Find the top rated snowmobiling trails in New Jersey, whether you're looking for an easy short snowmobiling trail or a long snowmobiling trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a snowmobiling trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
August 2021, hot and clear weather
This is a fine trail (unpaved) I had on my radar for several years. I started at the nice parking lot in Frenchtown, NJ with a flat tire getting the bike out of the car. Good thing I bring spare tubes because the bike shop right there was closed on a midweek afternoon. Probably out riding. Anyway it's a cute village with lots of places for refreshments which I did not need as I rode south, in lots of shade next to the river. I planned to go all the way to where George Washington and his crew crossed the Delaware all those years ago.
This is where I made my tactical mistake. Though I brought 2 large water bottles and one protein bar, it was not enough. I did traverse, back and forth, two smaller bridges on the way down. One was too small for vehicles, bikes and walkers only with wonderful views of the valley and river. (The car bridge near GW's crossing is the most narrow grid-deck bridge I have ever seen. I literally stopped my car in fear as an opposite driver passed me.) Out of water and tired I thought I should stop and have lunch with a coffee and refill the water bottles. Then I said, nah, just keep going, intent on the next place to pop up.
On the Pennsylvania side there was no next place to refuel my body. After 36 miles on gravel and dirt I was getting bogged down, dehydrated and running on empty. My hot body required several short rest stops and once I even found a place to lay in the river to cool off. The last 5 miles back to the crossing into Frenchtown was agony. I kept cursing, "where the f^%& is this bridge?" One last rest on some grass was almost a nap, and it was right next to a restaurant for which I was underdressed!
Finally I made it back to the car, loaded the bike, and when I went to a gas station to buy some food and drink BEFORE I went to get some dinner, the counter girl looked at me wide-eyed and said "Are you alright?" "Yeah, I've been biking," I barely replied before chugging the Gatorade.
Always bring addresses for at least two (2) parking areas and refuel before you need it; don't just expect there to be another store nearby. But it was a really good ride with nice scenery.
We come to Cape May every summer and this bike path is awesome! I start every day biking this path. Thank you!
Really nice ride when you can get to the trail, lots of secondary route options and rest areas (bring picnic) Gravel sections not too deep but some care is needed 2 on a scale 1-10 for gravel difficulty. Will definitely repeat visit
Great biking trail only complaint is people are all over the trail and don’t watch around them also walking straight in the middle so they really need to continue the trail through Metuchen into South Plainfield maybe even the other way down to Perth amboy that would be great kinda full on weekends to bike
For background, my wife and I are older, recreational riders. We're reasonably fit and enjoy riding around NYC, along the Hudson from Weehawken to Liberty State Park and, of course, the Saddle River County Path, near our home.
We understood from the description of the Sussex Branch Trail, and from the reviews here, that it is not paved and is certainly not a typical rail trail. We started from the Waterloo Rd. parking area in Stanhope and only made it as far as Cranberry Lake before deciding to turn around. While the scenery in the woods was very pretty, the trail, as noted, is not well maintained. In addition to gravel, the surface was small stone/larger rocks in places, and it was just not comfortable riding for us. There were some very muddy spots, with several areas of standing water on the trail that we had to pick our way around. Finally, as we got near Cranberry Lake, we followed a Sussex Trail marker which led us to a dead end.
I understand how some people will find this trail enjoyable, and I'm sorry we didn't get to see more of it, but, given that it was a 45-minute drive from home, we were disappointed.
We started at the Brugler entrance. It was rough going at first. Very muddy in places. We almost turned around but I am glad we continued. Turned into a really nice ride! Didn’t see another person. Beautiful!
No shade and could be very hot on a sunny day. TodY it was high 70’s and lots of wind which made it pleasant. Stopped at Hawk Haven winery along the path but opposite side of the road-dry to semi dry wine choices. Railroad park has a water/bike station a log with port a pits. We linked with the cold spring trail which was a star less than this one and wend to Cold Springs brewery. Total mileage for the two 23+
No shade so on a sunny day probably really would be really hot. Stopped at Hawk Haven winery. Railroad park has water/bike station and port a pots.