Cruising the Columbia Bike Trail

Today was crisp and cool, a perfect day for a bike ride.  The Fat Man attached our Thule rack to the back of Horace the Honda and we headed out to the Columbia Trail. 

Bikes on

We found this ride on the TrailLink website, which is “a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., whose mission it is to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people.” 

Translation: plenty of flat trails that aren’t a drain for fatties like us. 

Old Califon Train Station

The trail starts at Main Street at Church Street in High Bridge (right across the street from the parking lot with the white gazebo) to Schooley’s Mountain Road (County Road 517) in Long Valley (LV).  It is 11.3 miles each way, although one reviewer on TrailLink said it is actually 15 miles.

Columbia Trail

Over the summer, we started the trail at Califon (there’s a parking lot right across from the old train station) and rode toward Long Valley.  This time, we started at Califon (C) and rode down to High Bridge (HB), which was a much more scenic ride.

You are almost always in between trees at any point on the trail (which makes the air cooler), but the C to HB leg takes you above the rushing South Branch of the Raritan River.  You also pass dramatic rock formations.  We even saw a small bear (the wood-carved species).

The entire trail transitions between asphalt and ballast, to concrete and crushed stone.  We both have mountain bikes, but saw one or two folks on 10-speed bikes (who often wear very tight leggings and jerseys with crazy designs, which is why they are so unfriendly when you say hello).

This leg of the trail also has tons of Fairy and Pixie boxes all along the route that people craft and leave there.  They are often low on the trail so keep your eyes open.  I’ve included a picture of my favorite one.

Fairy Box

On the C to LV route, you have to watch out for horse manure, as well as the raised pole mounts, which will take both you and your bike out if you don’t pay attention.  There
were cones covering them on the C to HB leg, but the trail was being maintained so they might not always be there.

Safe version

Death trap

It took us about 2 hours to do 10 miles, but we stopped along the way to take pictures.  We flew down from C to HB, but the ride back was slower due to a very slight incline.  It is really a fabulous trail to get a good workout without coughing up a entire set of lungs.  We plan to do the full trail next time.

After our ride we had a tasty Mexican lunch at Casa Maya in High Bridge.  We also checked out the nearby Voorhees State Park campground, but the campsites are much too close to one another, which is not our cup of tea.

Heidi’s rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A delightful ride from start to finish.

The Fat Man’s rating: 2 enchiladas with mole sauce.