Park users, campers, hunters and all visitors to the D&R Canal State Park are asked to call 1-877-WARNDEP; 1-877-927-6337 if they require the assistance of our State Park Police. Please do not hesitate to call AT ANY TIME if assistance is needed. In the event of a life-threatening emergency we ask that you please call 911. And as always, we ask that the public contact our office to report any fallen trees or other obstructions encountered along the length of the path. Enjoy the park and be safe!
BE AWARE: As per NJ State Park Service Rules and Regulations swimming may take place ONLY IN A DESIGNATED SWIM AREA. In recent years, illegal swimming activity has increased in the Prallsville Mills area of Stockton in both the canal and historic lock. This area is fenced and posted. This is considered a RECKLESS ACTIVITY and in violation of the New Jersey Administrative Code (see below).
Swimming in the Delaware and Raritan Canal is a PROHIBITED ACTIVITY (N.J.A.C. 7:11-1.25). As per NJ State Park Service Rules and Regulations swimming may take place only in a designated swim area (N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.20). There are no designated swim areas in the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park and Bulls Island Recreation Area. Increased park police patrols have been instituted and violators may receive a summons.
May 20, 2023
Park visitors who explore the trail at Bordentown will notice two new interpretive waysides at the outlet lock area. The park has the Delaware & Raritan Canal Commission to thank for this welcome addition to the park. These waysides provide information about the surviving untouched lift lock located at this entrance point along the former transportation corridor and the small but thriving community that was located here.
The signs were created by Hunter Research in consultation with our park historian. We thank not only the Commission for negotiating for this mitigation project with Jeffery Haberman of Dynamic Engineering Consultants but also the staff at Hunter Research including Patrick Harshbarger who assisted with the content, layout and design as well as Micheal Brown who handled the installation.
If you haven’t visited this area of the park consider a day trip to the historic town of Bordentown. After some sightseeing and perhaps a meal, take a walk over the NJ Transit River Line pedestrian bridge which crosses the Crosswicks Creek to access this section of the D&R Canal State Park for a walk along the towpath!
Click for the location of the Bordentown Outlet Lock
Click for more about the Delaware & Raritan Canal Commission
Click for more about Hunter Research
May 17, 2023
As of April 1st, Lauren Rojewski has joined the D&R Canal State Park staff as Superintendent, taking over following the outgoing transfer of Superintendent Kallesser. Lauren joined the NJDEP State Park Service in August of 2021 as Superintendent for Spruce Run Recreation Area, Voorhees State Park, and Hacklebarney State Park. Here she gained valuable experience in the areas of Parks management, program operation, and partner group coordination; skills which she will continue to grow at D&R Canal State Park.
Lauren Rojewski joined the State Park Service after spending over 7 years in the environmental consulting industry managing a wide-range of remediation/property assessment projects through NJ, NY, PA, and DE. Her background includes a B.S. in Natural Resources Management with a minor in Wildlife Biology from Clemson University, as well as seasonal work at Cheesequake State Park. Lauren’s career aspirations have always been to work more closely with natural resource systems and to be a part of the civil service community, and is excited meet those goals as part of the Park Service here in New Jersey.
The staff is happy to welcome Lauren to the D&R team and look forward to working with her. Together we will continue our stewardship mission to protect, preserve and interpret the historic and natural resources under the management of the park . We know she will carry on and build upon the dedicated work of previous Superintendents here at D&R. Good luck Lauren and once again WELCOME!!
UPDATED: MAY 3, 2023
BE ADVISED:
Asphalt paving and line striping activities have begun at the Cooley Parking Lot, located along the eastern side of Route 29 in Kingwood, NJ adjacent to Horseshoe Bend Park. Access to the parking lot via Route 29, as well as trail access via Horseshoe Bend Park will be closed to allow for continued construction activities.
Paving activities are expected to be completed by Friday, May12th, and ACCESS TO THE AREA WILL REOPEN ON MONDAY, MAY 15th. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience during this time.
