COLUMBIA TRAIL:
HIGH BRIDGE-WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Letterbox Planted: April 15, 2008
Last Updated: April 24, 2025
Length: Columbia Trail; 15 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Stone-dust surface along flat rail bed.
Directions:
Starting from High Bridge [Southern End]; From I-78, take exit 17 to Route 31 north. Travel for 1.7 miles to Route 513 north and turn right. Take Route 513 into High Bridge and after crossing under the railroad bridge, turn left onto Main St. After passing through the small downtown and before a sharp right, look for the entrance to High Bridge Park on your left (no sign). It will be opposite the start of the trail on your right. The park contains picnic tables, Porto-Potty, Dog Park and Bike Park.
Completed in 1876, this former rail line was established by the Central Railroad of New Jersey as the High Bridge Branch. The line ran from High Bridge to Port Oram, currently known as Wharton, in Morris County. The line accommodated passengers, but was highly regarded for its shipments of iron ore from the mines in Morris County. The most spectacular wreck occurred on April 18, 1885 when Engine #112 (known as The Columbia), pulling 45 cars plummeted off a 60' wooden trestle into the South Branch of the Raritan River. The wooden trestle was replaced by steel piers in 1930 and is now known as the Ken Lockwood Gorge Bridge. The last passenger excursion occurred in 1935 and the last freight train ran on April 1, 1976. The Columbia Trail travels from High Bridge North, through Califon, to Washington Township. For more information visit; COLUMBIA TRAIL & COLUMBIA TRAIL .
Starting from High Bridge Park parking lot in High Bridge [Southern End]; The Columbia Trail travels across main St. There are still some old rails next to the parks entrance. A Map Board is located at the trailhead, along with the 0 Mile Marker. Mile Markers every 0.25 miles. The trail starts out paved, but quickly turns to stone-dust. The trail travels Northeast, along the ridgeline with the South Branch of the Raritan River below. You'll cross over Cokesbury Rd at 1.3 miles via a bridge. Next you pass under some transmission lines and come to a rock cut after the 1.5 Mile Marker. For the Letterbox: A large rock cut will be on your left and a smaller cut that juts out towards the trail will be on your right. Note; the 1 3/4 mile post is just ahead. You'll see an orange post (gas line) on your right. Facing this post, go around the left side of the rock cut and look up. On top of the rock will be a small Cherry tree growing out of the rock and to the left of it will be a larger Birch tree. Between these two trees you'll spot some small rocks under a ledge. Remove ONLY the left rock to reveal the Columbia Trail Letterbox. Continuing along the trail, look for the cascading stream coming off the hill. The trail starts a slight accent at 2.5 miles and brings you to the Ken Lockwood Gorge Bridge which travels over the river. At about 3.2 miles, the trail leaves behind the river gorge area and enters a flat and woodsy terrain. Keep an eye out for several gnomes residing along the trail from this point on, especially one who has his door built into a tree stump. They are usually marked by rock cairns alongside the trail. At 5.1 miles, as you enter Califon, you pass by the old Califon Railroad station (1875), which houses a museum and includes a parking area. After a couple of quick road crossings your back on the trail, where you'll spot the river again, if only briefly. At 7 miles you pass through the Valley Brook Road parking lot. This was as far as I traveled. The trail continues Northeast. Cross an old RR bridge over the South Branch of the Raritan River at 8.2 miles. Cross Schooleys Mountain Road in Long Valley at 11.3 miles. Parking lot and Map Board. Come to the end of the trail after 15 miles at Bartley Road (Parking) in Washington Township.
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CLICK HERE FOR COLUMBIA TRAIL HIGH BRIDGE to CALIFON SECTION MAP
CLICK HERE FOR COLUMBIA TRAIL WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP SECTION LETTER SIZE MAP
CLICK HERE FOR COLUMBIA TRAIL WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP SECTION LARGE SIZE MAP
LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED ON
FEBRUARY 15, 2020
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