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Print Friendly MapThe Jersey shore was a major vacation destination for residents of the Delaware Valley region throughout the early 20th century. From the 1890s to 1930s, two parallel railroad lines—the Atlantic City Railroad and West Jersey & Seashore Railroad—shuttled passengers to the coast for a seashore break. The competing trains, visible to each other along the parallel tracks, used to race to see which company could reach Cape May the fastest. As private automobiles grew more popular and people began to turn their interest toward more exotic destinations, the railroads merged and service was eventually discontinued.
This rail-trail journey will take you along a segment of the former West Jersey & Seashore Railroad railbed. Starting at the southern endpoint of the Cold Spring Bike Path (sometimes called the Historic Cold Spring Village Bike Path) at US 9/Sandman Boulevard, head north 1 mile to the Historic Cold Spring Village. At this nonprofit open-air living history museum, you can view life as it was in the early to mid-19th century and also enjoy a restored rail station. Just south of where US 9 meets the Historic Cold Spring Village, the path crosses an intermittent stream on an 8-foot wide, 40-foot-long trestle bridge for bike and pedestrian traffic.
The trail parallels Seashore Road as you travel under a canopy of trees, passing a high school and golf course to the right. Just past the suburban community of Erma, at 2.7 miles, the Cold Spring Bike Path connects to the Middle Township Bike Path, which continues another 8.9 miles north to the Cape May County Park & Zoo. The trail pairing acts as a backbone for the 16 municipalities that surround it, and future spur trails will connect even more communities and local attractions.
To reach parking near the southern endpoint, follow Garden State Pkwy. south to its end. Take Exit 0 for NJ 109, and turn right. In 0.6 mile, turn left onto US 9. A few parking spaces are available on your right in 700 feet, or continue 0.5 mile, and turn right onto Seashore Road. Parking for the trail’s southern endpoint can be found at the Historic Cold Spring Village Museum, which appears on your left in 0.7 mile.
If heading north on US 9 from Delaware, consider taking the US 9 N/Cape May–Lewes Ferry. Information on ferry vehicle fares can be found online. From the Cape May Terminal, drive 2.4 miles on US 9 N/Lincoln Blvd./Sandman Blvd. Turn left onto Seashore Road, and go 0.7 mile to reach the Historic Cold Spring Village Museum on your right. Once you park, the southernmost endpoint can be found 0.7 mile south at the intersection with US 9/Sandman Blvd. Alternatively, you can pick up the trail from the museum and continue north from there.
We bicycled the Cold Spring Bike Path, the Middle Township Bike Path and the Dennis Township Bike Path. They are fully connected, paved and straight. It's like a highway from north to south. It follows the power lines and is mostly sunny. There's very little to see along the way. It's great for exercise - bicycling, jogging, inline skating, pushing a stroller. The best part - no cars!!
Nice bike path closed to few campgrounds it’s leading to Cape May
We come to Cape May every summer and this bike path is awesome! I start every day biking this path. Thank you!
I've walked this trail starting from Historic Cold Spring Village and going south from there. It's nice that the old railroad buildings and signs are still in place. Except for right in front of Historic Cold Spring Village, the trail is shaded pretty well by trees and foliage on both sides of the trail. So, there's not a whole lot to see, but the trail is far away from traffic at the section of the trail. It's a nice little bit of exercise to add to a day at Historic Cold Spring Village.
Lower Township is working with Cape May County and Middle Township to construct the missing link between the two trails. When completed in Late Summer 2017 there will be an 11 mile path between Sandman Rd, Cold Spring Village and the Cape May County Park and Zoo.
Construction is happening to extend north to Church St in Middle Township, where it will link up with the Middle Township Bike Path, creating an 11 mile trail between Cold Spring and Cape May County Park/Zoo.
Nice flat paved path for a quick ride when we bring our bikes with us to Cape May. Has 40% shade. Not too busy. Just a few roads to cross but they are busy ones. You can park in the back of Historical Cold Springs Village in the old train station lot. My Aunt and Uncle told us about it when they were completing it. They bike and walk this frequently being that it is behind their house. A great quiet place away from the touristy Cape May town to go for a ride.
My wife, 3 year old(in a burley bike trailer), and I rode this path yesterday. The directions to the path are outdated. Sandy Marshall Crossing no longer exists, it was closed off with a guard rail over the railroad tracks.
There are 2 places to park your car if you are driving to the path. The first being at Historic Cold Springs Village(which the directions in this email do not point to). There is free parking and the path starts there. Or, you can drive to Pantry One (small convenience store) at 501 Seashore Rd, Cape May, NJ 08204, and park in the gravel lot BEHIND the store (not in their parking lot).
The trail is 2.7 miles long and has .10 mile markers along the way. It is clean, and has decent shade. However, you do ride along a busy road for a bit, the scenery is just ok.
Lots of tree cover that is unkept and overgrown, unfortunately. I did see a half dozen people on bikes, but otherwise its a pretty quiet lonely path. There isnt much to do around there other than going to Cold Springs Village, so its rather out of the way for a 2.7 mile path.
I love this bike path but I am partial since I live near by. It has only two pitfalls. The first is it through two generally busy roads and A. its hard for drivers to see you and B. they are both busy intersections. Second pitfall is that there is a couple of stretches that run parallel to a road so you are deprived of a view. Though that particular road is kind of nice and there is an old cemetery to look at so it's not so bad. Otherwise the views are wonderful. there is a beautiful marsh pond that it runs along that in the spring and summer has gorgeous weeping willows growing beside it and some sort of flowering shrub is growing in the center of it. The entire set up is entirely natural. Its like something from a painting. The path is also marked every 10th of a mile which is nice. I just wish there was a way to connect this path to the middle township path.
Locals' Secret: On the southern end cross Ferry Road (watch traffic), continue along the back of Lower Township Elementary School sports fields, carry bike across railroad tracks at Nantucket Road (adjacent to school bus parking lot). Continue through lightly travel Tranquility neighborhood & find your way to the Intercoastal bridge leading into beautiful Victorian Cape May. Great biking town!
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