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Re: (erielack) Rails to Bike Trails

- --- Todd Hollritt <thollritt_@_yahoo.com> wrote:
>    I know some list members have posted reviews of good local EL Rail
> Trail's the traveled here in NJ recently. Can anyone e-mail me
> information on some other good rides in NY, PA & NJ? If it's intresting
> list content I am sure people would not mind replies posted here!
> Other's just send direct.

Over 26 miles of the NY&SW is open to non-motor traffic from Warrington
(MP90) to Sparta Junction (MP62.something) as the Paulinskill Valley
Trail, not paved as it's heavily used by horse owners.  Watch out for
poop...  I have ridden the whole trail and enjoyed it.  It doesn't look
like the John Treen photos any more, with trees where he saw fields.  A
few miles at the west are not part of the trail but accessible as a
roadway leading to fishing areas; I haven't ridden that.

The Lehigh & New England between Columbia and Hampton is overgrown to
varying degrees but mostly passable; however it is posted in some areas. 
The Delaware River Bridge is gone but some supports survive and are
visible.  The Paulinskill Bridge is passable despite over 40 years of
neglect.  Some of the line hosts a gas main so it's maintained to some
degree and not paved.

The Lehigh & Hudson is mostly impassable due to private ownership and
remaining ballast and ties.  A mile or so within Kittatinny State Park in
Andover IS passable, but deadends with no access at the north.

>   I just completed the CNJ / LV Lehigh Gorge from Woodport to Mauch
> Chunk Pa. and I highly recomend it! (Two EL G/M/Y caboose's are on
> display in Jim Thorpe... whew, list content).

Haven't done that one...

> And the former PRR Bel-Del from Lambertville to Frenchtown (PRR operated
> passenger service along this line to Stroudsburg Pa.over the DL&W...
> woohoo list content again!!).

I've done that from Frenchtown to Washington Crossing.  Not paved but well
graded and nice.

> I am planning on exploring the DL&W Sussex Branch which is a
> known Rail Trail, also I would like to cover the former Erie Mainline
> including the Piermont Branch... are they converted Rail Trails yet?

The Sussex Branch is NJ property, administered out of Kittatinny State
Park, which is also responsible for the Paulinskill Valley Trail.  I was
on the south end yesterday up to Andover.  It's about 45 minutes from the
Waterloo road parking area to Andover, and better to go from the south due
to grades...  It's nice and wide, well used, as far as Cranberry Lake.  It
is narrower and much less used to the north.  Surface is rough in spots,
with remaining ballast and some rocks sticking up to throw the unwary.

There are three washouts, one minor north of Cranberry Lake (though the
trail is often flooded), one major just south of the 'hole in the wall'
underpass (nearly severing the embankment), and one partial washout south
of the US 206 underpass on the way into Branchville.  There is also a
missing bridge north of Newton - take off your shoes and socks and carry
the bike; water is about a foot deep.

Yes, I've covered the whole trail in several rides.  The part through the
Free Trade Zone goes over the 'virgin bridge' over US 206, which was built
after the line had closed and a bit farther.  Some of the line into the
Netcong station area appears to be private property, and other parts are
fenced...

AFAIK the Erie Main is NY state property and open to the public; I believe
sections are (gasp) paved.  That means bikes, walkers, rollerbladers but
no horses.  Also in NY, east of the Hudson is the ex-NYC Putnam Division
which is mostly converted to trail use and paved where it is open.  Ask me
off-list for access info.

Some winters ago, I covered part of the Erie Nyack branch on skis, from
the center of town to the NY Thruway and a short distance beyond; it was
neat skiing across the Thruway!  This is government property (I don't
remember at what level) and open for recreation, not paved.

The Piermont Branch is mostly impassable due to growth of trees and
probable washouts AFAIK.

> Another possible destination would be the CNJ Highbridge Branch through
> the scenic Lockwood Gorge (ES-99 / SE-98 routes... content!) during the
> day of course because of the Hooke... ok, I won't go there!

I haven't been down there in years, but it looked fine the last time.

One thing I've tried to do is, rather than ride out and back, make
triangle trips.  Two routes work well out of Warbasse Junction southwest
of Lafayette.

One is to take the Sussex Branch north to Hampton, go west on the L&NE or
nearby roads to Swartzwood, east on the NYS&W.  You can also take the
Sussex Branch up to Branchville and return if you want to ride more. 
Sussex County maps show the railroads so you can route the L&NE detour.

Second is to take the Sussex Branch south to Andover, then a county road
to Sparta Junction and the NYS&W west back to Warbasse.  I'd say to ride
the L&H but it is just not possible.

Bring food and drink and emergency repair items for your bike... 
"Services" are often hard to come by - Andover, Newton, Branchville and
Blairstown are about the only places where you'd be able to get anything.

=====
Gary R. Kazin
DL&W Milepost R35.7
Rockaway, New Jersey

http://www.geocities.com/gkazin/index.html


		
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