Great NJ bike paths to check out before summer ends

Are you one of the millions of Americans who rediscovered bicycles when COVID restrictions shut down gyms in March 2020?

More than $7 billion was spent on bicycles and accessories in 2020, almost a billion more than the year before and a billion less than in 2021.

So, while the weather is still warm and the days still long, get those bikes out of storage.

New Jersey has lots of rural and urban bike paths where you can enjoy the scenery while getting some exercise.

In honor of all the new bicycle owners, here is a list of some of the state's great cycling trails.

Saddle River County Park bike path

This 7.6-mile bike and pedestrian path passes through Fair Lawn, Glen Rock, Paramus, Ridgewood, Rochelle Park and Saddle Brook and under Route 4. If you're looking to take a break halfway through, stop at Dunkerhook Park, where you'll find a scenic waterfall. There's a Wild Duck Pond Area along the way, as well as other ponds, picnic areas, playgrounds, tennis courts and athletic fields that are accessible to the public.

MORE: Set your GPS for 1133 East Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood. This is an asphalt-paved trail busy with pedestrians and cyclists.

Patriots' Path

Patriots' Path in Morristown offers 46.3 miles of main trails and 27 miles of spur trails near the Whippany River. This multi-use path is great for hiking, biking and equestrian purposes. The path is surrounded by green open spaces and water views of the Whippany and Black rivers. The trail extends across Morris County from Essex to Warren counties and offers lots of points of interest along the way, including Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center, the Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Acorn Hall, the Ford Mansion, Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, Pocahontas Lake, Historic Speedwell, Lewis Morris County Park and Jockey Hollow. The trail is smoke-free and is not plowed during winter snowstorms.

MORE: Set your GPS to 270 Mendham Road, Morristown. This mixed-surface path is open from sunrise to sunset year-round.

Hudson River Waterfront Walkway

Although the path's name suggests it's limited to pedestrians, the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway is a popular spot for cyclists. What's better than cycling, jogging or going for a stroll with the Manhattan skyline in view? The pathway has spectacular views as it runs along the western shore of the Hudson River. The state trail is 30 feet wide from the Bayonne Bridge to the George Washington Bridge. The urban linear park provides contiguous unhindered access to the water's edge on a pretty flat surface, with lots of restaurants along the way.

MORE: This is a concrete path that runs through Sinatra Park in Hoboken.

Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail

This 72-mile Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail is the longest multi-use trail in the state and is referred to as the "crown jewel" of New Jersey trails. It attracts those who love to canoe, jog, hike, bicycle, fish and ride horses.

A portion runs along the towpath of the Delaware and Raritan Canal, built in the early 1830s as a transportation corridor from Philadelphia to New York. The trail is part of the Circuit Trails, 800 miles of paths throughout the Philadelphia and Camden areas, as well as the East Coast Greenway, a system of trails being developed to go from Maine to Florida.

The trail runs through Hunterdon, Mercer and Somerset counties. This path is also known for its wooden bridges and hand-built, stone-arched culverts. Take note of the historic canal bridges, the Port Mercer Bridge House and canal locks. This park trail is also used for group walks. A full list of programs in the area can be found at dandrcanal.com/programs.

MORE: Open from sunrise to sunset, the trail of asphalt, dirt and crushed stone can be picked up at 145 Mapleton Road, Princeton.

Paulinskill Valley Trail

The Paulinskill Valley Trail follows a creek by the same name through Sussex County, a rural section of New Jersey with a heavy German influence. Along the 27-mile trail you will see lots of wildlife, which can include bears and bobcats, along with mink, deer and lots of birds. This trail is great for walking or bicycling and popular because of its flat terrain, making it great for younger and older outdoor lovers.

The path starts at the junction of the Paulins Kill and the Delaware River in the west and Sparta Junction in the east. Because of this trail's mostly cinder surface, bikes with wide tires are best. There will be different surfaces along the path, including ballast for about 20 feet at the western end and a less-than-a-mile section where the surface is dirt and grass.

MORE: Set your GPS for 280 Warbasse Junction Road, Lafayette. The trail is open year-round, but most popular March through October.

Sussex Branch Trail

The 20-mile route takes bikers and hikers through swamps, lakes, greenery and towns in Sussex and Warren counties, including Branchville and Byram Township. Before becoming a trail, this path served as railroad access for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. In 1960, the railroad merged with the Erie Railroad to form the Erie Lackawanna Railroad. The state of New Jersey bought the property and transformed it into a trail that now serves the county. Keep an eye out for Cranberry Lake, with its crystal-clear water and boaters.

MORE: It runs between Mill Street, east of Newtown Avenue, in Branchville, and Waterloo Road and Continental Drive in Byram Township. The trail surface is made of cinder, dirt and grass.

Columbia Trail

The Columbia Trail was named after the natural gas pipeline that runs beneath it for 15 miles in rural North Jersey. The crushed-stone trail is found along the South Branch of the Raritan River and goes through historic High Bridge and Califon, as well as a steep, natural gorge. The pipeline was buried under an old railbed in the 1990s. Originally the railroad, which dates to 1976, was used to ship iron ore from local mines. After it installed the natural gas pipeline, the company donated the trail easement to Hunterdon and Morris counties.

MORE: The trail surface is made of crushed stone and goes from Main Street at Church Street in High Bridge to Bartley Road in Washington Township. It's open from daily from sunrise to sunset throughout the year and is smoke-free.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Great NJ bike paths to check out before summer ends