Spruce run campground any good? El Patron Mexican restaurant and The Real Deal BBQ any good? Thinking about a weekend get away soon. Riding the Colombia trail out and back and camping. Is it gravel? Any intel you have time to include would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Columbia trail intel?
- Thread starter tankhead
- Start date
adogg
Well-Known Member
I've had The Real Deal BBQ few times. It's good. If you're in the area, it's worth checking it out. I've camped at Spruce Run once, didn't like the open field campground layout. There is camping available at nearby Voorhees state park. We camped there about 10 years ago, bathrooms could've been better, hopefully they upgraded them since then.
Kaleidopete
Well-Known Member
Just did it today, 30 miles out & back. Mostly gravel, one bathroom the whole way.
No interesting stops along the way, maybe 1. I still had a great time.
Looks like a few interesting trails branch off.
No interesting stops along the way, maybe 1. I still had a great time.
Looks like a few interesting trails branch off.
Cole
Well-Known Member
Spruce run is rough... Low water. I think the camping is in a spot where the water is higher. I don't think I would travel and camp for the CT. Idk how far south you are, but if you are up this way for CT, you could do CT and add in bedminster to make it more fun. I haven't eaten at either of those places, but if you are up for a $25 Burger Cree has a great one!
Fire Lord Jim
Well-Known Member
The Columbia Trail is not true gravel. It is compacted white stone. I've ridden it on everything from beach cruisers to 23mm tire road bikes. Most any bike will work there.
From Voorhees State Park there is a trail to the Columbia Trail. This is mountain biking. And Voorhees is difficult mountain biking.
From Voorhees State Park there is a trail to the Columbia Trail. This is mountain biking. And Voorhees is difficult mountain biking.
rjr44
Well-Known Member
Camped Vorhees a few years ago, it was good, and if I’m remembering correctly and not mixing it up with somewhere else the bathrooms were really nice.
2 hours south. Yes bedminster is on the list as well. I'm down with the $25 burger!!!
Cree being the wine company? That's all I could find, yes?
Could you elaborate on the trail to CT? Are you saying that the trail is single track rocky mountain biking not suitable for a gravel bike?
Cole
Well-Known Member
Yup
Cole
Well-Known Member
From SR, make a right, make a right on 31, left on creager, and you can take the road to CT
on the way back to high bridge, jump off the CT at Hoffman's Crossing , and jump on the Raritan River Rd/Ken Lockwood Park.
It is closed to through traffic. At the end, there is a short sections of road (Cokesbury) to get back into High Bridge.
Nice detour by the river.
It is closed to through traffic. At the end, there is a short sections of road (Cokesbury) to get back into High Bridge.
Nice detour by the river.
iman29
Well-Known Member
I ride the CT end to end very often from the Flanders/Bartley road side - ~30 miles round trip. Not sure I would call any of it a destination but if you are combining it with a longer route from somewhere else I guess it could be. I don't do any bikepacking or camping so my view may not be the best.
About 2 years ago they redid the surface of the CT from West Valley Brook road to Highbridge with what looks like crushed white quartz stone that feels like it rolls a bit slower. But it does keep the surface pretty dry now when there's a wet weather period. the rest of the trail is hardpacked gravelish type surface easily ridden with even a road bike like @Fire Lord Jim mentioned.
Lots of little places to stop in Highbridge, or you can jump off the trail in Long valley near the Coffee Potter and ride a short distance on the roads to the shopping center where there's a lot of places to stop, eat, drink etc... just a quick snapshot below as an example to get to the Chilton Mill Brewery. Pezzo Pizza is also really good.
About 2 years ago they redid the surface of the CT from West Valley Brook road to Highbridge with what looks like crushed white quartz stone that feels like it rolls a bit slower. But it does keep the surface pretty dry now when there's a wet weather period. the rest of the trail is hardpacked gravelish type surface easily ridden with even a road bike like @Fire Lord Jim mentioned.
Lots of little places to stop in Highbridge, or you can jump off the trail in Long valley near the Coffee Potter and ride a short distance on the roads to the shopping center where there's a lot of places to stop, eat, drink etc... just a quick snapshot below as an example to get to the Chilton Mill Brewery. Pezzo Pizza is also really good.
Kinda feeling like a destination trip to both Spruce Run and the CT is going to be...an underwhelming experience?
Fire Lord Jim
Well-Known Member
But he's asking about gravel bike riding. I usually fail, and have only once rode this section on anything less than mountain bike.
it's gravely dirt paved bomb out with rip rap in the one section.
let's call it an adventure, and listening to the water roll over the rocks may be the best part of the trip.