PEQUANNOCK TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Morris County) — Morris County marked a major milestone this week with the official opening of the Pompton Valley Rail Trail, a 5.1-mile multi-use path built atop a former railroad corridor and stretching from Pequannock Township to Wayne.
Roughly 100 local officials, residents and project partners gathered Thursday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony behind the Pequannock First Aid Squad to celebrate the completion of the trail, which had been in development for more than 30 years.
“This new trail provides a safe and scenic way to walk or bike to the train station — cutting down on car traffic and helping everyone breathe a little easier,” said Morris County Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen.
The paved, 10-foot-wide trail extends from River Drive in Pequannock to Mountain View Boulevard in Wayne, near NJ Transit’s Mountain View Station. It includes high-visibility crossings, signage, tactile surfaces for visually impaired users, and a restored bridge over the Pompton River.
Managed by the Morris County Department of Public Works, the $32 million project was the largest infrastructure initiative in the department’s history. Funding came from a federal grant administered by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA).
Officials from both Morris and Passaic counties praised the cross-county collaboration that brought the trail to fruition.
“This project is a great example of how we work together across county lines and across party lines to advance regionally significant projects,” said Passaic County Commissioner John Bartlett.
The trail adds 5.1 miles and 57 acres to the Morris County Park Commission’s system, which now totals more than 20,600 acres — the largest county park system in New Jersey.
Park Commission Executive Director Dave Helmer said the trail is expected to attract up to 200,000 visitors annually and could become the second most popular trail in the county after the Loantaka Brook Reservation.
Dignitaries at the ceremony included Commissioners Stephen Shaw and Douglas Cabana, Sheriff James Gannon, Pequannock Mayor John Driesse, and representatives from the NJTPA and Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill’s office.
As a tribute to the trail’s history, commemorative railroad spikes were presented to key contributors, each engraved with: “Pompton Valley Rail Trail, Dedicated May 29, 2025.”
