Paulinskill Valley Rail Trail Ride
I went riding with my mountain bike on the Paulinskill Valley Rail Trail in Blairstown, New Jersey.
The Paulinskill Valley Trail stretches some 27 miles between Knowlton, a few miles east of Columbia, in Warren County and the parking lot in Kittatinny Valley State Park on Spring Valley Road in Marksboro. Click on the link to get a map of the Paulinskill Valley Rail Trail.
Parking area for the Paulinskill Valley Trail at Footbridge Park, Blairstown, New Jersey.
I only rode my bike on a short section of the Paulinskill Valley Rail Trail this time around: southwest from the parking lot at the Footbridge Park in Blairstown, past Blairstown Airport, and pasted under the Paulinskill Viaduct (Hainesburg Viaduct) before heading back toward the Footbridge Park parking lot for a total of about 12 miles.
Lambert Road is the only road crossing between Blairstown and the airport. The road is the busiest of all the other crossings on this side of the Paulinskill Valley Trail so be careful. The trail runs along the fense on the other side and continues along the runway.
For the most part, the trail is under thick tree cover and passes along a few farms, some new houses, and glimpses of the Paulinskill River when it runs along the side the trail.
Brairstown Airport makes makes a nice rest stop. The Paulinskill Valley Rail Trail hugs the airport along Airport Road.
This is a multi-use trail or more important to know is that horse riders use the trail. So except to dodge horse dung and frequent stops to let horses and riders pass you without spooking the horses and perhaps throwing riders.
The Paulinskill Valley Trail travels next to the fense along the runway.
The trail changes frequently from packed gravel where we could ride two abreast, to narrow dirt-or-grass single track, then double-track, and then back again to the wide gravel trail. There are also a few rocks and roots, and deep divots and loose dirt and gravel from the horse traffic.
Airplane gets ready to take off at Blairstown Airport. At the end of the runway the Paulinskill Valley Trails goes back into the woods.
Overall, this stretch of the Paulinskill Valley Rail Trail was a disappointment, especially the section after the Blairstown Airport. If you have young children the section of trail between Footbridge Park and Blairstown airport, the airport being the final destination, may be enjoyable for some young kids. But younger children and older kids may find this section boring. There are nicer rails to trails bike trails such as the Columbia Trail here and here.
A family with young children out for a bike ride on the Paulinskill Valley Rail Trail.
From what I have read on the Internet, the 16 miles of the eastern section of the trail sounds a lot more interesting. Check out this map of the Paulinskill Valley Rail Trail.
A kiosk by one of the crossings - access points on the Paulinskill valley Trail.
You can see the Delaware Water gap in the distance beyond the houses along a section of the Paulinskill Valley Rail Trail.
Directions to Footbridge Park (as provided by The Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee): Footbridge Park- Blairstown, NJ: Route 80 to Route 521 (exit 12). Go north on Route 521 for 5 miles to Route 94 in Blairstown. Turn left on Route 94 and take the second left into the park, designated by a small white sign with black lettering.
The trail access point at Footbridge Park in Blairstown has a clean porta-john inside the park near the parking area. There are no facilities along the trail.
Address for GPS: 1 Footbridge Lane
Blairstown, NJ 07825-2512
Learn about rails to trails.
Find other rail trails.
The footbridge at Footbridge park in Blairstown, New Jersey.
Click on the link to see more pictures taken on the Paulinskill Valley Rail Trail.
