Open year round, public roads
Route Map Turn by Turn Directions
Gravitas: 
RDB: 
Proximity:
Looking for a good training ride right from town? This isn’t the most beautiful cycling route on this website. However, it is a reasonably pleasant 26.5 mile route that starts and ends within the City of Trenton (albeit in the far western section, at the NW corner of Calwalader Park).
It’s a particularly good ride for someone who’s looking for a decent, regular training ride where you don’t want to take the time to throw on the bike rack and drive somewhere before starting. It’s a moderately hilly route, traveling over low-traffic tertiary roads, and medium-traffic secondary roads that are wide enough not be scary on a bike. At the time of this writing, pavement and shoulders were generally in very good shape. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a beautiful day out on a bike, and don’t mind driving half an hour to 45 minutes, there are prettier rides on this website.
Another interesting sidelight to this ride is that several sections follow the route of Washington’s army’s march to the first Battle of Trenton. It includes sections of Sullivan’s way, and Bear Tavern road (the historic stretches are noted in the Turn by Turn Directions). You may want to check out the Hidden Trenton Guide to the Battles of Trenton and Princeton for more info.
Thanks to Dwight and Dara for showing me this route.
And you should fix the directions too. The Jacobs Creek Bridge has been back in business for nearly a year. Go straight up Bear Tavern and turn left on Washington Crossing – Pennington Rd. I would suggest that once you get down to the canal, walk your bike over the footpath bridge back into the park. Ride up past the visitors center and museum, continue past the entrance, follow signs to the nature center. Just before you get to the nature center, there is a road to the right with a barrier you can walk your bike around. Take that right – you will see 3 port a johns on the left followed by soccer fields. When you reach the end of this little road, you are at the intersection of Bear Tavern. make a left and follow the instructions as written. Going through the park is much safer – Church Road is just not safe to ride a bike on – more scenic, and gives you the opportunity to stop in the museum.
Thanks, Brian–it’s fixed.
Ride to or park at the canal by Trenton country club and ride the path all the way up to country club or lambertville
Oo I’ve never been on the canal path before. Need to check it out before it gets too cold!
I’ve done something similar before. But I do the canal path all way to Washington crossing park then thru the park. Keeps ya off some busy streets for a bit.