RTA Trail Info
Trail Info and Maps
Provided below is information on the various trail sections where horses are allowed. Links to trail maps are also provided.
Please be sure to stay on the marked trails and to the edge of all fields. Some portions of trail corridors may be adjacent to, or cross over private land via access easements or via special permission for RTA members only.
Please clean up all hay, manure etc. in the designated trailer parking locations. Please be especially immaculate when using lots of multi-use parks such as Pickell Park, Summer Road Park, Deer Path Park, etc. so that we continue to be welcomed by other park users.
During hunting season, please wear blaze orange at all times. Please also avoid peak hunting periods such as before 10 am, after 4 pm and all day on Saturdays. To control the deer population, the township leases out the hunting rights of open space parcels to hunting clubs. Our goal is to work closely with the various clubs in mutual respect and tolerance.
Pickell Park to Cushetunk Mountain
The full length of the trail from Pickell Park to the non-trailer parking lot at the base of Cushetunk Mountain is about 4 miles. For trailer parking, turn into the main entrance for Pickell Park on Mountain Road and proceed to the back of the lot. The Blue Trail is mostly shaded on an old farm road that runs down through the center of the park. The shaded sections are rocky but you have the option to ride either side of the main trail in fields with excellent grassy footing. The Yellow Trail spurs off of the Blue Trail and has a water crossing. It then meets back up with the Blue Trail. The Blue Trail then ascends 300 feet up the mountain to the White Lookout Trail. It is very steep and Rocky so shoes, boots and conditioned horses recommended. The Blue Trail continues along the ridge of the mountain to connect with the Cushetunk Trails.
Cole Road Greenway
There are over 10 miles of trails on the Cole Road Greenway East and West. This trail is located on both sides of Cole Road and also connects to the Lachenmyr Trail. Trailer parking is 1/10 of a mile north of the intersection of Pleasant Run Road and Cole Road. At the trail head proceed down the gravel road through the gate. Take your first left into a field and park anywhere in that field. Alternately, you can park on the cul-de-sac at the end of Morningstar Road off Hillcrest or on the cul-de-sac at the end of Edgewood Road off 523. There is also trailer parking off Cole Road about half way down on the right hand side if you are heading north. The trails are well marked and traverse mostly level and gently sloping terrain, along the edge of fields and through forested sections. The mostly grassy footing is excellent on almost the entire trail, which makes it excellent for barefoot horses. Some spur trails are suitable for hikers only due to low branches.
Lachenmayr Trail
This trail offers about 4 miles of marked trails with mostly grassy footing that is fine for barefoot horses. The terrain is mostly gentle and flat with 2 short steeper hills and 2 water crossings. Trailer parking is available at the Morningstar Road cul-de-sac or from Roosevelt Park on Roosevelt Road. It is strongly recommended that from Roosevelt Park, you ride up the road and access the trail from the Heath Road trailhead as the yellow access trail from the park is very boggy with ditches and is not safe for horses. You can ride around the detention basin, along the Lachenmayr farm and the Round Field which was an ancient indian encampment. You can also ride down and along the stream to the south of the Round Field. This trail connects to the Cole Road Greenway Trails.
Round Mountain and Bouman Stickney
Round Mountain Trails offer 7+ miles of trails and run through both Readington Township and Hunterdon County open space. The trails connect to Deer Path Park Trails and also Bouman Stickney Homestead/Museum. Parking for trailers is at Dobozynski Farm on Woodschurch Road. You can also park in the Deer Path Park back lot which is off West Woodschurch Road. This is a technical trail with steep terrain. Shoes or boots recommended. There is a nice loop around the top of the mountain with good footing. The Peter Buell Trail is open to horses but is very steep and rocky so it is not recommended for riding.
Pleasant Run Greenway
Click Here for brochure and trail map>>
The Pleasant Run Greenway offers 3+ miles of marked trails and connects with the Lazy Brook Greenway. Trailer parking is located on Summer Road after the S bend as you head east, near the trailhead at the intersection of Summer Road and Hixson Road. Footing is mainly grassy and is excellent for barefoot horses. The terrain is mostly mild with rolling hills. The trails traverse open fields, a cedar forest and woodlands as they meander towards a Pleasant Run tributary. An easy loop at the south end circles an open field. The main trail continues northward through a cedar forest and then along the bank of a tributary feeding into the Pleasant Run.
Lazy Brook Greenway
The Lazy Brook Greenway offers about 2.5 miles of trails and connects to the Pleasant Run Greenway. Trailer parking is available off Summer Road after the S bend as you head east. The trail is mostly level and traverses the edge of grassy fields and is therefore great for barefoot horses. At one point you navigate downhill through a small water crossing and up the other side.
Deer Path Park (Hunterdon County)
Click Here for brochure and trail map>>
Deer Path Park offers 6+ miles of marked trails with varying terrain. Shoes or boots are recommended for some trail sections on Round Mountain. The remainder of the trails especially along the South Branch River have excellent footing for barefoot horses. Trailer parking is available in the last lot and the park is accessed from West Woodschurch Road. Riders must stay on the trail marked for horses to avoid the jogging trail and paracourse which is for people ONLY. One section of trail goes toward and along the bank of the South Branch River with access to get into the water. The other trail sections cross over West Woodschurch Road and go up and around Round Mountain and connect to Readington Township trails.
