Explore the best rated trails in Clifton, NJ, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Ridgefield Rail Trail and Norwalk River Valley Trail . With more than 110 trails covering 753 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
On an especially brisk, early morning weekday in late October, I had the pleasure of riding my bike on this beautiful trail. There were plenty of walkers and joggers for the first couple of miles, and then me on my bike.
I started at the High Bridge trailhead. The gravel trail made me wish I had my old mountain bike, but after awhile you get used to it and realize your bike isn't going to fall apart. My hybrid did just fine. Just beyond Califon the trail became hard packed dirt and allowed for a smoother, faster ride. Due to time constraints I only went eleven miles out and then back, so I didn't get to discover what the last four or five miles are like.
The Raritan River views are absolutely amazing, and the fall colors dazzling! The sounds of the river and the chirping birds are an additional joy. After Califon the terrain is more suited to land occupied by charming homes and farmland, but there is still plenty of woodlands and river. If I hadn't stopped so many times to take photos and video, I probably could have done the full thirty mile round trip.
After a couple of hours and eleven miles I turned back. It was then that I started passing many, many bicyclists. I think they preferred the warmer temps of late morning to avoid the frozen fingers I had to endure. In fact, I was surprised at how many cars were in the High Bridge parking lot with their bike racks and many, like this Californian, with out of state plates which attests to this trail's fame and popularity. I'm just speculating, but this trail must be super busy on weekends.
What a gem of a trail! A+
The history of the Long Island Motor Parkway (as it was first recalled) is revealed with signage along the length of the Parkway, including the site of the Jacob Johnson Family Burial Ground who appears in the 1830 Census as a "free colored man." At least two of his sons served in a segregated unit in the Civil War. He was a farmer in the area until retirement when he lived very close to Alley Pond.
The length of the entire park roadway, designated as part of the Greenway, has been repaved.
Review other park features when you come. In another area of the larger Alley Pond Park is found the oldest and tallest tree in NYC, already growing at the time of George Washington, known as the Alley Pond Giant. Hiking trails throughout the Park are well maintained.
I can't believe I'm forced to give this trail two stars. It's not due to the location, the scenery or lack of variety. The trail gets five stars for these features. It's due to the condition of the trail. It's HORRIBLE!! Someone got the bright idea to put very large gravel down on the trail. which turned the trail into one that is only suitable for a mountain bike with suspension. Even then, it's not an easy ride. Yes, there are sections that are flat, but there are also sections that are so steep that you're forced to get off your bike to get up it. Though I'm not any sort of professional biker, I am someone who takes 70 mile road bike day trips on a regular basis. It took me five hours to go 36 miles - 18 miles out and 18 miles back. I had planned to do the entire trail out and back. If I'm having issues with a trail, there's good reason. I took my regular mountain bike (no suspension) and my body was shaken all over the place due to the trail condition. Until the trail condition is resolved, I sadly won't be returning to this trail again. It's a darn shame. On a positive note, I did see a bobcat!
* The trail description of the trail on the national park web page, the official Rails to Trails book for PA and other sources need to be updated to reflect the true condition(s) of the trail.
Was a great great trail! Got a little lost through Goshen, thank you kind gents for allowing us to follow you to the connection!
I started my journey in Bethpage Park ($8 to park for the day) and headed south. The Massapequa Preseve is beautiful and certainly the highlight of the trail. I loved how a small, charming stream ran alongside the trail for most of this leg of the trip.
Once I got to Sunrise Hwy, it was a bit confusing because the trail is not obvious to where it picks up on the other side. I found the trail and completed the last mile. Personally, I would not recommend going south of Sunrise Hwy. The trail becomes extremely bumpy and it ends unceremoniously at the corner of a busy intersection. On my next trip, I am avoiding this leg.
Finally I biked back up to Bethpage and continued north. The Trailview State Park portion of the trail is the best maintained, with a freshly paved roadway and beautiful greenery. I didn't go further than the TSP.
All in all it was a fun ride! My next trip I am parking where the trail intersects with Sunrise Hwy and take it all the way north.
Nice short ride but afterwords you can go south on Old Dock Road and relax on a bench and enjoy the water views. Then you can do the Hike and Bike trail again.
12 miles to a awesome payoff. NYC Skyline in the distance. A bit bumpy at times. Great way to get used to clipping in. You do it a lot. Lol Many road crossings. Half the ride under shade. Clean path. 2 hours there and back at 11MPH Enjoy the ride!
I took the Metro North out of the city up to Bronxville to cycle all the way to the north end of this trail, and had a very good time. While it's not exactly a quiet trail, running alongside the Bronx River Parkway for the majority of it, it is surprisingly secluded and peaceful.
I do have two warnings, which I've also submitted as edits to the description of this trail, so hopefully they'll appear above this review in the future.
One: there is a small section of gravel between Hartsdale and White Plains. I took my Brompton since I was expecting asphalt the whole way, and while it performed surprisingly admirably on the gravel, it was still rough enough to give me a tire puncture. Gravel bikes and hybrids will likely have no problems, but folding bikes and skinny-tire road bikes may want to be cautious in this section - it's unfortunately too long to simply walk it.
Two: there are a number of extremely low-clearance parts of this trail where it passes under the Bronx River Parkway. I'm 5'11" and I had to duck while *walking* my bike several times. These are all well signposted, but do *not* ride your bike under there unless you know exactly how tall you (and your helmet) are on your bike. Many of these crossings are also blind and narrow, so if you do ride through them, I'd recommend ringing your bell as you go to warn anyone approaching.
This trail could be one of the top 3 in the state, but with overgreen weeds sticking out, you have to duck not to get hit by branches. There are places where you need to get off the trail and use paved road to cross a route, but those "exits" are steep with thick tree roots and loose gravel on steep declines which makes it very scary, even if you walk the bike. Parts of the trail heads have overgrown vines which if they get caught on your pedal will send you flying. Many parts of the trail are very, very narrow, zero chance of 2 bikers being able to cross will riding, one has to stop and move over into the woods. This trail needs serious TLC.
The Sussex branch trail is just one part. There are many trails in the area, an overlook, and you can walk around Waterloo village. This is just one trail, the entire area has multiple sites and things to see.
Men hanging out along the path. Would not be heard if you shouted out
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Scan the QR code to get TrailLink on your phone
