>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. The CNJ High Bridge Branch in Hunterdon County was recently (last year) completely redone between High Bridge and the Morris County border: brush cleared, new surface, all bridges upgraded. You don't even need a mountain bike. They sort of overdid the bridges, actually, completely redoing the decking with concrete and there are chicken wire fences that curve above the ROW, obscuring the views (done to keep kids from climbing over...) All that said, the trail is great! Very easy to ride or hike. Total length is almost 30 miles, I think, HB to Rte 206. Not much in the way of artifacts except the bridges though: they cleaned it all up! Still, in the winter and spring you can see the remains of a covered hopper that must have slid down the embankment in one of the many end-of-days derailments. It's just south of the Lockwood Gorge bridge. There's a part of a side, a brake cylinder and a part of a walkway in the woods. The Morris County section, starting at "Crestmoor Station" where the trail crosses 513 is still somewhat unimproved, and can be muddy and bumpy, but worth it. It ends near Bartley Road where the Morristown and Erie has a stub. There's a map of the Hunterdon section here: http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/depts/parks/guides/ColumbiaTrail.htm The DL&W Chester Branch is another great hike. Go into town to the EXPRESSIONS GALLERY at 24 Main Street [rear] and buy the reprint of "Chester's Iron Heyday" by Larry Lowenthal for $5.00: it has the best map and complete history of the area. Accessible from a number of locations, notably 206 north of town, or from Furnace Road. From the latter you can poke around the remains of Chester Furnace. Now or winter is a good time to do it. Also, go to Hillside Road and check out the old factory and location of the station and turntable. Some of it is marked as Patriot's Path and goes for some distance in both directions. If it's late, stop in for a beer at Bernie's! That building was the old RR hotel. Some of the trail (east) is part of the Black River Wildlife Management Area (map here: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/wmamaps/black_river.pdf) which is heavily hunted this time of year, so be careful. Sorry to be so long winded... dmg ------------------------------
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