The trail is named for Henry Hudson, who explored the harbor at Atlantic Highlands and the Raritan Bayshore coastline in the early 1600s.

The northern section runs 12 miles east from the Aberdeen-Keyport border to Highlands, north of and roughly parallel to Route 36.

The property for the inland sections is currently railbanked by New Jersey Transit (NJT), which leases the line for trail usage to the Monmouth County Park System.

If future economic conditions warrant resuming operation, NJT reserves the right to restore rail service at any time.

The northern segment of the inland section runs from Wyncrest Road in Marlboro north to Stillwell Street in Matawan, generally paralleling Route 79 for much of the way.

[1] East of the Atlantic sections terminus at Avenue D, a one mile (2 km) on-road detour is required to connect to the Bayshore extension to Highlands.

The Marlboro Township section of the rail line began in the 1860s as the Monmouth County Agricultural Railroad.

The initial discussion concerning the construction of the railroad began in the 1840s, as an improved means of hauling produce to Keyport docks.

[10] According to the Sierra Club, should the transit agency opt to restore commuter service along the line, it would be the first instance in U.S. history where a rail trail reverted to railway usage.