Patriots’ Path

The Central Park Dog Run is rotating closures for turf maintenance,......click for details.....

The Central Park Dog Run is rotating closures for turf maintenance,......click for details.....

270 Mendham Road, Morristown, NJ 07960

(For driving / GPS address)

WARNING

Snow and ice are not removed from the trail system.

Patriots’ Path was preserved to protect the Whippany River and its tributaries. The Park Commission does not plow the trail system for a number of reasons including:

  • Snow pushed to the side of the trail negatively impacts the vegetation along the trail which buffers the stream;

  • Most importantly, there is not an effective snow/ice melting product that can keep the trails free of ice.

The trails at Loantaka Brook Reservation are also not kept clear of snow and ice for similar reasons above in order to protect the Loantaka Brook and its tributaries.

Alternate Trails:

The Traction Line Recreational Trail, which begins/ends across the street from Washington Headquarters and begins/ends at Danforth Avenue in Madison Borough behind Fairleigh Dickinson University, with a number of additional access points in between. This trail is cleared of snow and ice due to requirements of the funding source that was used to construct the trail.  A map of the trail can be found on the Park Commission’s website at  https://www.morrisparks.net/index.php/parks/traction-line-recreation-trail.

The sidewalks of Central Park of Morris County are also maintained during the winter season.

There is also a paved trail around the Giralda Farms corporate center that is possibly plowed; it can be accessed via Woodland Avenue in Chatham Township and Loantaka Way in Madison Borough. This trail is overseen by the corporate center.


*PLEASE NOTE: The bridge on Patriot’s Path at Pine Tree Plaza in Hanover is currently out of service due to a vehicle accident. We appreciate your patience and understanding and are working on repairs.

Hours of Operation / History / No Smoking Policy 

If you enjoy recreational activities, such as biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, jogging, walking your canine companion, and hiking, Patriots' Path is the place to visit. Comprised of 46.3 miles of main trails and 27 miles of spur trail located on 291.9 acres, Patriots’ Path is a trail system of hiking, biking and equestrian trails, as well as green open spaces. It links several federal, state, county, and municipal parks, as well as watershed lands, historic sites, and other points of interest throughout Morris County. Since much of the Path lies along the corridors of the Whippany and Black Rivers and the South Branch of the Raritan River, you can always enjoy a trail along the water. The Black River and the South Branch of the Raritan River are two of the most pristine trout-production steams in the state. This trail extends across the entire County of Morris from Essex County to Warren County.

The trail system is stabilized in many sections with crushed stone and gravel, other areas are left as narrow pathways on earth and rock and shorter sections in Morristown and Morris Township area are paved.  Several miles lie on cinder and gravel beds of old railroad lines. Digital trail maps are available online.

The main stem of Patriots’ Path extends from East Hanover and connects the Lenape Trail in Essex County to Allamuchy Mountain State Park in Sussex County, intersecting with the Columbia Trail in Washington Township. The purpose of the trail system is to provide opportunities for passive outdoor recreation while protecting and enhancing the environmental and aesthetic integrity of the stream valleys and uplands through which it passes.


Points of interest along the trail include:

  • Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center

  • The Frelinghuysen Arboretum

  • Acorn Hall

  • The Ford Mansion

  • Fosterfield Living Historical Farm

  • Pocahontas Lake

  • Historic Speedwell

  • Lewis Morris County Park

  • Jockey Hollow

  • Black River Wildlife Management Area

  • Cooper Gristmill

  • Chubb Park

  • Schooley's Mountain County Park

  • Kay Environmental Center

  • Willowwood Arboretum

Patriots' Path is supported by dedicated Adopt-A-Trail participants who assist in maintaining sections of the path under the jurisdiction of the Morris County Park Commission.  Please call 973.631.5136 if you or your group are interested in adopting and maintaining a portion of Patriots' Path.
 

