Water Company

This place was kinda interesting. First of all it's a pain to find the trail head, which is located on 518 directly across the road from the D&R preserve parking lot on the left as you head into Lambertvile. This parking lot also has a trail head that heads off towards pleasant valley road (more in this later). Anyway I took the blue trail straight into the water company trail system. This trail starts on relatively tame but quickly gets into massive rock sections that with my hardtail and my mediocre skills proved to be too much of a challenge, and forced me to walk for several sections. The trail was well marked, however, both by markers and also the hundreds of pedal strike scratches littering the rocks all over the trail. Seriously, your pedals and cranks will take a serious beating on the rocks here. Eventually the blue trail came out to a three way split after a river crossing. I stayed straight to stay on the blue trail but I believe that the left trail links up with the yellow trail which I didn't get a chance to ride. Continuing on the blue trail I was met with tons of thorn bushes and rotten branches across the trail that loved to try and twist my front wheel when I wasn't looking.

Eventually I came out to the orange and red trails. Both of which were overgrown and generally unkempt. The only man made features were a few dilapidated log overs. There were still multiple boulders to struggle or walk over and many root gardens. Soon I came out to the river crossing again and took the blue trail back out to 518.

To me these trails were challenging but in the wrong ways. There were very few sections that had any flow to them due to the sharp turns and unmanaged trails. Like I said, also, most of the rocks and rock gardens are too difficult for any one but the most skilled riders to cleanly get over. On that note: watch out for your chain rings b/c most all of these rocks are too high to simple role over.

So, when I got back to my car I decided to take the trail from the parking area down to pleasant valley road. Now, this trail is marked as pedestrian only, however, bump irons tire marks were present and based on the Strava "segment explorer" feature mtb riders pound down this trail often, which is understandable because compared to the water company system this trail rocks. It is all downhill with good obstacles and good flow, and is well maintained.

Finally, my recombination is to take this trail to pleasant valley and link up with the baldpate trail system and from there Washington crossing park if you want to. But of course check out water company because it may be your cup of tea. I will say water company did put me in the spirit of adventure due to the blood pouring down my arms and legs from all the sticker bush cuts. But, hey, that's what mtb riding is all about.

Very fun technical set of trails which will challenge advanced riders. Lots of natural boulders to session. A less technical Sourlands with more flow. Can link up Baldplate Mountain Trails via Greenway trail for longer 20 plus mile ride.

Water Company reminds of a mini-sourlands type of system, but is not quite as relentless. Still very technical- an average of 6 is blazing through the water co. Bring a spare tube.