Highlands Trail Guide: Segment #12
Dennis Road to the Delaware River (NJ/PA)

HT bridge to PA – Photo Glenn Oleksak
Dennis Road to the Delaware River
Region: Delaware/Kittatinny
Distance: 5.8 Miles
State: NJ
Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult
County: Hunterdon County, NJ
Blaze: Aqua/Teal Diamond
This 5.8-mile final segment begins on the co-aligned HT/Nature Trail, descending through Musconetcong Gorge Preserve to a junction with the HT/Orange Trail. After crossing a cornfield, the trail begins a long road walk along Bellis Road and Mount Joy Road, passing access points for the Musconetcong River Wildlife Management Area.
The route continues along CR 627 into the Riegelsville Historic District, where the Highlands Trail officially crosses into Pennsylvania via the Roebling Suspension Bridge, ending at a welcome sign beside the Delaware River.
Free Highlands Trail Maps from The Trail Conference
Don’t Leave Unprepared
Active Trail Segment Alerts
The trail from Cyphers Road to Pennsylvania has, for the most part, been blazed on lightly travelled country roads. Although we have the approval to eliminate much of this road walk and routes have been scouted, maintaining a trail through the available public land will be difficult due to unmanageable weed and brush growth. Our current plan is to gradually reduce the road walk.
Detailed Trail Description
From the parking area on Dennis Road, follow the blazes down the co-aligned HT/Nature (blue) Trails to the junction with the HT/orange-blazed trail. Bear left on the HT/orange trail and follow it for 2.1 miles to a cornfield.
Turn left and make your way along the field up to Bellis Road.
Turn right on Bellis Road and at 2.2 miles, pass Cyphers Road, where parking is available in a new gravel lot. Continue on Bellis Road, passing a gravel parking lot for Musconetcong River Wildlife Management Area at 2.9 miles.
At 3.4 miles, Bellis Road becomes Mount Joy Road. Continue on Mount Joy Road to a right turn on CR 627 at 5.0 miles.
At 5.4 miles, turn left to continue on CR 627 toward the Riegelsville Historic District. At 5.7 miles, turn left to cross the Delaware River into Pennsylvania over the historic Roebling suspension bridge.
The blazes end at the bridge. Cross a gravel restaurant parking lot and come to a sign welcoming the HT into Pennsylvania at 5.8 miles.
