Description
The Monroe Township Bikeway is a 6.36-mile connection between the suburban communities of Glassboro and Williamstown. In Glassboro the trail passes through the dense forest of the Glassboro Fish and Wildlife Management Area and then transitions through quiet residential neighborhoods and community open spaces. The trail follows the former right-of-way of the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Line that served the New Jersey shore points of Atlantic City, Ocean City, Wildwood and Cape May. The Seashore Line did not follow a stream valley like so many eastern rail corridors; the result is a trail that is arrow-straight for long distances.
Beginning in Glassboro the trail cuts east and passes a few commercial and industrial properties before it enters a hardwood forest within the Glassboro Fish and Wildlife Management Area. The heavy tree canopy helps keep this section of the trail cooler during summer. The forest thins out to a single-file line of trees on both sides before crossing Monroe Avenue. After the street crossing, the trail returns to a heavily wooded forest for the next 1.5 miles.
The Monroe Township Bikeway emerges from the forest at the edge of a residential neighborhood. The route becomes more open, as it passes residential neighborhoods for about 0.5 mile before returning to forested shade. After crossing North Tuckahoe Road, you pass the Williamstown Middle School complex, with ball fields and a football stadium. The trail crosses Clayton Road and runs parallel to Railroad Avenue for a short distance, and you pass community ball fields.
The trail reaches an unassuming end at Blue Bell Road across the street from the Williamstown Police Station. A plaque at the Williamstown end of the bikeway designates it as the George F. McDonald Sr. Memorial Bike Path. McDonald served as mayor of Williamstown from 1975 to 1978. A convenience store at the end of the trail is perfect for stocking up on refreshments before returning to Glassboro.
Parking and Trail Access
Parking is available at Williamstown Middle School (561 Clayton Road) on the east end of the trail.
Best flat trail around
By
wilsonae
in
June, 2013
This is a lovely trail for the first five miles, until it hits suburbia near the Williamstown end, at which point the asphalt gets choppy and there are way more street crossings. But the woods in the first five miles, the lack of people, and the beauty ...
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For Better Parking
By
obrats
in
June, 2013
A better choice of parking is the Williamstown Middle School. Many people (and groups) park there and set out for a ride, walk, or run. https://www.facebook.com/groups/williamstownnjsbr/
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FAMILY FRIENDLY!
By
ditull
in
May, 2013
NICE, FLAT, EASY TRAIL,ONLY 2- BUSY ROAD CROSSINGS, BUT, ALL ARE WELL MARKED! GREAT TO TAKE KIDS, RICHMAN'S ICE CREAM ON WILLIAMSTOWN END AND RITA'S WATER ICE ON GLASSBORO END!
TRAIL IS FAIRLY LONG AND WOODED,IT IS SMOOTH WITH LITTLE GRADE, IT ALSO HAS ...
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