Columbia Trail

Photo

Crossing So. Branch of Raritan River along Columbia Trail (Photo by D. Chazin)

Map


View Columbia Trail in a larger map

Park Overview:

Sixteen miles along a rail trail paralleling the South Branch of the Raritan River from High Bridge in Hunterdon County north to Bartley in Morris County.
Trail Uses:Hiking, Mountain biking, Bridle path
Dogs:
Trail Miles:15.8 miles
Park Acreage:
City/County/
State:		High Bridge (Hunterdon
County); Washington
Township (Morris
County)//NJ
Buy Book:Hiking the Jersey Highlands - Illustrated Guide
Park Description:

Historically, the High Bridge Branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey extended from the town of High Bridge, where it connected to the main line of the railroad, north to Hopatcong Junction, where it split into spurs that served several iron mines.  Freight service continued until 1975.  Subsequently, the surface rights of the right-of-way have been acquired by Hunterdon and Morris counties from High Bridge to Bartley and has been converted into a rail trail, known as the Columbia Trail.
Trails Overview:

For much of its length the Columbia Trail [no blaze markings] parallels the South Branch of the Raritan River.  At its southern end, it passes through the Ken Lockwood Gorge Wildlife Management Area.  The Hunterdon County segment is seven miles; including the Morris County segment, the trail's total length is 15.8 miles.

  • For Hunterdon County segment trail map click here, follow the map link.
  • For the Morris County segment trail map click here, scroll down to Columbia Trail.
Directions:

To reach the southern end of the trail in High Bridge take I-78 to Exit 17 [Clinton], continue north on NJ 31 for 1.9 miles and turn right onto County 513. 

  • Public transportation: Weekday commuter service on the NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line to High Bridge. Four-block walk north on Main Street from the station. [Google Maps for train station location: "Main Street & Bridge Street, High Bridge, NJ"]

To reach the northern end at Bartley, take I-80 to Exit 27A, proceed south on US 206 to Flanders.  Turn right onto Flanders-Bartley Road [County 614] for 0.7 mile, then turn left and continue for 1.5 miles to the end of the active rail line.

Road access is also available at various other points along the trail [see Hunterdon County web page link in "Trails Overview."]

Contact Information: Hunterdon County Department of Parks and Recreation, Flemington, [908-782-1158] 
Contact Information:Morris County Park Commission
973-326-7600
Region:Central Jersey
Fees:None

Comments

The Highlands Trail

On March 25th, 2009 Brenda Holzinger says:

 

Visit The Highlands Trail website for complete, accurate and up-to-date information about New Jersey's Millenium Trail, including trail descriptions, current trail conditions and maps.

Click here to go directly to information about the Highlands Trail coalignment with the Columbia Trail.