On your left in the background is an amazing stone arch connecting an island. You will know when you cross over into Hunterdon County. Benches line the path approximately every half-mile, and mile markers are placed every ¼ mile. A lot of shade. I plan on going back again now that the folliage is out and probably again in the fall. 609 203-7976. Now, to the Pixies and Fairies. Right on Main St (513) right on Bridge St, left on Main, left into the large paved High Bridge Municipal Lot. On the Saturday before labor day 2020 it was swamped with people mid-day—many large groups spread out across the path not wearing masks. Busy on weekends but nice to see people out loving the trail. View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place. Trail is paved. Ken Lockwood Gorge Trail is a 3.8 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Califon, New Jersey that features a river and is good for all skill levels. HIGH BRIDGE, NJ. I rode this trail on Sept. 5th. You can continue on into Morris County from there (watch for the big dipsy do on the trail a little past the next bridge) once in Long Valley you get a bunch more places to grab food and drinks. There is also a restroom in Voorhees State Park, which is a couple of miles away and there is no fee to drive into that park. The gnome houses make this a fun family adventure. We rode unpaved trails in the past, but this one was the roughest we encountered. I cycled to the route’s southern most trailhead in High Bridge, Hunterdon County. However, due to the excessive deployment of fine gravel along some sections of the Morris County trail segment, and some rather rocky conditions just north of High Bridge, I would recommend that you not attempt to travel this trail on a road bike.I traveled from north to south and then returned to my starting point. This is a great trail with many different types of scenery: horse farms, waterfalls, industry, quaint towns, you name it. A few short portions are asphalt and the bridges are generally concrete. The trail gets more usage near High Bridge but a couple of miles away and you'll probably have long stretches to yourself. Go 0.1 mile and merge onto NJ 31 N. Go 1.5 miles, and turn right onto W. Main St. Go 1.1 miles, and turn right onto Bridge St. Then go 400 feet, and turn left onto Main St. Go 0.2 mile, and look for parking on the left. At the beginning of the ride, from High Bridge, pay attention to both sides of the trail. 0.05 Cross Mill Street. When you come out to Rt 513 near the nursery there were no signs of where the trail picked up again. The folliage was just beginning to sprout so we had a great veiw of the gorge all the way through. Columbia Rail Trail Trail map . Highly recommended for biking/running. I was on my very old Mt Bike with a town and country tire and it work great for me. For the most part the trail surface is smooth and easy to ride with our hybrid bikes. 31N. The quiet, scenic trail runs for 7 miles in Hunterdon County, starting in High Bridge and continues through Washington Township into Morris County for a total of 16.2 miles. With regards to parking: the lot across Main Street from the trail head was completely full when we got there. At this point, there is a tremendous drop towards the river on your right. from the trail's southern terminus. You'll go under a bridge and it will end just up ahead. Easy gravel path, no hills no challenge, at least the part I rode... One of my favorites. If you stand on the tracks and look ahead to the right, you will see a track stopper, the same from back in Flanders. Rates an 8 out of 10! We love this trail..anytime of year. Again, we are very fortunate that we live right across the street from this trail; we took it for granted for a little but plan on making it a weekend thing this summer :-). It is picturesque and a great place to cycle or walk. stretch as much as we use to! It was threatening rain and I barely made it before it came a downpour. Local legend says the town was originally called California, but a sign painter ran out of room and abbreviated the name.Another 6 miles up the trail is Long Valley, where you’ll find diners south of the trail on NJ 24. Overall, I had a great experience on this trail and I would highly recommend it to anyone. I have gone here alone and with family and friends-- always a fun time. There were over 100 trees cleared from the trail. It was closed for a year, but the improvement has been worth the wait. Even though most of it is shady, we like going there on a day that is on the cooler side because it is a trip to the end and back. Our trip started in High Bridge and for our turn-around point we chose Long Valley, where a small detour led us to Long Valley Pub & Brewery for a mid-ride refreshment and snack on their outdoor patio. There are plenty of resting spots, and the trail can be easily modified for those looking for a shorter jaunt. You will notice a