BE ADVISED:
As of JANUARY 5th, the parking lot and access road to the Cooley Preserve within Kingwood Township, Hunterdon County will be CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC for the duration of ongoing construction project. Parking will be unavailable. Visitors still accessing the state lands for hunting or hiking may NOT enter the clearly marked construction site.
Additionally, please be be reminded that it is ILLEGAL to dig up, disturb, deface or remove any artifact or historic object on state-owned property.
Further be advised and aware of the regulation regarding metal detecting on state-owned land as per the NJ Administrative and Park Service Code (N.J.A.C. 7:2):
A person shall not use metal detectors or similar devices without a permit issued by Superintendent or designee. The permit may limit the location, hours, and days of use. A permit WILL NOT be issued for use in areas of significant historical or other value, or where such use would be incompatible with protection of the resource and/or interfere with public use of the facility.
CLICK HERE to reference/download the full NJ State Park Service Code.
APRIL 28, 2023:
DETOUR/RE-ROUTE:
Northbound Visitors: Cross over the Delaware River on Bridge Street in Stockton and access Pennsylvania's Delaware Canal Park path, heading towards Lumberville, PA. Cross back over to NJ at the pedestrian footbridge in Lumberville to reach Bulls Island and the NJ's D&R Canal State Park towpath.
Southbound Visitors: Cross over the Delaware River at the pedestrian footbridge at Bulls Island Recreation Area to reach Lumberville, PA. Then utilizing Pennsylvania's Delaware Canal Park path, head south to Centre Bridge, PA where you will cross back over the Delaware River into Stockton walking along Bridge Street.
Click to download/view map of detour. NOVEMBER 18, 2022:
BE ADVISED: A hard closure of the towpath remains between Stockton and Bulls Island, located directly behind the Prallsville Mill complex.
Continuing Tropical Storm Idea repairs are in progress. Visitors (heading northbound) are asked to cross over the Delaware River on Bridge Street in Stockton and access Pennsylvania's Delaware Canal Park path, heading towards Lumberville, PA. Cross back over to NJ at the pedestrian footbridge in Lumbertville to reach Bulls Island and the NJ's D&R Canal State Park path.
UPDATED - APRIL 28, 2023
The project will consist of dismantling the spillway, and reconstructing the mortared stone over a reinforced concrete cap. Additional scope includes installation of gabions and rip rap (stone) along the toe of the spillway where it meets the Raritan River.
The project will require the closing of the multi use trail on both sides of Landing Lane Bridge. There will be no thru traffic on the trail at Landing Lane Bridge. The trail will be closed as required by the project. Signage will be posted at the Five Mile Lock in Franklin Township, the footbridge at Demott Lane, and at Landing Lane Bridge. The trail will be reopened upon project completion. We thank you for your patience as this work progresses.
Paul Harenberg of the New Jersey Water Supply Authority can be reached for any questions at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
NJ WATER SUPPLY AUTHORITY UPDATE - FEBRUARY 25, 2022
For the duration of the project, the D&R Canal multi-use trail will be closed to all through traffic from the spillway to the Landing Lane Bridge. The multi-use trail will also be closed east of the Landing Lane Bridge, as this area will be needed for the storage of construction equipment and materials. This closure is necessary for the safety of workers and the public, and to ensure that the spillway is put back into service in a timely fashion. The closure is expected to remain in effect until the Fall. Signs to inform trail users of the closure will be posted on both sides of the project site, at the pedestrian bridge over the Canal near Demott Lane in Franklin Township, and at the Five Mile Lock access site. The spillway will be entirely dismantled and rebuilt to match the existing structure. The project is designed to provide a robust yet historically appropriate repair that serves the varying needs of the public. The goal of this undertaking is to preserve both the structural integrity and historic character of the spillway.
This project will be managed by the New Jersey Water Supply Authority, a state agency that operates the D&R Canal as a public water supply source for central New Jersey.
