Get the free Morris County Fall Bucket List
60+ of the best things to do across Morris County this fall. Apple picking, corn mazes, hayrides, fall festivals, haunted attractions and cider donuts. Straight to your inbox, free.
The best bike trails in Morris County, NJ range from flat, paved paths you can ride with a kid on training wheels to rocky singletrack in the Highlands that will humble experienced mountain bikers. Most of the good riding is on land run by the Morris County Park Commission, which means the trails are free, well marked, and open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Here is where our team would send you, split by the kind of ride you are after.
Easy, Family-Friendly Rides
1. Loantaka Brook Reservation (Morris Township, Harding, Chatham Township, Madison)
Loantaka Brook Reservation is the go-to first ride in the county. The linear greenway covers more than 850 acres with almost 10 miles of mostly flat trails that wander along the brook through Morris Township, Chatham Township, Madison and Harding. It is a favorite for families, joggers, and anyone who wants miles without hills.
No bike? No problem. The Morris Moves bike share, sponsored by the Morris Park Alliance, has docking stations at South Street, Kitchell Road and Loantaka Way. You rent through the Koloni app for $1 per half hour, spring through fall. The main parking area is at 468 South Street in Morris Township.
2. Traction Line Recreation Trail (Morristown to Madison)
The Traction Line Recreation Trail is a paved 2.7-mile path that runs alongside the NJ Transit tracks between Morristown and Madison. It is flat, smooth, and dotted with Fit-Trail exercise stations, so it doubles as a workout loop. One catch: there is no dedicated public parking. Riders hop on at access points on Convent Road and Kahn Road in Morris Township, Danforth Road in Florham Park, and Morris Avenue at Route 287 in Morristown.
Long-Distance Rail Trail Rides
3. Columbia Trail (Long Valley and into Hunterdon County)
The Columbia Trail is the county’s best out-and-back for miles. The 16.5-mile trail is flat, surfaced with natural and stone dust tread, and follows an old railroad bed from western Morris County in Long Valley down into Hunterdon County. The corridor was acquired by Columbia Gas in 1987 and its surface rights were donated to the Morris and Hunterdon County park commissions in 1998, which is how a former rail line became one of the easiest long rides in the county. Hybrids and gravel bikes are the right tool here. Expect to share it with hikers and horses.
4. Patriots’ Path (Across Central Morris County)
Patriots’ Path is the backbone of the county trail system, with more than 70 miles of trail following the Whippany and Black rivers and the South Branch of the Raritan. The surface changes a lot: about 2 miles are paved between Lake Road and Washington Valley Road in Morris Township, several miles run on the cinder and gravel beds of old railroad lines, and other stretches are crushed stone or narrow natural paths over soil and rock. It links up with the Columbia Trail in Washington Township, so ambitious riders can string the two together. Check the official trail map before you go so you pick a section that suits your bike.
Mountain Biking
5. Lewis Morris County Park (Morris Township)
Lewis Morris County Park is the closest real mountain biking to Morristown. The park covers 2,213 acres crisscrossed by 25 miles of trails, and it is one of the county’s most popular spots for off-road riding. The entrance is at 270 Mendham Road in Morris Township, and Sunrise Lake makes a good post-ride stop.
6. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation (Jefferson Township)
For a full day in the woods, head north to Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, the largest park in this list at more than 3,500 acres with 27 miles of trails. The park commission calls it a perfect site for off-road cycling, and the rugged Highlands terrain climbs toward Headley Overlook, one of the highest points in Morris County. The main entrance is at 955 Weldon Road in Jefferson Township.
Before You Ride
- Hours: Morris County parks are open daily from sunrise to sunset.
- Share the trail: Nearly every trail here is multi-use, so yield to hikers and horses and call out when passing. The park commission’s trail courtesy guide covers the rules.
- Winter: Snow and ice are not cleared from the trail system, so the paved paths are not a sure thing after a storm.
- Groups: Groups of 25 or more need a reservation and permit from the park commission.
Fall is a great time to ride most of these trails, and the leaves make every loop better. Pair a ride with our guide to fall foliage in Morris County, or if you would rather explore on foot, see our list of the best hiking trails in Morris County.
Enjoying our Morris County coverage?
Add us as a preferred source and our stories show up higher in your Google results.
Add as a preferred source