very slight incline at this first leg of the journey (which becomes a very welcomed subtle downhill ride on your return). Close • Posted by 1 minute ago. 15.1 Trail ends at CR 625/Bartley Road. There's a mini bridge right after it.This part of the trail is quiet, nothing but the river and wetlands following you and wildlife, such as dogs, cats, squirrels, the occasional turkey vulture and sheep and horse in the farmlands.Then you'll come across a car junkyard and a nice bridge to rest on. Keep your eyes open as you will see so many awesome wonders on this trail! Today on my trail adventure I was able to take a photo of a fawn in the river and some turtles. This week I ride Bartley to High Bridge and back, just over 30 miles of great riding. The trail can now be ridden from end to end without detours. Make a left onto Cokesbury and then a right to continue on (Raritan) River Road. A few small dips remain and we experienced several areas that were a little muddy. The trail is very easy to follow and you will definitely have company while on it. There is a waterfall at Union Forge. It goes through many neighborhoods and provides many detours to town centers, bridges and swimming holes.The Califon train station is ahead on the right later on and it's now a historical museum, open the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month from May to December. The Columbia Trail is a rail trail in rural northwestern New Jersey.It was created from portions of the former Central Railroad of New Jersey High Bridge Branch and stretches from High Bridge, in Hunterdon County, through Washington Township, in Morris County for a total of 15.1 miles (24.3 km). Continue a couple more miles to Califon. Columbia Trail (c) NJ Trails Association, 2013. "This was our first trail experience, and it was a blast. I parked at the old Bloomville station, and was the only car in the lot on a Sunday afternoon, which I found immediately appealing. ", "This was my third ride on the Columbia Trail in two years. Flat and beautiful ride. The trail surface was in good shape even though it had been raining for awhile. We started in High Bridge NJ..Trail has a slight incline in both directions,but nothing to speak of..At first you ride high above the river..nice views.Just watch where you're going you don't want to ride off the side.There is a lot to see,different scenery along the way,waterfalls ,woods,river,residential..bridges..We seen a few deer.Mostly shaded.most of trail is wide,as we kept riding further ,some parts were a little narrower.but not bad.It started getting little muddy,had been raining so we ended up turning around the 11th mile & rode back(22 miles total) We noticed that towards the end,the trail wasn't kept up as well & didn't see any mile markers. Merge onto NJ 31 N, go 1.9 miles, and turn right onto W. Main St. Go 1.1 miles, and turn right onto Bridge St. Then go 400 feet, and turn left onto Main St. Go 0.2 mile, and look for parking on the left.To reach the southwest trailhead from I-78 E, take Exit 16. I rode on a breezy, sunny day and there were not a lot of people. The trail is well kept and actually on this trip they were putting down some hard pack in a couple of low areas. Log in or sign up to leave a comment log in sign up. Even at its steepest point, the grade is no more than 1.5 degrees. I have yet to discover the who or the why of this whimsical display but it makes for a very fun, interesting ride. You ride through woods, wild fields, residential areas; you get to see the river, which has unsightly brown water. (They can usually be counted on for a meal if i stop by late in the day) I find the trail beautiful in all seasons, and the HighBridge end ( i start at the Train Station Museum in Califon)is enjoyable for 'touring the town', and seeing if i can actually make it 'back up' some of the steep streets. There are multiple places to pick up the Columbia Trail (High Bridge, Califon, Long Valley, Flanders) but this post is for biking or running from Califon to High Bridge and back. Parking lots were jammed too—fortunately we parked down in high bridge and walked up via Columbia Trail. Maps are available in the map Kiosks as well as Cycle Craft ( a great bike shop on 513, not far from the Schooley's Mountain parking lot). i loved the fact their was a place to grab a bite to eat along the ride. There are multiple places to pick up the Columbia Trail (High Bridge, Califon, Long Valley, Flanders) but this post is for biking or running from Califon to High Bridge and back. The Park Commission is in the process of putting in mile markers continuing from the Hunterdon County line to the Schooley's Mountain Road Parking lot ( A total of 4.1 miles). It features a mile long boardwalk and 110 foot suspension bridge, For AT hiking enthusiasts, this is a popular trail, regardless of skill level. Had a great lunch in Califon before returning to our car. Unfortunately, east