24 Great Rail-Trails of New Jersey (Paperback)

by Craig Della Penna (Author), Craig P. Della Penna (Author) "At the beginning of the 20th century, nearly every American city and town had a railroad passing through..." (more)
Key Phrases: New Jersey, Ocean City, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Subtitle: The Essential Outdoor Guide to The Garden State's Best Multi-use Recreational Trails Built on Abandoned Railroad Grades. Foreword by New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman. Each of these rail-trails has been converted from an abandoned railroad line as part of the growing nation-wide "Rails-to-Trails" movement, so these routes are historic as well as scenic. The solitude and beauty of rail-trails can be enjoyed by a variety of outdoor users including bicyclists, hikers, equestrians, and the disabled. This book explains all the information you need to explore the adventures of the trails. Included are precise odometer based mileages, specific trailhead directions, accurate maps, organizations, local contacts, B & Bs, and local bike shops, plus fascinating stories of each former railroad's history. You are invited to discover the delightful, educational, and healthy possibilities along the 24 Great Rail-Trails of New Jersey.

About the Author
Craig Della Penna has been working for the railroad industry for 20 years and is the manager of Railroad Distribution Servi Railroad in Westfield, Massachusetts. A life-long railroad historian and bicycling enthusiast, Della Penna serves as the New England Field Representative for the Wash. DC based Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. He is the Author of Great Rail-Trails of the Northeast and Images of Holyoke. Currently, he is working on a revised/expanded book, The Great Rail-Trails of New England and a forthcoming title, The Great Rail-Trails of New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: New England Cartographics (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1889787043
• ISBN-13: 978-1889787046
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #580,853 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic! Trail detail with the history of the railroads!, February 11, 2000

By	Rachel (Jersey Shore, USA) - See all my reviews

This book is quite unique & even better than the author's previous book on the rail-trails of New England. Three things distinguish this book from others:

(1) Insight into the history of the railroads.

(2) Useful & reliable descriptions of each trail.

(3) Needs of both cyclists & hikers are addressed.

A must-have for any rail-trail rider or hiker who wondered about the railroads that once ruled the trail.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent companion, February 12, 2002

By	MICHAEL CASALE (WEST PATERSON, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

For anyone interested in either discovering new trails to ride your bike on in new jersey or someone with an interest in rail
roading in the garden state the book is highly recommended. I live in northern n.j. (west paterson) and have taken the book with me on rides through some of the longer northern n.j. trails and have found the directions to the trail the sites to see and the remaining RR structures along the trail described very accurately. (Although the author seems to have missed mentioning the RR mile markers remaining on the essex branch by my house! ) Anyway i am 33 y.o. and i find that these long trails are sometimes a nice break from the more typical mtn. biking type of riding i also like to do in some of new jersey's other state parks. Dont get me wrong though ,these trails can certainly provide a great workout too. I recommend the southern section of the columbia trail through ken lockwood gorge as the nicest area in northern n.j.