| D&R Canal Trail | |
|---|---|
| D&R Canal Trail in Lambertville, New Jersey | |
| Length | 77 miles (124 km) |
| Trailheads | Trenton Frenchtown New Brunswick |
| Use | Hiking, Cycling |
| Trail difficulty | Easy |
| Season | Year round |
| Hazards | Road crossings, adjacent canal |
| Surface | Stone dust |
| ROW | United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Company |
| Website | Official D&R Canal Park site |
The D&R Canal trail is a recreational trail in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The 77-mile (124 km) trail is made up of three segments that transverse three counties: a canal towpath from New Brunswick to Trenton; a canal towpath / rail trail from Trenton to Bull's Island; and a rail trail from Bull's Island to Frenchtown. The three combined trails together form the largest completed trail entirely in New Jersey.
Much of the trail runs along the existing Delaware & Raritan Canal inside the New Jersey state park of the same name.
The proposed Capital to Coast Trail is planned to connect to the D&R Canal Trail.
Note: There is no direct connection between the main canal and the feeder canal paths along the Delaware River. Signed on-street connections are required to traverse the entire trail system.
Contents |
The main canal towpath trail is 29 miles (47 km) long and constructed on the earthen towpath used by mules to pull barges along the canal, the surface is packed dirt, gravel and crushed stone. Parts become muddy in wet weather; parts are covered with coarse sharp stones similar to track ballast and dangerous to road bike tires. The majority of the path was resurfaced in early 2011, however flooding by hurricane Ivan has scoured off the trail's top surface on the New Brunswick end leaving a course surface suitable only for mountain bike and pedestrian use. The main entrance in New Brunswick is at the Landing Lane Bridge.
Major Access Points (with parking)
The feeder canal was used to supply water to the main canal from the Delaware River, this towpath eventually had rail laid along its length which provides a firm foundation common to rail-trails; the surface is crushed stone. The feeder canal trail, including the rail-trail to Frenchtown is 28.7 miles (46.2 km) long. The trail begins in Trenton near Route 1 and ends north of Frenchtown.
Major Access Points (with parking)
Public restrooms can be found at Washington's Crossing, Prallsville Mills, and Bulls' Island.
Food can be found "on trail" at Washington's Crossing, Lambertville, and Stockton.
The state of New Jersey has published this guide to cycling the feeder path.
Technically the D&R canal starts near Bull's Island (now a state campground) in Raven Rock where it connects to the Delaware River; the trail north of the Bull's Island inlet is strictly a rail-trail on the rail bed of the United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Company; the surface is crushed stone. Boarded by Route 29 on the east, and the Delaware River on the west there are few access points along its length, the path is also less heavily traveled than the southern feeder canal segment. During the summer months much of the rail-trail segment is shaded with an overhead canopy of foliage providing a cool hiking or biking environment.
The history of this rail trail is very extensive, as it was originally built from 1851 to 1855 by the Belvidere-Delaware Railroad, a part of the United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Company, as a means of transporting freight to larger communities. in the early 1870's, the rail system was taken over by the growing Pennsylvania Railroad and soon became a vital freight branch. This was known as the Bel-Del branch and continued to be profitable until more automotive transports were introduced. Freight service slowed down and passenger service on this line was terminated in 1960. The Pennsylvania Railroad tried to hold onto this branch for freight profits instead of passenger service. The P.R.R. then merged with New York Central to form Penn Central in 1968. That major railroad operated on a total of 68 miles from Trenton to Belvidere, N.J. until 1976 when Penn Central and fie other major north eastern railroads became bankrupt and Conrail absorbed the railroads that same year. Sadly, Bel-Del branch remained intact until the last freight run took place in 1978. In 1979 and 1980, dismantling comensed, removing the Bel-Del's track form Trenton to South Lambertville, and North Lambertville to North Frenchtown. It became a rail trail soon after that happened and is now a part of the Delaware and Raratain State Park.
Major Access Points (with parking)
Public restrooms can be found at Bulls' Island.
Food can be found "on trail" at Frenchtown.