The Columbia Trail is one of the best rail-trails in New Jersey for biking or hiking.
We first biked the Columbia Trail last summer and really enjoyed this easy trail through a very pretty area. (see “Biking: Columbia Trail – Ken Lockwood Gorge 2011“)
While it was finally a decent temperature for hiking (the heat this summer in Jersey… oh my), we opted for a bike ride again as my cranky sore foot still needs a break.
So we chucked the bikes on the car and headed out.
>> For a detailed guide see our main Columbia Trail page <<
The rail-trail is about 15 miles each way, from High Bridge in Hunterdon County to Bartley in Morris County.
It’s built on an old railway line so while mostly level it does head slightly uphill from High Bridge… just enough to feel it.
Though it’s technically downhill on the ride back, we only felt the downhill on the last few miles back (perhaps it’s “uphill. both ways.” …like Grandpop used to say.)
It’s crossed by a few streets and then after that it travels under a leafy canopy as it passes woods, farms, backyards and through a few towns.
There are several bridges to cross and the gorge can be seen below while in Ken Lockwood.
There is a road that runs down along the gorge which we considered checking out, but we knew several sections were still too rocky from Irene and we’d have to walk our bikes some, so we just did an out-and-back on the main trail.
There are a few road crossings to make, but nothing really busy.
A section of road biking in Long Valley we did while biking the Columbia Trail last year has been eliminated due to the completion of a trail section around a construction site.
There was a Mill Pond map pamphlet in the kiosk in Long Valley that showed a few short hiking trails branching off the Columbia Trail there.
And not far from High Bridge is the trailhead for the Steelworkers Greenway hiking trail.
30.4 miles. High Bridge to it’s end in Bartley, and back.
Bonus:
On the way out of High Bridge and almost back to Rt 31 is Gronsky’s Milk House. Two words for you: “waffle bowl“.
Well, make that six words: “chocolate peanut butter ripple waffle bowl“.
There are picnic tables out back to sit in the shade by a rushing stream whilst stuffing your face with ice cream. Nice.