Riding Through a Fall Mosaic

For cyclists who slow their spin to take in the scenery, the Lawrence-Hopewell Trail offers more than a breath of fresh air. With opportunities to learn about local history and ecology while taking in breathtaking vistas, you can bet your bicycle you’ll be in for a memorable fall experience.

The trail, which extends into Lawrence and Hopewell townships in Mercer County, was created in 2001 as part of a community-led initiative to create safe off-road areas for walking, cycling, and recreational use. It also helped create commuting options for employees of nearby Bristol-Myers Squibb and the Educational Testing Service—the project’s primary funders—in their commitment to improve the quality of life for those living and working in the region.

Upon arrival, the happy glow of park-goers, accompanied by dozens of trotting, tail-wagging dogs, was proof enough that the funders’ vision had been realized. What’s more, the Lawrence Hopewell Trail Corporation hosts community events throughout the year to help encourage people to connect and engage with the trail, including the annual Full Moon Ride on September 26. (For details: lhtrail.org.)

There are several easily accessible parking lots along the trail, some with restrooms and water fountains. My journey began at Rosedale Park, in Hopewell Township, which was bustling with folks and families enjoying the pavilions, picnic tables, and shade trees cooling their view of Rosedale Lake.

Hopping on the trail offered an immediate feast for the senses. Rounding the lake, dozens of red-winged blackbirds darted from the reeds as the trail led to the first of several beautifully oxidized red iron bridges that punctuated the sunny stretches and understories thick with box alders, bird cherries, white oaks, and beech.

On one shady stretch, a bird-lover’s beacon came to view: a large bird blind overlooking Mercer Meadows, with several identification plaques to help spot yellow warblers, Eastern meadowlarks, bluebirds, and towhees.

Around the bend, the trail feeds into Mercer Meadows, whose massive views (over 1,600 acres) are best seen via a viewing platform, revealing wetland meadows and old, un-mowed plough fields left as habitat for bird, mammal, and insect alike.

Joining the infographics depicting the park’s ecological conservation efforts are nearly two dozen historical markers. My ride first led me to the Hunt House, a multiple-generation farmhouse dating to the 1700s (and now the office of the Mercer County Park Commission). Further onward came the Pole Farm District, the site of a large shortwave radio station used for AT&T’s international telephone communications from the late 1920s (one pole remains, called The Last Pole Standing, adjacent to the Reed-Bryan Farm, a pre–Civil War working farm).

Other pertinent historical sites on the trail include the Johnson Trolley, which ran in the early twentieth century and ferried passengers between Princeton and Trenton (of which the trail follows a short section); Lewisville, Lawrence Township’s oldest African American community; and the Brearley Oak, the largest black oak in New Jersey.

With the abundance of so much to see (and learn) on the trail, clear, well-placed signage helps keep you on track should your mind wander. The trail itself is easily navigable, consisting mainly of quarry dust, an occasional patch of gravel, and stretches of pavement, making it best for touring bikes (though my old Cannondale road bike did just fine). The variety of sites make it easy to want to keep going to see what’s ahead, so bring lots of water, a variety of snacks, a hat, and an extra layer (the shadier areas can be a little cooler), and binoculars if you’re a bird nerd.

While the trail is about eighteen miles, a few connector areas under construction and slated to be completed this fall, will bring the entire loop length to twenty miles.

After packing my bike back in the car, I wandered to the other side of the lot to discover the massive 500-foot-long Stony Brook Pedestrian Bridge, which crosses the Stony Brook, a beautiful tributary of the Millstone River.

Holding onto the side rail to stretch my calves, I looked down at the basking turtles and told them I’d be back.

Lauren Johnson is a regular contributor to River Towns. This year she’s helped four turtles (three box, one small snapper) cross the road.