Explore the best rated trails in Madison, NJ. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Timp-Torne Trail and Palmer Township Recreation Trail (Towpath Bike Trail) . With more than 115 trails covering 898 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.
This trail was perfect for me…I have some arthritis and the trail was accessible to me. I will definitely walk this trail again.
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.
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.
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!
Portions of the trail were super narrow to navigate and are almost more of a footpath. Signage isn’t the greatest, quite a few homeless camps along this section.
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
Parked in the Lawrenceville Fuel parking lot on Gordon Ave, crossed Gordon Ave to James Street, then headed Southwest - following the zigs and zags and ultimately heading North to Moore's Mill - Mt. Rose Road.
This is one of the more scenic trails I've been on in New Jersey - you will go thru parks, wooded areas, and past farmland. Trail markings are pretty good for the most part, though there are a few places that could use better signage...having a map or trail app with you can't hurt if it's your first time.
It's more hilly than your basic canal or rail trail, but nothing too hairy. There are a lot of unshaded areas, so sunblock is a good thing to take along. All in all, it's an enjoyable ride with varied scenery.
The pavement is too rough and also there are little hills that might be dangerous. Is great for bikes though
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