APRIL 1, 2023
The Millstone Valley Preservation Coalition, sponsor of the Millstone Valley National Scenic Byway, and the D&R Canal State Park are happy to announce the 2023 re-opening of the Byway Visitor Center in Griggstown on Saturday April 15. Doors will be open every Saturday and Sunday thereafter until the last weekend in October. Visitors can stop by between 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to speak with our docents and learn about the canal and byway. The Visitor Center is located in the original Griggstown bridge tender’s house where its kitchen is interpreted and furnished for the period 1840-1860. Outside a lovely garden contains period medicinal plantings and favorite table vegetables. The Visitor Center also distributes maps, brochures, and pamphlets of trails, historical sites, and recreational opportunities around and about the Byway. Do make sure to stop by when visiting the Griggstown area to learn about the Millstone Valley and everything it has to offer and experience. Our volunteers look forward to seeing you!
The Byway is a 27-mile loop predominantly along the D&R Canal from East Millstone to Kingston and along the Millstone River from Kingston to Rocky Hill and into Millstone Borough. Please visit us and find us on the web: www.millstonevalley.org.
MARCH 30, 2023
BE ADVISED: Repair work on the pedestrian bridge at the Millstone Aqueduct in Middlesex County will WILL BEGIN THE WEEK OF APRIL 24th. Our park maintenance staff will be replacing boards and making needed safety improvements to this foot bridge over the canal to the towpath.
During the time of active WEEKDAY REPAIRS, access to the towpath over this bridge will be prohibited. A detour along the berm side will be available. This alternative route will take park users south along the berm trail to Harrison Street where they can connect with towpath again. The footbridge WILL BE OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE ON THE WEEKENDS when repair work is not underway.
The project duration is expected to be APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS (weather dependent). We appreciate your cooperation and patience while our crew works on these needed repairs
MARCH 22, 2023
The Kingston Canal House (a former bridge & lock house) has had a much needed “maintenance makeover.” With funding from from the Canal Society of New Jersey and in partnership with the Kingston Historical Society, the side entrance door was replaced in kind, a new gutter was installed and the entire water damaged facade received several much needed fresh coats of paint. The park extends its thanks and gratitude to Canal Society of NJ, the Kingston Historical Society and Chris Riley who did a fantastic job on the repairs and “facelift” for this historic canal house.
It is partly with the help and support of our partner organizations that much needed projects such as this can be addressed. We are grateful for their willingness to help fund such projects and for their commitment to support the park’s mission of resource stewardship. If you also support that mission, then by all means consider becoming an active member of one of our many affiliated groups; get off the bench, get involved and become a D&R Canal State Park stewardship champion! New members and volunteers are ALWAYS needed and welcome!
MARCH 17, 2023
It is with a heavy heart that the staff at D&R Canal State Park announces the impending departure of Superintendent Patricia Kallesser; her final day as supervisor will be March 31st. After a tenure of sixteen years with the park, she will be handing the reins over to the next Superintendent tasked to lead the team here. Lauren Rojewski, relatively new to NJ State Parks, and formerly of Spruce Run Reservoir Recreation Area, will step into the Superintendent position at D&R on April 1st. She has big shoes to fill! We all look forward to working with her - WELCOME SUPERINTENDENT ROJEWSKI!
Superintendent Kallesser has led the charge at D&R for the past sixteen years with enthusiasm, a keen sense of dedication, patience and flexibility. She has been an effective and successful multi-tasking project manager who worked every day in cooperation with our partner agencies, friend organizations and volunteers as well as the many municipal and county departments that interconnect/interact with the park.
Overseeing this 70+ mile linear park and the additional properties under the D&R Canal State Park’s management is no simple task. Managing a complicated park such as this can quickly become overwhelming with the many ongoing multi-agency projects, daily maintenance concerns and unexpected issues that often surface especially those repeated flood events. And yet, Superintendent Kallesser stepped-up to that challenge and always attempted to handle the load with professionalism, quick action when needed, attention to detail and thoughtful consideration.
