Parked at Hillside in Chester, rode the trail to the end (suburbia) and back. I would rate maintenance as "very good" a few fallen trees but the cinder was in good shape. Nice traditional rail-trail scenery. Was glad to have doused myself with bug repellent - while riding I thought "what bugs" then when stopping for water they surely appeared! Some one else posted there was no view of the river - hah! There is - the "river" is the swamp to the north!

To add some adventure to this trail:

1) take the the side trail up to the right as suggested by Christopher Mac Kinnon (Mountain Biking in NJ book) - added a bit more adventure to the journey. Climbed in gear 1 (of 21) and steep descent.

2) traverse the "western" side of Black River - off 206. Only parking I could find was at the "Hunter Park" lot at the intersection of Furnace Rd and Tanners Brook Rd. From there I went back down Furnace - east - til I saw the first Patriots Path sign. Enter here and the path takes you west to Tanners Brook Rd. Exit, turn right, and follow it til the end (lightly traveled). Turn right at the end, and finally get to Rte 206. QuickCheck there has water etc. South on 206 over the Black River - and right at Patriots Path sign. The trail meanders then takes you back to Furnace Rd. Right to the parking lot. Patriots Path is not continuous through the WMA - it uses the road for say 1/2 mile (contrary to the official PP map). This portion is definitely bikable but for the intermediate rider. Pretty and terrain and path not over used.

You could park at QuickCheck or nearby and do the same circle route. Part of the trail in the western section uses an old Rail Trail embankment (google maps shows you the old rail line). I really enjoyed this small remote trail and was glad in the end I had done it.

This trail is in very good condition. We rode in from the Chester Twp end and about 1/2 mile in we came across a small area that was muddy, but passable without dismounting.

About 1 mile in, we came across a Black Bear on the trail. We did the right thing, we stopped and made noise and did not turn our backs to it. In about 30 seconds the bear got bored and walked into the woods, we waited for about 2 minutes then continued through.

There were very few insects which surprised us with all the recent rain.

We are planning ride this trail often.

" This is a very pleasant trail with no road crossings (or direct road access for that matter). The trail parallels the river, but is almost never within view of it. It is wide and has a packed base for the most part, making it very easy to walk/ride. The western end is more of an earthen path, and can collect water.
The trail is popular for horseback riding, and this WMA is heavily used during hunting seasons. Take proper precautions during the various hunting seasons. Bug protection is also recommended from spring to fall. I carry a ""head-net"" everywhere in the bug season, just in case!
This trail is also, for most of it's length, a part of the Patriots Path. Just before the northern end, the Patriots Path turns east, up the hill and away from the river, and reaches the Dover-Chester Rd (Rte 513) where there is parking. At the southern end, a road walk around a missing section of the PP to Rte 206 will connect with a new section of the Patriot Path to Cooper Mill and Chubb Park. A PP map is available from the Morris County Park Commision.
This trail is ideal for cross-country skiing, if we ever get snow in New Jersey!

Rates a 6 out of 10!

Fred"

"First of all, the best place to park if you're bringing your bike in by motor vehicle is at the designated parking area on Pleasant Hill Road in Chester. There's plenty of safe parking and the trailhead is right next to the lot. Also, this parking area is within ½ mile of Route 206 and 5 miles from Interstate Route 80.

The western end of this rail trail is not a ballast/cinder base; be prepared for mud during rainy seasons. The eastern end of the trail has a good packed base.

Equestrians heavily use the trail so be on the look out for horses. Also, there was much evidence of ATV/dirt bike use. The one rider I encountered slowed down when he passed me, but others might not be as courteous. By the way, ATV/dirt bikes are NOT permitted on the trail.

There really isn’t that much to see, but it is a very quiet place. I would guess that it's very buggy in the summer as it runs adjacent to wetlands.

If you're in the area, fine to take it in. If a long drive is involved there are more interesting places to ride.

The trail is great for families with children who want to experience off-road biking because there are NO street crossings."

"4 miles out, 4 back, bring binoculars for birding in the spring, runs along side of the pretty serpentine Black River, nice ride for little workout, level, cinder surface. Not a spectacular ride. Spotted Copperhead on trail during one ride, so be aware. Take the ride and then go into Chester Village for Lunch.
"