Columbia Trail

Updated:
Rail trail trestle bridge.

Shady rail-trail that runs along the Raritan River and through scenic Ken Lockwood Gorge.

The multi-use trail (hike/bike/horse) passes woods, farms, backyards and a few towns from High Bridge in Hunterdon County to Bartley Road in Morris County.

10.4 or 22.6 or 30.2 or turnaround at any point. Entire trail is 15.1 one-way. Wide and level; surface is packed dirt and gravel. From High Bridge, there is a very slight uphill grade. Basically all shade.

30.2 milesThis guide: Detailed instructions, photos, and video follow below.
ShorterThis is an out-and-back route; do the full route or turn around at any point.
22.6 – High Bridge to Long Valley and back.
10.4High Bridge to Califon Station and back.
Nearby hikingVoorhees State Park;
Round Valley Reservation;
Point Mountain Reservation.
Nearby kayakingSpruce Run Reservoir.

Our two cents:

Easy hiking or biking, as well as trail running, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing. It’s a good trail for the little ones to try hiking or biking and it’s suitable for strollers.

Really enjoyable ride with a variety of scenery and one of our favorites in Jersey. (D&R Canal is probably our #1 spot just because it has so many route options). You don’t need to do the full trail, turning around in Long Valley or Califon is still a solid trip.

There is a very minor uphill grade going from High Bridge towards Bartley so keep that in mind when choosing a starting lot. Enough to feel it slightly but it’s certainly not a big elevation change (and not enough to coast the way back, either.)

Street crossings aren’t that frequent or too busy. There is a brief section of trail just after Long Valley that is harder than a rail-trail usually is, but it’s after a good turnaround spot anyway. Noted below.

Updated: 12/2023 – Minor edits, re-biked to Long Valley 9/2023. Older change log at page bottom.

Related: NJ Bike Trails overview page.

Parking: N40.66947° W74.89635°

Columbia Trailhead Parking, Highbridge, NJ. RT 78W to exit 17 for Rt. 31N. Right on Main St (513), right on Bridge St, left on Main, left into the large paved lot – little hard to spot, there are various signs at the end of the driveway.

There are several parking areas along the route to choose from but we always start at the big lot at High Bridge (check the maps for other lots).


Restrooms:

Portable toilets all the way at the back of the High Bridge lot. Portable toilets along the trail in Long Valley, just after crossing Rt 517/Schooley’s Mountain Road (as of 7/2022).


Trail Maps/Books:

Follow along on a smartphone with our Columbia Trail Interactive Map and/or use the links above to print maps. The trail is in both Hunterdon and Morris counties so each county park site has a map. Did not notice any paper maps along the trail.

There are also mileage markers but they start over when the county changes.

Appears in Rail-Trails New Jersey & New York as well as older books such as The New Jersey Walk Book and Hiking the Jersey Highlands.

Bike next to gravel rail trail.

Refreshments:

Main St. in High Bridge has multiple restaurants. In Long Valley, at the intersection with Schooleys Mountain Road, there is a coffee shop right along the trail as well as picnic tables, chairs, and portable toilets. Or, turn right for restaurants and a brewpub.

Reward yourself with ice cream at Polka Dot Cafe near the parking lot entrance or hit Gronsky’s Milk House on the way home just outside of the main downtown area.


The Details:

0.0 – The Columbia Trail begins directly across from the driveway of the parking lot.

Cross three somewhat busy streets right in the beginning and then go under the Thomas Street bridge. Then it’s a while before crossing a street again.

You may notice a few little “gnome homes” tucked into trees and along the trail. They appear on the first part of the trail out of High Bridge.

The surface varies between dirt and crushed stone/gravel. There was new-ish white gravel from High Bridge until the county border at West Valley Road when we last biked this (9/2023).

1.3 – Small bridge over Cokesbury Road with metal fence up the sides.

Gravel rail trail bridge with fenced sides.

The Columbia Trail runs above Ken Lockwood Gorge for part of the route. The south branch of the Raritan River peeks through the trees in the gorge below the trail.

Wide dirt rail trail with trees lining it.

2.7 – Large trestle bridge with tall metal fencing that goes over Ken Lockwood Gorge.

Trestle bridge with curved fenced sides.

The bridge is high above the river and covered but you can get a look out through the sides.

Rushing river surrounded by green trees.

Many road crossings have Columbia Trail signage and gates.

Wooden gate and signage at a rail trail street crossing.

5.2 – There is a trail now where it used to briefly merge onto a paved road (Railroad Ave.) near Califon Station.

The building houses a museum run by the Califon Historical Society and is open May through September on the first and third Sunday of each month.

Califon Station building next to rail trail.

// For a 10.4 mile round trip ride, turn around here. //

Cross a road, continue next to the Califon Fire Co building, then cross a road again and it returns to a gravel rail-trail.

6.3 – The trail is now wider and resurfaced on the short section that runs along Vernoy Road – or just ride on the road.

Along the way, the trail passes through one of several parking areas.

Columbia Trail parking area at Valley Brook Road.

7.3 – Farm building with a silo appears on the left.

Farm with silo on green field.

Just after this, travel through a short section with open farmland on either side.

Tractor with farmland in the foreground.

Pass another Columbia Trail post and gate.

Columbia Trail marker post and gate.

At the street crossing is another farm where horses might be out in the corral (they have Clydesdale horses so you may want to mosey on over for a look).

Farm buildings and horse corral.

8.3 – Cross a long bridge with river views on each side.

Long wooden bridge over river with bike rider in the distance.

The bridge is over the south branch of the Raritan River.

River with small bridge in distance and green trees on sides.

11.3 – Long Valley. After passing through a parking lot and crossing Schooley’s Mountain Road/Rt. 517 there are picnic tables and a portable toilet right along the trail (…conveniently located next to a coffee shop filled with tasty treats).

// For a 22.6 mile round trip ride, turn around here. //

Note: After the next road crossing, Fairview Ave, a brief section (maybe .5 mile) goes around a housing development and an industrial area.

The trail narrows and has a few short hills and blind curves. It’s not exactly hard, and many will find it fun, but it’s different from the rest of the trail.

12.3 – Sign for Gillette Trail and a bench.

14.7 – Bench facing the river. The latter part of the trail is out of the gorge and the south branch of the Raritan River is along the trail through the trees.

Bench in foreground with backpack with river behind

15.1 – Trail ends in Bartley at a small parking area, retrace the route back.

There are a few large rocks at the Bartley lot but we usually hit a bench on the ride back to take a break, like the one passed at 14.7 or 12.3.

Columbia Trail red sign next to a post and gate.


Biked 9/17/23. to Long Valley.
Biked 7/30/22.
Biked 6/5/21.
Biked 7/31/13. Trail Blog: Biking: Columbia Trail – Ken Lockwood Gorge – 2013.
Biked 8/12/12. Trail Blog: Biking: Columbia Trail – Ken Lockwood Gorge – 2012.
Biked 7/31/11. Trail Blog: Biking: Columbia Trail – Ken Lockwood Gorge – 2011.

Updated: 8/2022 – Re-biked, page checked. 6/2021 – Re-biked and page revamped, new photos. 5/2020: Page refreshed, not re-biked.

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