New Jersey rocks! Yeah if you are from Colorado or California you are probably asking yourself: why would i want to go biking in NJ? Why would i spend $400 on a plane ticket to leave Telluride, CO just to go to Princeton, NJ? Well that is a darn good question. One advantage of Princeton is that I'm here!
Well seriously though New Jersey has a lot of farmland and some good fast road biking. And the people are quite friendly and will not try to run you over at high speed. As far as the mountain biking goes, there are some nice places. Be sure to check your body for deer ticks after riding!
Here are some excellent places to go biking around NJ. I've marked places with a star that you dont need a car to get to, if you are starting from Princeton.
** Princeton Institute Woods.
Directions: Right behind the Institute for Advanced Studies.
Kind of pretty. Fun for the beginning rider!
** The Tow Path.
Directions: goes along the D&R Canal. You can hook up with it near Carnegie Lake,
which is at Alexander Road and Faculty Road. The Tow Path goes for many miles- you can go to New Brunswick on it. The biking is not so exciting but you may meet many interesting and friendly people. Be sure to visit the Towpath Museum in Griggstown.
** Mountain Lake. Directions: take Route 206N from Nassau Street about 1.5 miles to Mountain Lake street. Take a left. This place is very scenic with a lake and a dam. Riding is pretty good, too, with some hills. Definitely a fun ride!
Mercer County Park. Directions: take Route1S from Princeton to Quakerbridge Mall. Take a left at Quakerbridge mall, go about 1 mile. Take a left, go about 0.5 miles. The park is on your left. This has some pretty good trails going around the lake. A lot of fast trails also going though some forest. It is fun to explore the many miles of forest around here.
** Cranbury NJ. Directions. take Alexander Road across Rt.1 keep going all the way to the end, cross the bridge and bear left then take a right and follow the signs to Cranbury. This is a road bike ride rather than a mountain bike ride but it is pretty good. A lot of farmland and some good fast riding. Its worth the ride!
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