Bike Shop Discounts!
NJ ECG members can use their discounts at retail bike shops and stores in New Jersey. Please check back for additional stores joining the program. Also, all NJ ECG members can receive a free Traveler's Guide by calling 919-797-0619 or by emailing info@greenway.org
Welcome to the East Coast Greenway in New Jersey
Long distance cyclists enjoy the peace and quiet of the D&R Canal Towpath. Photo: Karen Votava
The New Jersey portion of the Greenway covers 97 miles between Pennsylvania and New York. It passes through bustling urban areas — Trenton, New Brunswick, Newark, and Jersey City — as well as quiet suburban settings and more rural landscapes than one might expect. The route is currently 55% on traffic-free paths, the second highest percent of completed trail in any Greenway state. The route includes the ECG’s longest completed trail segment – the D&R Canal Towpath, which is 34.3 miles long.
Between the end of the D&R Canal Towpath and the northern end of the New Jersey route in Jersey City, travelers alternate between park paths and interim on-road sections. Trail users can use the newly completed trail/sidewalk that now creates a bicycle/pedestrian way from Newark to Jersey City and the Hudson River. Thanks to all the great work by NJDOT on this! To see a map use this link. The other option is to take a NY-NJ PATH train (bikes allowed on weekends and nonpeak hours with two bikes allowed per car) between Newark and Jersey City, but plans are in place to develop trail between these cities. The New Jersey route is bound on either side by rivers. A ferry is used to cross the Hudson River between New Jersey and New York, and the bike/ped friendly Calhoun Street Bridge crosses the Delaware River between NJ and PA.
Trail Status and Plans
News & Events
Publications
NJ Partners and Supporters
More information on biking and trails in New Jersey
Trail
The segment from the Pennsylvania border in Trenton to South Bound Brook is almost entirely off road, using the D&R Canal Towpath. A routing study conducted by the RBA Group to connect the Towpath to the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway in Jersey City is in the process of being implemented.
Please note: The towpath from AMWELL ROAD (RT 514) TO THE WESTON CAUSEWAY is CLOSED THROUGH JUNE 30 due to repair work on the spillway. Also note there will be NO ACCESS TO/FROM COLONIAL PARK VIA THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE. Southbound detour: Left on Weston Crossway across canal bridge, then immediate right on Weston Canal Road. Weston Canal Road becomes Weston Road. First right onto Metlers Road, then first right on Amwell Road, then left onto the Canal trail. Northbound: Right at Amwell Road, First left at Metlers Road. First left onto Weston Road. Weston Road becomes Weston Canal Road. First left to cross bridge on Weston Crossway, then right onto canal path. Please note that these roads do not have shoulders so be careful riding the roads.
News & Events
New Jersey Bike Walk Summit - February 23rd, 2013:
New Jersey Bike Walk Coalition is having the Annual New Jersey Bike & Walk Summit on Saturday February 23rd in New Brunswick. The East Coast Greenway will have a panel at the summit and there will be a East Coast Greenway NJ Committee meeting at the summit as well. All attendees to the meeting must pre-register for the summit. This includes breakfast, lunch and great information about New Jersey and the opportunities for biking and walking throughout the state. To register use this link.
In 2013 you can set yourself a huge goal. Why not walk across New Jersey on the East Coast Greenway?
The Freewalkers will be walking on the following dates.
April 6th, The Great Canal Walk - Trenton to New Brunswick (40 miles)
April 12th, Tween Walk - New Brunswick to Metropark Iselin
May 18th, The Big Walk - Metropark to Penn Station, NYC
Another Kiosk Goes Up In New Jersey!
A 5th kiosk was recently installed along the East Cost Greenway in New Jersey. This kiosk, located in Weequahic Park (Newark), was completed in May 2010. It joins 4 previous kiosks in NJ; East Millstone (D&R Canal), Johnston Park (Piscataway), Merrill Park (Woodbridge), and Nomahegan Park (Cranford). Volunteers who helped make it happen included (shown in picture): Mike & Anne Kruimer, Mike Dannemiller, Mike Oliva, Tom Roe, Ed Troike, John Hartigan, Rich Felsing, Rebecca & Brianna Dannemiller, and Mackenszie & Kelly Roe. We want to give them all a big THANK YOU! If you're on the ECG, please stop by and check out our informative kiosks!
The Big Walk
The East Coast Greenway Alliance and the Freewalkers have held several walks across the NJ ECG over the few years. Two of the walks were a challenging 50-mile length within the Cross-Jersey Challenge, an urban hiking adventure from Trenton to New York City. The walk follows the East Coast Greenway from the Metro Park train station in Iselin, NJ to Penn Station in New York. Last year's Big Walk (pictured here) was a huge success! Look for this to happen again this year too!
Visit the the Big Walk Website to learn more.
Publications
Newsletters for New Jersey members are sent via email or the postal system. Please help us conserve resources by providing your email address to Mike Kruimer at Kliner54@optonline.net . He will have you added to our email list.
Older Newsletters (for 2 years):
November 2009
February 2008
Meeting Minutes (for 2 years):
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
March 2009 October 2008
September 2008
July 2008
May 2008
New Jersey East Coast Greenway Multi-Use Trail Guide
This free guide, produced in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Transportation, allows travelers to easily follow the current route of the ECG across New Jersey. The guide includes turn-by-turn directions, maps with both the current route and any locations where the long-term proposed route diverges, detailed information on public transportation links, trail access, amenities such as restaurants, restrooms, and lodging, and much more. The guide is designed to fit neatly into a handlebar bag for easy reading and navigation. Published in 2009, will be republished in 2013.
Download your free guide today!
New Jersey County Routes 505 and 501 are not identified on Map 11, the final map of the New Jersey Multi-Use Trail Guide. Please download a corrected map.
ECG Maps and Cue Sheets
Google maps, turn-by-turn cue sheets, and overview maps are also available to help plan your trip and find your way through the route in New Jersey.
Download maps of the proposed routing for the northern section:
Partners
The ECGA is proud to be working with many great partners to bring the project to completion in New Jersey. Partners include but are not limited to:
New Jersey Mile Sponsors
Thank you for your support! Your inscriptions are listed here. The NJ Committee has added your inscriptions to kiosks along the trail. Find out more about the Mile Sponsor Program.
Below are numerous organizations and websites that offer additional information on safety, trails, greenways, and biking in New Jersey.
www.bicyclesafe.com
www.njbikemap.com
Biking in New Jersey
West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance
Bicycle Clubs
Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey
Central Jersey Bicycle Club
Morris Area Freewheelers Bicycle Club
New Jersey/Metro New York Randonneurs
Metro New York Region
Adirondack Mountain Club – North Jersey Chapter
Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance
Neighborhood Open Space Coalition
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (hiking clubs)
Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
Shorewalkers
Transportation Alternatives
Tri-State Transportation Campaign
Philadelphia Region / South of Trenton
Camden Greenways
Outdoor Club of South Jersey
Jackson Pathfinders
To learn more about the trail progress and activities in New Jersey, visit the New Jersey Committee page.
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