NJ Wants Your Input On Morristown-Area Trails: See Details

MORRISTOWN, NJ — New Jersey trail users have a chance to weigh in on the future of the state's trail network, including routes running through the Morristown area.

An online New Jersey trails survey is seeking input from residents about their experiences using trails and what they would like to see improved. The interactive survey allows participants to provide feedback tied to specific locations on a map.

For Morristown-area residents, that includes Patriots' Path, the sprawling Morris County trail network that passes through Morristown and Morris Township and connects numerous parks, historic sites and recreational areas.

Patriots' Path includes more than 70 miles of hiking, cycling and riding trails, following portions of the Whippany and Black rivers and the South Branch of the Raritan River. The network connects federal, state, county and municipal parks and extends into neighboring counties.

Several Patriots' Path access points are located in and around Morristown, including near Speedwell Avenue, Sussex Avenue, Fosterfields, Washington Valley Road and Whitehead Road. The system also provides connections to local attractions including Historic Speedwell, Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, the Frelinghuysen Arboretum and Washington's Headquarters.

Trail conditions vary considerably along Patriots' Path. A two-mile stretch between Lake Road and Washington Valley Road in Morris Township is paved, while other portions consist of crushed stone, gravel, dirt, grass and rock.

The Morristown area also includes the Traction Line Recreation Trail, a 2.7-mile paved trail running alongside the NJ Transit rail line between Morristown and Madison.

The relatively flat trail passes Fairleigh Dickinson University and Convent Station before reaching Washington's Headquarters at Morristown National Historical Park. It is open to walkers, runners, bicyclists and inline skaters and includes 10 fitness stations.

The Traction Line also provides a nearby alternative to Patriots' Path during winter. Unlike Patriots' Path, where snow and ice are not removed, the Traction Line is cleared during winter because of requirements associated with the funding used to construct it, according to the Morris County Park Commission.

Residents interested in weighing in on New Jersey's trails can access the state's interactive trail survey here.