Читать книгу Rail-Trails New Jersey & New York. The definitive guide to the region's top multiuse trails онлайн

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The forested path offers the perfect setting for a diversity of trail users—on this section, you may encounter everything from families with children on a hike to friends walking their dogs together. About 0.45 mile from the start, the red trail veers left.

Continuing along the red trail, you will encounter a staircase with a smooth ramp for wheeled items like bicycles. Almost 0.7 mile from the start, there is another split in the trail; bear left to continue along the red trail, emerging from the forest to travel parallel to the Rancocas Creek as it winds toward Smithville Lake. The trail crosses busy Smithville Road and continues to wind its way through the park, crossing two bridges before ending at the boat launch on River Street.

In this area by the boat launch, you’ll begin to see interpretive signage that tells the story of historic Smithville and different aspects of life in the industrial village, such as the first bicycle railway. Modified bicycles served as individual pods for users and sat along a fencelike track as users pedaled their way to their destinations. At a time when most roads were unpaved and easily became muddy, the bicycle railway offered a way to get from nearby communities to the industrial center of Smithville in less than 10 minutes.