The first parcel of land was acquired in September 1968, and there was a bikeway dedication ceremony held on September 12, 1975.  In 2014, the development of Patriots’ Path is nearly completed.

Plans are underway to create a September 11th National Memorial Trail. The Patriots’ Path section of the Liberty-Water Gap Trail in Morris County will be included as a portion of this proposed historic trail. Once completed, the trail will connect all of the September 11th memorials through numerous states, from the Pentagon Building in Arlington, VA to the field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, to Ground Zero where the World Trade Center in New York City once stood.
 

Patriot’s Path trails are open daily, sunrise to sunset throughout the year.

No Smoking Policy

The Morris County Park Commission has recently announced a No Smoking Policy banning all smoking including burning of, inhaling from, exhaling the smoke from or the possession of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe or any other matter of substance which contains tobacco or any other matter that can be smoked, or the inhaling or exhaling of smoke or vapor from an electronic smoking device. CLICK HERE for more details. Thank you for your continued support!

things to Do:

Cross-Country Skiing
Fishing
Hiking
Snowshoeing

Features:

Biking Trails - Paved
Biking Trails - Unpaved
Directory
Equestrian Trails
Pets On Leash

* Requires permit/advanced scheduling |

(HC) Handicap Accessible

MAP DOWNLOADS:

Patriots' Path Trail Map 3 MB

Click below for driving directions

GPS Address: 270 Mendham Road, Morristown, NJ 07960

Harrington Park :

90 Rock Road, Washington Township, NJ 07853

Schooley's Mountain:

91 East Springtown Road, Long Valley, NJ 07853

Fairview Avenue:

113 Fairview Avenue, Long Valley, NJ 07853

Gillette Trail:

76 East Mill Road, Long Valley, NJ 07853

Palmer Park:

Palmer Park, Bartley, NJ 07853

Chubb Park:

Chubb Park, Chester, NJ 07930

Cooper Gristmill:

Cooper Gristmill, Chester, NJ 07930

Kay Environmental Center:

200 Pottersville Road, Chester, NJ 07930

Bamboo Brook:

170 Longview Road, Far Hills, NJ 07931

Willowwood:

300 Longview Rd, Far Hills, NJ 07931

Heistein Park:

Heistein Park, Mendham, NJ 07945

India Brook:

49 Combs Hollow Road, Mendham, NJ 07945

Highlands Park & North Road:

137 North Road, Chester, NJ 07930

Black River - Hugg Road:

11 Hugg Road, Chester, NJ 07930

Black River - Main Street:

2 Main Street, Randolph, NJ 07869

Old Brookside Road:

30 Old Brookside Road, Randolph, NJ 07869

Mountain Avenue:

73 Mountain Avenue, Mendham, NJ 07945

West Main Street:

323 Mendham Road, West Mendham, NJ 07945

Dismal Harmony Natural Area:

40 East Main Street, Morristown, NJ 07960

Mendham Road by Lewis Morris Park:

192 Washington-Mendham Road, East Mendham, NJ 07945

Sunrise Lake - Lewis Morris Park:

Sunrise Lake Drive, Mendham, NJ 07945

Whitehead Road:

59-81 Whitehead Road, Morristown, NJ 07960

Washington Valley Road:

110 Washington Valley Road, Morristown, NJ 07960

Fosterfields:

10 Ramney Hill Road, Morristown, NJ 07960

Sussex Avenue:

403-407 Sussex Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960

Inamere Road:

17-21 Inamere Road, Morristown, NJ 07960

Lake Valley Road:

44-46 Lake Valley Road, Morristown, NJ 07960

Speedwell:

292 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960

Frelinghuysen Arboretum:

353 East Hanover Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960

Central Park:

39-41 Eden Lane, Whippany, NJ 07981

Bee Meadow Park:

22 Howell Street, Whippany, NJ 07981

South Beverwyck Road:

1231 South Beverwyck Road, Parsippany, NJ 07054