Cooper River Trail
Located within the 346-acre Cooper River Park, the 3.7-mile Cooper River Park Loop allows for easy exploration of this beautiful urban oasis. Located in Pennsauken, N.J., the site is a popular destination with a variety of activities and events taking place throughout the year. Visit historic Hopkins House on South Park Drive, which dates back to the 1740s and today hosts events such as art exhibits and children’s programs. Throughout the park find mature trees, wetland habitats, grassland areas, and a plethora of wildlife. Due to the variety of plantings in the park, this is a good site for bird and butterfly watching. In the late spring and summer groups of egrets and herons can be found, and bald eagles and several raptors can routinely be seen.
The loop trail provides a paved surface for biking and walking and is an ideal route for families. Along the way find a large playground, miniature golf, a driving range, picnic areas, enjoy a walk across a short pedestrian bridge to Veteran’s Island, take a sailing lesson at the marina, kayak in the river, or even watch one of the numerous rowing competitions that are held on the Olympic distance straightaway. The Cooper River Trail links to sections of the Camden Greenway, which will eventually provide access to Philadelphia. For more information visit Camden County’s website.
Completed Sections of the Trail Include:
Gateway Park – The Gateway Park Trail runs along the Cooper River connecting Camden and Pennsauken.
Farnham Park Trail – This trail connects with Gateway park via a crosswalk at Baird Boulevard
Park Drive Trail – This is a connection between Kaighn Ave and Route 130 crossing.
Cooper River Park Loop – This is the main trail in Cooper River Park. The north shore path which is quite narrow will be supplemented by bike lanes, which are funded but have yet to be installed.
Cherry Hill Dog Park to Grove St (Maria Barnaby Greenwald Memorial) – This section is being reconstructed and widened with a new crossing of Grove St in 2018.
Grove St to Challenge Grove Park – This section was widened and improved in 2015.
Parkside Trail
Anchored by the 71-acre Farnham Park in the Parkside neighborhood of Camden, N.J., the Parkside Trail is a quarter mile segment of the Camden Greenways network. The current trail is about .25 mile in length and runs from Kaighn Avenue to Pine Street through the park and along a portion of the Cooper River.
Eventually, the Greenway will create an interconnected network throughout the Camden area via both on and off-road trails, that will provide access to Philadelphia, the East Coast Greenway, and additional trails that are part of the Circuit network. From the Parkside Trail, via connections along Kaigh Avenue and Pine Street, it will also possible to travel on loop around Cooper River, the Delaware River, and Newton Creek for 9 miles, providing links between communities, schools and parks.
The current Parkside Trail provides a flat, paved route that is ideal for families. At its west end the park offers a playground and an open play field. At the east end in Farnham Park, Camden’s largest park, there are a additional opportunities for recreational activities in open spaces and for exploration of the river. To learn more about Camden County’s Greenway plan click here.
