I rode the trail from Easton to Lumberville on July 9th. The section from Easton to Wy Hit Tuk Park Trailhead is in horrible condition, and in one section the trail is completely washed out and cannot be crossed even on foot - so take the road (S Delaware Drive). From Wy Hit Tuk Park south the trail is in pretty good shape. Just before Lumberville there is 100 feet or so of washout, but you can walk your bike across it no problem. If you see my post from May, the trail from Lumberville to Centerville was already in bad condition and may now be even worse. Do what I did and take the footbridge over to the D&R Canal Path in Jersey. Other than these sections the ride was nice with very pretty and varying scenery.

New Yorkers note: there is a bus from Manhattan to Easton (Susquehanna Trailways) that arrives in Easton at 10AM (I took it from Somerville NJ). You can ride the trail 50 miles south to Trenton, and take a NJ transit train back to Manhattan (I took it to New Brunswick). [The bus goes to Jim Thorpe so could make a day of it there too!]

You can read my review from October last year, where the trail was a wonder to ride. Well, lots of flood damage over the winter and Spring. My wife and I rode from the Bulls Island bridge a bit North, then south to New Hope. Some sections you had to walk the bike the surface was so bad.

No idea of condition north of Bulls Island or South of New Hope.

Based on what I saw, there really is no way to get the PA side to last - its just too low. They would have to so much work to protect the path that I imagine they never can do it.

I fell so lucky to have seen the path at its very best last October.

Well 4/13/2011 was the first time i went on the towpath i started in edgley and went to bristol a good 3 milies i liked it but pros with theis trail its not hard to ride at all the cons gota cross roads i had to cross rt 313 on my way to bristol then on my way to morrisville i crossed it 2 times on the way back to edgley then by home depot again so far i like the trail im planning this summer to do the full 60 miles and back so 120 miles i think it be fun as long as the trails are repaired ill do it but if not then ill wait till next year then so as of now

We were excited to finally be able to ride the "loops" again after the flood damage of the last decade. We parked in Washington's crossing on the NJ side and rode up the D&R path to Lambertville where we crossed over to New Hope PA to pick up the Delaware canal path, unfortunately just after the Stockton bridge the trail surface turned to large rocks (no stone dust). We toughed it out for about a mile when we had a flat. Since the flat chewed up time we back-tracked to the Stockton bridge and crossed back to the NJ side and rode the D&R trail back to Washington's crossing. I don't know how far this rough patch lasted but it wasn't fun, we were running 32mm hybrid tires so the trail was passable but bumpy. I remember the trail before the flood and it was as smooth as the D&R on the NJ side

Rode from Easton to Trenton (approx 50 miles) Oct 23 2010. I took an early AM Susquehanna/Trailways bus from Somerville NJ (originates from NYC) that arrives in Easton 9:30AM. Trail is only a few blocks away. The rivers are especially pretty in the AM so snapped some pics, then took off South. For much of the ride, the path straddles a strip of land with the Delaware river to the East and the canal to the west. The surface varies from good to very good to excellent, and generally improves as you go South. The Northern most section is blue crushed gravel varying from pea to grape size - I had knobbed tires but imagine you could do the whole trail with smooth narrow tires too.

As you can imagine, the trees were in full color and the scenery was just stunning the whole trip. I took food and drink with me, but observed many stores and restaurants along the way. There are numerous rest stations, and every stop had a box stuffed with a newly produced brochure/map (which I hope you could find online).

I stopped in New Hope for a coffee (town was packed with people!) then continued on. The northern section is more secluded and less traveled - South of New Hope you see more houses and people. Also, the trail hugs the river more in the North - you often go miles without seeing it.

I took the Bridge Street bridge over the river, then Market street to the NJ Transit station. From there you can take Amtrack or NJ Transit to many places (like NYC) - I went to Newark then back to Somerville.

I was most happy to have found a way to do this "one way" - anyone from NYC could do the same. I concur with earlier reports - overall the NJ trail is probably a better ride but the view in PA is much better.

