New Jersey has a surprising number of places to get out into nature and many different ways to do it. I mean it is the garden state for a reason. From hiking to bird watching to visiting the beach, you just need to look outside the parkway.
Another great way to get around is biking. The state has a lot of different bike trails for mountain bikers, but mountain biking isn’t for everyone, so what’s out there? This post will break down some of the options for those of us that aren’t into biking the rugged trails (and they usually end in a place to grab a beer too 😉).
None of these suggestions include a paved trail, so if you have a road bike with really skinny tires, the paths are well graded but you just need to be aware that they are dirt paths. Even if they are a former rail line. Because the trails are so well maintained and are quite flat these are great trails for any skill levels, good for the whole family and it doesn’t really matter what type of bike you have, including hybrid bikes.
Below are the best routes, in my opinion, that take you through open fields, along nature trails, wooded sections and give views of the south branch of the Raritan river.
Columbia Trail
The prettiest multi-use trail system in Hunterdon County, the Columbia Trail, a well-loved rail trail, runs from High Bridge to Bartley Road for 15 miles one-way. But you do not have to bike though whole thing (unless you looking for a longer ride of course), you can do a short distance and stop in one of the small towns along the way.
A great distance is to go from High Bridge to Long Valley and this way you can stop for a bite to eat in Restaurant Village and a beer. This would be 11.3-miles one-way but don’t let the numbers scare you off. There is a large parking lot in High Bridge that I have never had an issue finding parking at.
This trail is flat, packed dirt and is well used by people, dogs, horses and some wildlife. With the trees closing in, several bridges over pretty rivers and the occasional deer it’s a great way to spend a few hours.
Delware and Raritan Canal state park trail
The cool thing about this trail isn’t just it’s length (though it is tje longest completed multiuse trail in New Jersey) it’s the fact that you can bike in two different states on one trip.
On the New Jersey side this 77-mile trail spans 3 counties and can be broken into sections depending on where you want to bike that day and if you plan on getting a bike rental from a bike shop in places like Lambertville or Frenchtown. This is the longest completed multi-use pathway in New Jersey and an awesome trail system.
From Bull’s Island to Lambertville
I love this section. It’s 13.8-miles one way. Though it is probably one of the busiest sections it’s such a nice ride and then, once again, you can stop in Lambertville or cross over to New Hope for a drink and some food before heading back.
Check out my suggestions on where to eat in New Hope to take the guess work out of your trip.
And if you want a change of scenery you can take the towpath on the Pennsylvania side on the way back, though it’s a bit more haphazard than the Jersey side.
From Frenchtown to Bull’s Island
On the New Jersey side it is 8.9-miles one-way, but you can also make a loop of this for a total of 18.9-miles.
Frenchtown is a cute little town along the Delaware River and is home to Elizabeth Gilbert. If you want to just bike with no stops then it doesn’t matter which direction you go in.
But if you want to make a day out of it, park at Bull’s Island and head to Frenchtown for some lunch at places like the Lovin’ Oven.
Bike trails between New Brunswick and Trenton
This section of trail is 34-miles one way. Now I am not suggesting you do all that and back, unless you want to.
What I am suggesting is doing a section of that. Namely from New Brunswick to Princeton or and even shorter route of Rocky Hill to Princeton. These are a bit more manageable lengths and a really pretty section.
Trenton is a pretty unsafe city, though it’s the Capital of New Jersey, I don’t recommend hanging out there. But Princeton has of course the University that makes you feel like you stepped into a Harry Potter movie.
Other Highlights along the towpath
There are lots of ways to slice up this 77-mile trail to make for multiple trips with different views and places to check out. If history is your thing, make sure to check out Washington Crossing state park, where you can also find a large parking area there, if you would like to bike towards Lambertville and Frenchtown in the opposite direction mentioned above.
You can make a multitude of loop trail options to suit your needs, that’s what is so great about the towpath.
Concluding Thoughts
Not everyone wants to go mountain biking but many like to take out their bike for a nice, relatively easy ride along a beautiful bike route. These biking trails are a great place to get outside and see a lot of varied scenery all in one trip. They are also super easy to navigate without the use of trail maps.
If you are looking for more things to do while visiting New Jersey, check out my picks for best hiking trails in New Jersey.
