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Trail Description:
The Columbia Trail is actually the old railroad line north from High Bridge. Great scenery and just slight a slight grade in places, some parts are rocky and crosses a couple refurbished bridges. Leaving High Bridge you follow a river about 50 feet below the trail - great views. About 5 miles up you'll go through the town of Califon, and another 3 miles past that you'll have to find your way across Route 513 to the rest of the trail that ends in Long Valley, this portion of the trail is not marked as well. Basically a fast, flat ride with some nice views.
How to get there:
78 to 31 North (Clinton Exit). Take 31 North a couple miles to 513 North in High Bridge. Stay on 513, make a right into High Bridge and then a left a the top of the hill on Main street. The trail head is clearly marked a couple blocks up on your right.
| Posted by: chris on 7/29/2009 |
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@kdawg - If you ride the trail all the way to long valley (12 mi) check out Long Valley Pub and Brewery. Good food and awesome beer.
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| Posted by: chris on 7/29/2009 |
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You can absolutely bring a trailer. I have bought mine with my 2 kids, and have had no problem at all
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| Posted by: Michael on 7/9/2009 |
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Anyone know if this trail is too rough for a bike trailer?
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| Posted by: Finndog on 6/12/2009 |
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Kdawg, bring a lunch and eat on the trail or go down to Ken lockwood Gorge.
Contrary to what is posted, the trail doesn't end North of Califon, continue on past 513 (At the tree farm) and the trail goes another 6 miles!
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| Posted by: kdawg on 5/26/2009 |
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Does anyone know if there are good places to eat off this trail becuase me and my friend and been riding this trail for the past couple years and all we have done is gotten off the trail in califon by the fire house and go into town and eat and we were wondereing if there any places you guys know of. thanks.
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| Posted by: LEfriend on 5/23/2009 |
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there are gnome homes all over this trail where you can swap trinkets for other trinkets. kind of like geocatching. there are also notepads in the gnome homes to write stuff in
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| Posted by: oldfashionRon on 3/1/2009 |
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when ya leave highbridge tif ya peel off the main trail right before the first little bridge ya cross . you come out on a road that will put you down in the grouge an ya can ride along the river then pick the trail back up once your tru an ride to califon
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| Posted by: PK on 11/30/2006 |
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Good beginner trail. Flat and well maintained. Can get crowded on a nice weekend with other bikers joggers dog walkers etc.
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| Posted by: hchowansky@hcconstructors on 9/4/2006 |
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If you take river rd from califon to Highbridge through the ken lockwood gorge that is a rough winding and up and down road.then you can get back on the trail in hb and have a slight incline the way back.
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| Posted by: J Laurenti on 8/25/2006 |
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The write-up has it right: Stunning vistas down to the Raritan River's south branch below, and smooth trail for fast riding between High Bridge & Califon, no technical difficulty. But return along River Road, which hugs the river's bends and turns and, for some 3 km, is a rutted dirt road; you then get some modest hills on the last stretch (back on asphalt) into High Bridge.
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