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Print Friendly MapThe Great Valley Trail, built on the former Lehigh & New England Railroad, offers an unpaved, natural experience through quiet woodlands between the townships of Hampton and Frankford.
Although only 4.3 miles long, the rail-trail connects with two other rail-trails—the Sussex Branch Trail and the Paulinskill Valley Trail—for a continuous 13.5-mile loop. The loop uses 4.9 miles of the Paulinskill Valley Trail and 4.3 miles of the Sussex Branch Trail.
Parking is available at Augusta Hill Road, where the Sussex Branch Trail and the Great Valley Trail intersect. Parking is also available at County Route 519.
Nice short run trail views of bridges , water go under an overpass cool graffiti and at the end in Branchville plenty of eateries within a few tenths of a mile .
This scenic trail is woodsy and off the beaten path. A road bike won't cut it, but if you've got a hybrid or mountain bike and don't mind a rough ride, it can be fun. Bug repellant is a good idea in the warmer months.
If you're doing the Great Valley/Paulinskill/Sussex Branch loop, the Augusta Road parking lot is a good place to start because it's at a low elevation. You can start out making the uphill slog over Great Valley's rough terrain, then once you connect with Paulinskill the going gets easier (and the pesky bugs disappear!).
If you're doing the loop in this counter-clockwise direction, it can be hard to find the connection between Great Valley and Paulinskill. Note that Great Valley doesn't end at Plotts Road as shown in the Traillink map - you need to continue on a bit further until the trail meets Junction Road. Then cross the road diagonally and you should be able to find the entrance to the Paulinskill trail. See the map I posted in the photos section - it shows the mileage for each of the three legs.
If you like wide open and flat trails then this is for you. Was nice to bring my dog with me; Appalachian trail is too narrow and rocky for my dog on a leash. Overall it was pretty dry, very quiet, and walking next to the Paulinskill was relaxing.
Began my mountain bike excursion at dawn from Warbasse Junction on a mild November Saturday. Headed out on the Paulinskill Valley Trail through the Sussex Branch Trail intersection toward Mudcut Road. Two miles in there was a good-sized bear in the middle of the trail, forty yards ahead. Stopped, calmly backed up and turned around once the bear did. It added about four miles to the loop. The Great Valley stretch is not as well traveled as the trails it connects. Wide trail most of the way. Fine for hybrid bikes. Memorable ride. Loop was well marked in each direction.
Wide lightly trafficked rail trail that is great for a walk, easy hike, trail run or easy mountain bike ride. While the trail is wide, in some parts it is merely a footpath in the grass. Part of a loop that spans over 13 miles. Bug spray is recommended.
Nice flat, wide trail that runs along the river.
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