PS: From Easton there is another trail options - you can take the Delaware and Leigh trail to Allentown and back - I did this last summer. That trail terminates at the start of the canal path. There is a return bus in the PM too.

This trail is great! The scenery is varied and I try to bike it as much as I can. Some parts of the trail make me feel like I’m in Europe with the quaint little restaurants and homes that dot the trail. Other parts of the trail can be remote. I love it!

we rode north from new hope in PA...crossed the frenchtown bridge (exit the trail in uhlersburg - sp ?) ... and came down south on the NJ side ...... 30 mile roundtrip ... scenery is better on PA side, trail is smoother on NJ side......only problem w/PA side is a few miles of huge gravel rocks that make for a bumpy ride and some very low bridges you go under (duck!!!)...exit the trail where it says uhlersberg public access ... ride down the road away from the covered bridge and you'll see the steel bridge to cross to NJ and pick up jersey's trail ..... did it on a warm sunday in september... frenchtown, lambertville & new hope have plenty of places to eat & shop for a break....we saw port'o'johns a little south of frenchtown bridge as we headed back...otherwise no other facilities

Since the tow path has been repaired we have taken the trip along this trail a number of times this year. Starting from various locations, with very easy access and parking, along Rte 611 and Rte 32 from Easton to Tinicom Park. We pick up the trail and head out for 25-30 miles and return. The trail in general is great with a few rough areas that are no more than a bumpy ride. There are places to stop and picnic, and a number of places to pick up basic supplies along the way. New Hope can be a bit of a challenge, wading through the throngs of visitors, on a busy summer weekend if you plan on crossing the bridge to Lambertville NJ. The varying scenery makes the ride very pleasant and allows for some great photography opportunities. A "Job well done" to the folks that made the repairs since the flooding of several years ago damaged many areas of the trail. A bit of caution should be used in areas where you pass under bridges along the trail. Some of these are a bit narrow and have little or no line of site to oncoming bike and pedestrian traffic. To break up the ride, if you so wish to, you can cross a number of bridges over the Delaware to NJ and travel the Delaware Rariton Trail on the NJ side of the river and cross back on another. I look forward to the fall riding this trail.

I have ridden the towpath trail quite a few times in the past few years, mainly south of New Hope. Even though the trail technically starts/ends in Bristol there is no good reason to attempt that as a destination to pick up or end your excursion. The furthest south I would recommend you start from is the off street parking access on E Ferry Rd, just west of River Rd (rt32). It is roughly a 14 mile ride from this entry point to where the path dumps out into New Hope. The route is a magnificent mix of tree lined and shady paths mixed with expansive views of the Delaware River. Currently (as of this review) this stretch is under repair from the storms a few years back so I'm not sure if this entire stretch is officially open but I do know that the path is open from E Ferry Rd to Washington Crossing Park. The path was heavily damaged just north of the park so I believe that is where it officially ends; however, the path is not blocked by any obstructions it's just not going to be the fine crushed stone covered path as is the previous section. From Ferry to Washington Crossing is approx 7.5 miles of beautiful riding and if you can get further north on the path you'll have great views of the river to your right and amazing backyards on your left.

The one thing I have never really tried to figure out, but would love for someone to assist with, is how to pick up the trail again in or around New Hope. Since there is a mule drawn tow path tourist ride there I’m not sure you can use the towpath directly in the town of New Hope. How do you pick it back up to head further north?

I hit the canal path just yesterday afternoon (7/2/09) There is a nifty sign post that tells you how far it is to destinations North, and South. I know Bristol, PA has done some wonderful things with bike trails so I decided that is where I would go. After the trail ended abruptly before it even began, I found myself riding through an auto parts store parking lot, I had to cross Bridge Street, and found myself looking down from a bridge to the continuation of the trail I was just on. I then meandered around the 7-11 parking lot, past several eateries, our new fireworks store, finally I got to the Holiday Inn parking lot, and from there I picked up the trail and journied on. I went under Rt. 1, picked up a little speed, and about 1/2 to a mile from there I looked ahead and saw that about 4 stories above were train tracks going right over what was my trail. So my trip to Bristol was cut short, I plan to try a trip up to Yardley one of these days, I hope I have a little more success.

