any other car-free sections of South Mountain Reservation?

Yesterday I went for a skate along Crest Drive in South Mountain Reservation (to the left of the dog park entrance), and thoroughly enjoyed the fact that there were no cars allowed. Does anyone know if there are any other car-free paths in the reservation? I'm thinking of paved paths for biking/skating/etc. - not the unpaved hiking trails.

There's an adjoining one-mile loop from the road to the right of the dog park that isn't car-free, but is very lightly used. Wow, the roads up there are such a mess right now. Out and back on Crest and around the Bear Road loop is about 5k.

There is a path on the other side of the street from the boat house (the one with actual boats, not the restaurant) that I believe is car free, though I do remember driving on it back in 1993. It goes all the way down to South Orange Ave.


Correct spontaneous, and the road is closed.

spontaneous said:

There is a path on the other side of the street from the boat house (the one with actual boats, not the restaurant) that I believe is car free, though I do remember driving on it back in 1993. It goes all the way down to South Orange Ave.



There is also a ca. 1 mile loop at the top of the hill kitty corner to the boat house restaurant. Cars are allowed, but the whole area is seldom used, so It would be quite safe. Having said that, it is hillier than the loop by the dog park, so it may not be suitable for skating.


The section of Brookside Drive from Glen Avenue to South Orange Avenue is (or at least used to be) closed to motor vehicles on Sunday mornings each week. Perhaps someone knows if that is still the case.

They seem to close Brookside in the reservation on Sundays from south orange to glen in Milburn.

sac said:

The section of Brookside Drive from Glen Avenue to South Orange Avenue is (or at least used to be) closed to motor vehicles on Sunday mornings each week. Perhaps someone knows if that is still the case.


Still the case.

That stretch of Brookside is closed from 7 a.m. until noon on Sundays.

Thanks, everyone. Much appreciated.

j_r said:

That stretch of Brookside is closed from 7 a.m. until noon on Sundays.


What for?


Sorry, that wasn't clear. It is closed to vehicular traffic but open to pedestrians and bicycles.

jerseyjack said:

j_r said:

That stretch of Brookside is closed from 7 a.m. until noon on Sundays.


What for?



for bike riding! though walkers/ runners as well

The northernmost portion of the reservation Mayapple Hill, right off Northfield ave, has a road that almost never sees any cars and goes through that whole area, really nice.


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