of Califon horses (Clydesdales no less! Little places to get something to eat in both towns. Everything about the Columbia Trail is just right to me. I just did the section starting at the eastern terminus near Flanders and ending at the Morris/Hunterdon border parking lot. Trail is paved to here, and beyond is crushed stone. Some of them even have their very own miniature mailbox!! You actually get a better view of the Raritan from the road than the trail. Someone stated this trail is inclined in both directions- this is untrue. Freight service continued until 1975. You have to go around to the back of the old Welsh Farms property to find it. My bike is a three wheel "Recumbent Tadpole Trike" that was designed as an off road "Fat Bike". Someone has gone to a lot of trouble to create a miniature land of makebelieve along this trail. Columbia Trail Flanders-High Bridge NJ C ride led by Glen Barnes. The trail was in really good shape, especially considering the hurricane, tropical storm, and several days of rain that have hit this trail recently. Directions on the website are easy-to-follow and parking convenient. 0 comments. Right as you enter, on the right the tracks begin again. DON'T MISS: Several miles north of High Bridge, the Columbia Trail passes over Ken Lockwood Gorge Bridge, built 80 feet above the gorge floor. It also has some nice views of behind Long Valley that you wont see from riding on the main roads. Most of the surface is crushed stone. Of course, this means that the return back to Washington Township is mostly uphill, again with the steepest assent occurring in the first three miles of the return trip as you leave High Bridge. share. Little ponds with turtles/frogs, birds, trickling creeks flowing to the river which is almost always in sight; it is beautiful. From Flanders to mid-way of the trail it's mostly singletrack and grass and gravel. We were on the trail for about 5 hours and with the weather being so beautiful it was a whole lot of fun. Great family past time or with freinds. Started at High Bridge, decided to walk for my first visit. Rode this trail from Long Valley to High Bridge & back on 05/16/10. Not a single car passed us - and about 2 miles of the road is currently closed to traffic. Russ G. Biked on 5/23/15 After experiencing biking on this trail, I felt compelled to write my review. At the top of the hill is the New Jersey Transit High Bridge Station. The reason the parking lots were full of cars and visitors is proof enough that a response is necessary to correct false statements about this trail!! It’s mostly covered by canopy so if you’re there in the summer you’d be better off loading up on bug spray rather than sunscreen. The result will be a great local network that would make any UK preservation group proud! Other than avoiding the horses' droppings, the trail in the latter southern stage became more scenic as I passed over the south branch of the Raritan River several times. Back on the main trail, you’ll soon pass the falls at the Lake Solitude dam and begin following the South Branch, one of the state’s best fly-fishing rivers.Not far upstream, the trail passes through the Ken Lockwood Gorge Wildlife Management Area for 2.5 miles. It did not interfere with our enjoyment of this beautiful trail. to explore the old mill and farm towns, antique shops and townsfolk.I counted 116 trail users in 16 miles. For the segment of the Columbia Trail described here, I used my road bike and it was okay, but I think a wider-tired bike would be better. High Bridge, NJ 08829, Phone: 908.638.6455 SITE ICONS: Bike Trails Butterflies/Dragonflies Handicap Accessible Hiking Trails Ideal for beginning birders Parking Picnic Restrooms Wildflowers For more information : http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=4901 William Honachefsky Jr Union Forge Heritage Association. I've seen all types of bikes on here; fat tires, road bikes, hybrids, MTBs. Take the trail a couple miles over a restored bridge and stop and read the marker about the great train wreck of 1885. From there north the trail is mostly in the woods, although it occasionally passes residential and agricultural areas. Today I rode the 15 miles up from High Bridge, but for a change of pace I detoured onto River Road in Califon on the return trip, riding right along the river all the way back. Your donation will help us to continue connecting more people to trails around the country. The trail has been widened and a base of 3/4 inch stone from 2-4" deep, covered with an additional 2" of packed stone dust, has been laid down. To reach the west, or High Bridge, end of the trail from I-78, take the exit for State Route 31 North. All is the reviews below are pretty much on point but I must add that there are no usable bathrooms. My friends growing up benches are placed every so often along the way through was. 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