We tried several times to bike the trail. The top end in Easton where the Canal Museum was is under construction. We traveled south to Raubsville. The trail was washed out there. Our last try was at Durham Furnace. Everywhere the trail was overgrown and/or washed out. As we traveled further south. River Road was closed. We gave up and headed over to Nickamixon State Park where the bike trail is open and beautiful.

"This WAS my favorite trail out of many I have ridden in eastern PA. I rode the Jersey side today because of the destruction of the PA side due to Ivan and was very disappointed. I drove over the bridge from Frenchtown to Uhlerstown to see my old trail and was just saddened by what happened. A good amount of the towpath has been destroyed with bridges crossing over the canal now resting IN the water and massive trees that have flowed downstream destroying the wide, well kept fairly new crosswalks. Just a real sad day today after witnessing the destruction Ivan wreaked.

If I know the DCNR here in PA they will try their hardest to have our trail back by next spring. Even calling the park office this past week to find out if it survived I could tell employees were despaired by what happened. Hopefully we'll see a new and better towpath by spring. "

"We rode from New Hope North to Uhlerstown (sp?) and crossed the bridge to Frenchtown, then came down the NJ side to Lambertville and crossed back over to New Hope. It was a great ride, a bit over 30 miles.

The scenery is great on both sides of the river and it's quite different on the PA and NJ sides. There is one tough spot on the NJ section for anyone with anything longer than a regular bike.

We had a difficult time with the two right angle bends in the wooden walkway with my son'e ""third wheel"" attached to my bike. Tandem's and especially a tow behind trailer would find it really tough. Other than that, it was a great ride that is definitely one to do again."

We were staying in a timeshare at Shawnee on the Delaware River and thought Easton would be a great ride (from the descriptions on this page). For those starting at Hugh Moore Park - follow the signs for the Canal Boat Ride. This is the Lehigh Canal and the very north end of the trail. There is a lock keepers house and museum has well as a boat ride with mules. Follow the canal going towards the green bridges and cross into the other side of the park for access to the trail.

We followed the trail to the Easton Dam. The trail then heads off down the Delaware Canal and the trail is crushed red brick and very well maintained. We rode that way for about 1/2 hour before turning back. We crossed the bridge into Phillipsburg for refreshments. There is some parking at the Easton dam and that may be a better place to start.

We spent a good bit of time trying to figure out which way to access the trail in Hugh Moore Park - there are no signs whatsoever to indicate the beginning of this named trail. We were trying to go north and got stopped by the train tracks and the old cable bridge - gotta buy a compass!! We still had a good day out.

"From reading your site and elsewhere I had the impression that a bicycler can travel from Bristol to Easton relatively unimpeded. Today I bicycled from Bristol to Yardley and had what the French would call “une vraie expédition.” From Bristol to Morrisville, the bike path and canal are intermittent. At times it is necessary to cross highways (and to lift your bike over the guard rails that border the roads) and to find your way around obstacles which block the canal (hills that carry railroad tracks, Highway 1 [isn’t work supposed to be done around that obstacle?]). In some places the bike path simply ends (in a Home Depot parking lot or at a road) and you will need to figure out where it resumes. After one such obstacle in Morrisville, the bike path and canal are pleasant to New Hope (I haven’t bicycled north of there yet). In spite of all of this, the trek is worth the adventure."

"We have biked most of this trail in increments and have never been disappointed as to the condition of the trail and the scenery along the way. Today, however, when we followed your directions to access our last leg of this trail in Easton, we discovered that we were on the Lehigh Canal trail. The Delaware Canal Trail actually starts off Rt 611 South at the confluence of the Lehigh and Delaware River. You may want to change your directions on your website. We did discover that one can continue on from this point northward and access the Lehigh Canal Towpath in Hugh Moore Park."

"I live in the area and routinely ride the canal. I actually live above Riegelsville, which you pass through on the river. On my way to the canal, I usually pass the Durham Furnace. Cannon Balls were made here during the war and transported down the canal to Philadelphia. It's only about 2 miles from the canal up Rt. 212. It's also where the Durham boats (remember these?) that George Washington used to cross the Delaware at Washingtons Crossing in the dead of winter.

