The Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT) and The Lawrenceville School have reopened the section of the trail that runs through the school’s campus with a newly signposted route.
The 1.2-mile segment now begins at Lewisville Road and exits via Clark Gate along Main Street (U.S. 206), opposite Titus Avenue. The previous route intersected Main Street near Gordon Avenue.
Walkers have a chance to explore the new route as part of the LHT’s monthly Saturday Morning Walking Club series on March 8 at 9:30 a.m. The free event starts at Lawrenceville Fuel, 16 Gordon Avenue, and will follow a roughly three-mile round-trip route on the Lawrenceville School campus. Walking Club events are free to attend and all are welcome.
The Lawrence Hopewell Trail, one of New Jersey’s premier multi-use trails, spans parts of Lawrence and Hopewell townships. It features both paved and crushed stone surfaces through a mix of woods, parks, fields, and neighborhoods, serving walkers, cyclists, and runners.
The Lawrenceville School initially closed its section of the LHT during the COVID-19 pandemic for health reasons, and the trail remained closed due to construction.
The reopened trail segment, which consists of both gravel and paved surfaces, follows a modified path through the campus. From the south, the trail crosses Lewisville Road and travels along a gravel road by Woods Field.
It merges onto a paved road before heading north toward the center of the school. The trail then turns west, passing Keuffel Stadium before exiting via Clark Gate.
“The Lawrenceville School is delighted to welcome walkers, runners, and cyclists back to campus through the Lawrence Hopewell Trail,” said Steve Murray, head of The Lawrenceville School.
“The LHT is a vital community resource, and the continued expansion of the trail helps connect many beautiful spaces and historic landmarks throughout Lawrenceville,” he said.
David Sandahl, chair of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail Corporation, also expressed enthusiasm about the reopening, noting that the segment is a “vital link” in the trail loop.
“We deeply appreciate the warm welcome from The Lawrenceville School leadership and look forward to a strong and rewarding partnership,” Sandahl said.
The reopening of the Lawrenceville School section is part of broader changes to the southern portion of the 20-mile trail. Later this spring, a nearly half-mile-long elevated boardwalk will open in Maidenhead Meadows, removing the need for trail users to cross Princeton Pike.
Additionally, a rerouted section of the trail will open later this year, connecting Brearley House to Lenox Drive Office Park through the new Pike Town neighborhood.
The Lawrence Hopewell Trail Corp., a nonprofit organization, continues to work toward completing the trail by the end of 2026. Only four segments remain unfinished, including parts in Hopewell and Lawrence townships.
