Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail:
New Jersey
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Description:
The D&R Canal was built in the early 1830's to serve as a transportation route between Philadelphia and New York. It is filled with 19th century bridges and bridgetender houses, remnants of locks, cobblestone spillways and handbuilt stone-arched culvergts. The upper portion of the feeder canal follows the Delaware River through many historic towns. The main canal passes the Port Mercer bridgetender's house, through the charming villages of Kingsgton and Griggstwon to Blackwells Mills, ending up in New Brunswick. Canoes can be rented at Griggstown and Princeton. There are camping facilities available at the Bull's Island Recreational Portion of the D&R Canal State Park.




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Parking & Trail Access:
Parking is available in Frenchtown at the corner of River Road and Bridge Street.
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Reviews: [15 trail ratings]
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Eastern main canal surface rough
By dcwom in November, 2011
We ride the feeder portion of the D&R along the Delaware every year and are very familiar with its riding surface. I had recently heard that the main canal from Trenton to New Brunswick had been resurfaced, so we decided to drive to New Brunswick and give it a try. We rode from the Landing Lane bridge (behind Rutgers stadium) about 6 miles west past Bound Brook before giving up and heading back, the trail surface is rough and unpleasant. There are a lot of debris from the recent Irene flooding so maybe the alleged "new" surface was washed away I don't know but we encountered a variety of surfaces, including fist sized railroad ballast that required us to walk the bike. We were running 70x32 tires on a hybrid which are fine on the feeder canal, but not for this portion of the main canal.
Tidal Section of trail now open to Bordentown
By fjohnboyle in October, 2011
The bridge over the D&R Canal at Crosswicks Creek is now open and the trail has connected to the RiverLINE Rail Bridge over to Bordentown near the Yacht Club at 2nd and Bank Street
osborn2ride
By osborn2ride in September, 2011
On August 22rd I did the Main Canal form Kingston to New Brunswick and back. Again this trail is very well maintained just like the feeder Canal. If I was going to do it again I would start at Rocky Hill as there is a spillway between Kingston and Rocky Hill that would be a challenge for a family. There is lots of shade and a lot of picnic tables along the total length of the trail. It took me almost an hour longer coming back as I stopped and read most of the historic marker, this is a trip back in history. It is just unbelievable that this trail runs though the middle of a highly populated area. I was on my trusted old Mt bike and you could do it on a cross over but I am not sure that a road bike would be a good choice. This is a family friendly ride. The only draw back on this ride are a number of spillways, they very on how tough they are, some better then others. The State of NJ has done a great job of maintains. There are great views of the Raritan river and there are a lot of wild life. I just do not give out five stars but this ride is close.
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