Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in New Jersey, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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Rode from Sun retreats cape may wildwood. Rode to the Cape May zoo (free to get in, nice break and has food), nice flat ride, not crowded, not a lot of scenery about 20 miles round trip. However a lack of trees for some shade, so I recommend an early morning ride or early evening ride, mid day is very hot. Also, would be nice for some benches along the way. Ride it every time I am down here. Overall I would recommend.
Not too surprising that this trail hasn’t seen a review since 2018. I parked at the parking lot just off US-46 near the Pequest Trout Hatchery. Heading southwest from this parking lot towards Buttzville, it’s just over 2.5 miles one way. The majority of the trail is rather rocky, so if you’re on a bike you’ll be rattling quite a bit. There are stretches of just grass and less bumpy dirt / gravel, so it’s not all bad. The last tenth of a mile as you near the end of the trail on the map it gets a bit narrower / bumpy / poorly maintained, but then you stumble upon an old rail bridge and crossing. Heading northeast from the Hatchery parking lot, at first isn’t that bad. You cross a bridge quickly, but about a quarter mile past that the trail becomes narrow and overgrown. Thorn bush branches stick out and it’s pretty much impossible to not hit them. I turned back before making it to the northeastern terminus. You’ll be on a slow decline heading west, and a slow incline heading east. Overall, I likely wouldn’t go out of my way again to ride on this trail.
Not too surprising that this trail hasn’t seen a review since 2018. I parked at the parking lot just off US-46 near the Pequest Trout Hatchery. Heading southwest from this parking lot towards Buttzville, it’s just over 2.5 miles one way. The majority of the trail is rather rocky, so if you’re on a bike you’ll be rattling quite a bit. There are stretches of just grass and less bumpy dirt / gravel, so it’s not all bad. The last tenth of a mile as you near the end of the trail on the map it gets a bit narrower / bumpy / poorly maintained, but then you stumble upon an old rail bridge and crossing. Heading northeast from the Hatchery parking lot, at first isn’t that bad. You cross a bridge quickly, but about a quarter mile past that the trail becomes narrow and overgrown. Thorn bush branches stick out and it’s pretty much impossible to not hit them. I turned back before making it to the northeastern terminus. You’ll be on a slow decline heading west, and a slow incline heading east. Overall, I likely wouldn’t go out of my way again to ride on this trail.
Parking in Dennis Township is very limited. There is an alternate parking lot off Hagan Rd and a good sized parking lot off Rt. 83.
This was my first time riding the Loantaka Brook trail. It is late March 2023. I found the trail to be asphalt and smooth with beautiful creeks & dense wooded & nature scenery. On weekdays the trail is not very crowded but because the trail is somewhat narrow I can see it would be challenging to share the trail with walkers & hikers. I actually got lost trying to find my way back to the parking lot. The trail is not very well marked. If you are new to this trail I suggest you go online & review the trail map.
I have done this numerous times. It has been my go to for years to get a good walk in..It’s best for walking. It gets very crowded. There’s not enough room for two people to walk and I’d like to go by. Someone is always moving over.
This is my favorite of the New Jersey trails I've been on. Starting out from the High Bridge end, the first few miles are on a slight upward climb that you barely notice, but you're glad to have on the return trip. The scenery is nicely varied ...every section has its own personality and there are many photo ops along the way. The trail is well maintained and away from traffic noises.
The trail is a bit more rugged and not as well maintained as the other NJ trails, though a hybrid bike will do the job. West of Blairstown Airport there are a few short sections where you have to get off the bike and deal with steep embankments. There are also a few weird places that seem like dead ends...you come to a road crossing and need to follow it a bit before the trail resumes on the other side. They could use a little signage in these areas...having Google Maps on my phone came in handy on a few occasions.
A good starting point for the Western section is the park at 5 Foot Bridge Lane in Blairstown, and for the Eastern area there's a small lot at 106 County Rd 519 in Newton.
Don't even think of going if it's been raining in the last few days. The last time I went there I parked at the Foot Bridge Lane lot in Blairstown and headed East...I slogged through and around mud flats for a few miles before I came to an impassable one and had to turn around. You also learn pretty quickly to be on the lookout for horse calling cards.
Other than these drawbacks it can be a nice ride...people you meet are friendly and for the most part you're away from traffic noises and off the beaten path.
The trail was originally a tow path...in its early days mules would walk along it towing barges through the canal, usually carrying coal from Pennsylvania to the New York area. The canal is seventy-five feet wide and eight feet deep. It was dug in the 1830s by hand - mostly by laborers brought in from Ireland. They worked under brutal conditions from sunup til sundown; some of them had stonemason skills and their cobblestone spillways still survive.
So how long did it take 3,000 Irish laborers to dig the canal? Only three freaking years! Next time you ride this trail, mentally drink a toast of fine Irish whiskey to the good folks who labored so we can ride!
I mountain biked this short but beautiful trail before the 2012 Sandy washout. I took it from Ogdensburg to Beaver Lake Road (walk the tracks the last 300 feet) and then headed down RT 23 and left on 517 to Ogdensburg for a easy loop ride. I hiked the trail 1/13/2023 and I am happy to say that the collapsed section now has a narrow berm on the south side that can be biked (technical) or just walked. There are some trees down along the trail (hop some and carry over some) and some muddy areas by the rock cuts and some passable streams, but the views are worth a try. If you scramble up the rock mound you have great views of Ogdensburg and Sparta, and when you travel under the power lines you have a great view of RT 23 and Franklin. I think the rock cuts are deeper than the ones on the Paullinskill Trail and the elevated rail bed section are amazing. If you want to continue further into the Hamburg Mountain Wildlife Area, you can hop off this trail when it gets close to RT 23, and you will be across the street from their parking area. There is a also great little convenience store at the start of the trail in Ogdensburg as well a a new local bar across the street.
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