When riding the canal, picture the ice flows in the river and you'll see just how tough a deal it was to gain our freedom. Anyway, back to the canal. This crushed stone trail is ideal for riding and walking. It's maintained quite well and you can actually ride from Easton to Philadelphia with a few detours in New Hope.

Overall the scenery is exceptional with lots to look at. Frenchtown (Uhlerstown on the PA side) is one place where you can cross the bridge to NJ and there are lots of good places to eat AND a bike shop (Freemans) on Main Street. Just ask anyone.

Overall the Delaware Canal is an easy ride with lots to see."

"We'd ridden various other parts of this trail before, but this weekend did Uhlerstown to Easton. This section of the trail is in great shape and the ride is just as beautiful and interesting as other sections of the trail.

If you start in Frenchtown, parking is available right at the bridge. Unfortunately, it's not immediately obvious how to access the trail, as the canal is quite a distance from the river at this point. Walk across the bridge, take a left on River Road and then an immediate right on Uhlerstown Hill road to connect with the trail.

At the northern end, we were pleasantly suprised by the opportunities for a nice lunch in Phillipsburg. Ride through a few blocks of downtown Easton to access the ""free bridge"" across the Delaware. There are a couple of hamburger stands right at the bridge. We opted to go a short distance up the hill; the first building on the right houses Zoota, an excellent restaurant with a creative menu and sidewalk dining. There's also a nice view of the falls from this side of the river. Phillipsburg seems to be experiencing a renaissance, so there are other nice eateries too."

This trail is really beautiful. It's easy to ride and there's great scenery. My only complaint is that the designated parking areas are hard to find. It's worth the effort though!

"The earlier reviews are excellent, but there are a few caveats. There are sections of the path that are quite overgrown, and the extent of their care depends on budget considerations and volunteer effort. Some fairly lengthy sections of the path are at some distance from the river.

The section of the towpath from Center Bridge to the south end of New Hope is still active! Mule teams use the towpath on a daily basis througout the summer. Those are BIG animals - follow the muletenders directions, and watch out for the tow-rope - it rolled under my front wheel and nearly sent me into the canal!"

In April work crews began laying crushed stone between Bristol and Morrisville. This area will be easily passable because of existing barriers but short sections will be useful for local residents. In June the Uhlerstown to Easton section will be resurfaced allowing an easy ride 50 mile ride from Morrisville.

"Since my earlier mini-review, I have hiked the Delaware Canal towpath from Easton to Penn Valley which is over 50 miles of the 60 mile trail. My opinion remains the same. This is one of the finest linear parks I have ever travelled. The surface is always very good for walking and biking. The adjoining grassy areas are mowed frequently. The ""hardware"" of the canal remains for the most part. The canal abounds with ducks, turtles, heron and egrets. Today I even ran into a red fox! There are frequent access points with parking, although most can only be found by driving parallel to the canal.

The canal passes through mainly rural areas, but there are frequent small towns with various services. South of Easton, the only heavily settled areas are New Hope, Yardley, and Morrisville. Many portions of the canal are lined on both sides with homes which range from bungalos to mansions. The trail passes along many farms and one large nursery. Scenery is never boring and trail users are very friendly.

I would highly recommend a trip to this park.

Rates a 9 1/2 out of 10!

Fred"

"This is a very limited review since I only hiked from the footbridge from Bull's Island in NJ to the bridge to Stockton NJ (3 miles). This section of the 60 mile trail is in excellent condition, crushed stone and packed dirt - wide and smooth. There are rest rooms at key points, many access points, explanatory signs, and great views. This trail sticks very close to the river. There are quaint inns and homes nestled against the canal, and many bridges and canal hardware in place.

This trail for 30 of it's miles is parallel to the D&R in New Jersey across the river, making loops possible by using the six bridges across the Delaware. This is an excellent trail and worth a trip.

So far - rates a 9 out of 10!

Fred"