continued until 1984. With the rail line no longer in use, the corridor was ultimately transformed into the Henry Hudson Trail—preserving its legacy as a route of connection. Standing here today, the path beneath you follows that same historic line—once carrying goods and passengers, now guiding exploration, exercise, and reflection.