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Long Valley is the main village of Washington Township in western Morris County, and it is the county’s best argument for slowing down. You come here for a mountain park with a floating bridge across a lake, a flat rail trail that runs for miles through farm country, family farms, and a brewpub inside a 200-year-old barn. Here is how our team would spend a day in Long Valley, NJ.
Schooley’s Mountain County Park
Schooley’s Mountain County Park covers 823 acres at 91 East Springtown Road and is the reason most people drive out to Long Valley in the first place. More than 7 miles of trails wind through the hills for hiking, biking and horseback riding, and the centerpiece is Lake George, an eight-acre lake crossed by a 470-foot floating bridge that connects the Boathouse to the Adirondack-style Lodge. Fishing is allowed at the lake in summer.
The park’s trails also lead to one of the prettier cascades in the county, which we cover in our guide to waterfalls in Morris County. In October the hillsides around Lake George are about as good as fall color gets in this part of New Jersey.
The Columbia Trail
The Columbia Trail is a 16.5-mile, flat, multi-use trail with a natural and stone dust surface that runs through western Morris County and into Hunterdon County. It follows an old rail line, and in 1998 Columbia Gas donated the surface rights to the Morris and Hunterdon County Park Commissions, which turned it into one of the easiest long walks or rides in North Jersey.
Walkers, cyclists and horseback riders all share it, leashed dogs are welcome, and in winter it works for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Because it is flat the whole way, it is a good pick for kids on bikes. Our guide to the best bike trails in Morris County has more rides like it.
Farms and Fall Days
Long Valley is still farm country, and fall is its busiest season. Ort Farms is the local name for pumpkins, hayrides and family farm days, including its Ortoberfest each September. For every pick-your-own orchard and pumpkin patch nearby, with prices, see our apple and pumpkin picking guide for Morris County.
Horses are part of the landscape here too. Centenary University’s equestrian center sits in Long Valley and hosts community days like the annual Mane Event, so keep an eye out for barns and riders along the back roads.
Where to Eat and Drink in Long Valley
Long Valley Pub & Brewery. The town’s anchor, at 1 Fairmount Road, is a brewpub set inside a 200-year-old barn, with house beers on 12 taps and a full casual menu. It is the natural last stop after a day on the trails. See the Long Valley Pub menus and the current beer list.
OMG Burger and Brew. From the same owners as the brewpub, OMG Burger and Brew sits up on Schooley’s Mountain at 141 Schooleys Mountain Road and keeps things simple: premium burgers, vegetarian options, and a mix of national, local and seasonal beers on tap.
How to Plan a Day in Long Valley
Start with a morning loop at Schooley’s Mountain and a walk across the floating bridge, ride or walk a stretch of the Columbia Trail after lunch, stop at a farm stand on the way through town, and finish with a pint at the brewpub. It is about a 30-minute drive from Morristown, and in the fall it feels a lot farther away than that.
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