Although the staff is sad to see Superintendent Kallesser move on, we certainly wish her well as she continues her career with NJ State Parks first at Round Valley Recreation Area this spring and summer and then at Spruce Run Recreation Area.
GOOD LUCK Patricia. We all thank you. Congratulations for a job well done! You will be missed but not forgotten and will forever be a part of the D&R Canal legacy!
JANUARY 12, 2023:
We are relieved to report that repairs to the pedestrian bridge over the Alexauken Creek north of Lambertville have begun. Contractors will be on-site making the repairs needed to reopen this section of the trail damaged by Tropical Storm Ida in September of 2021. Should the weather cooperate, this project is expected to be completed by the end of January 2023. Please DO NOT TO CROSS FENCES OR CONSTRUCTION BARRIERS while this much anticipated project is underway.
As always, we appreciate our visitor's cooperation and patience while we work to get this trail connection safely back online!
UPDATE - JANUARY 25, 2023:
We are happy to report that the repairs to the Alexauken Creek pedestrian bridge are complete. The crossing is now open for public use. Thank you for your patience while we worked to get this repair properly completed.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2021
(Current as of FEBRUARY 2023)
PLEASE CONTACT THE PARK OFFICE TO REPORT ANY DOWNED TREES OBSTRUCTING THE PATH (609.924.5705).
SEE UPDATES, CLOSURES AND ADVISORIES BELOW:
CLOSED: Canal bridge over the Wichecheoke Creek in Stockton and a closure of the path behind the Prallsville Mills in Stockton due to undermining of the towpath.
OPEN: Canal bridge over Alexauken Creek in Lambertville.
OPEN: The towpath is now repaired and OPENED in Lawrence Township, Mercer County in the vicinity of the Port Mercer Bridge Tender's House (along Quaker Road which has also been repaired and reopened).
OPEN: The towpath is now RESURFACED and REPAIRED along the main stem of the canal from LANDING LANE to ROCKY HILL at ROUTE 518.
OPEN: Delaware River boat launches.
OPEN: Bulls Island Day Use Area - picnic area and playground.
OPEN: D&R Canal Towpath Trail is accessible and open between:
Frenchtown to Bulls Island;
Updates will be posted here and on our Facebook page. We thank you for your cooperation and patience as we continue to recover from this storm.
Prallsville Mill (Stockton) to Trenton;
The main canal from Demott Lane to Trenton
(Landing Lane Spillway
is currently under construction through the Spring of 2023
and will be inaccessible during the project).
OCTOBER 26, 2022:
Tree management is an important element of routine maintenance, especially considering the age of
the Canal (hand dug in the 1830’s) and its earthen embankment and clay bottom construction. Tree
maintenance activities include removing fallen trees from the Canal and cutting trees that have rooted
in structures. Trees that have rooted in structures pose a threat to the integrity and stability of the
structures including the embankment itself, retaining walls, spillways, waste gates, culverts, aqueducts,
and other flow control structures. Additionally, trees are trimmed along the towpath to allow for the
safe passage of the general public and for the vehicles that the Authority and the D&R Canal State Park
Service need to maintain the canal and towpath.
Why does the Authority cut down trees along the Canal if they aren’t diseased or dead?
Tree root systems threaten the structural integrity of the Canal and therefore the Authority’s ability to deliver water. Tree roots loosen embankment soils and create seepage paths for water. Seepage paths can develop quickly into large leaks or breaches of the embankments.
The larger the trees become, the bigger the threat they pose. Large trees can be uprooted during
windstorms, which can displace a large amount of soil, making the embankment vulnerable to
breaching. A breach in the embankment impacts the Authority’s ability to deliver water downstream in the Canal.
Tree roots also damage the historic structures of the canal. For example, in many areas the historic stone armoring of the Canal has been lost due to tree roots dislodging stones. These stone structures were constructed to protect the embankments.
One of many examples of damage caused by trees occurred in recent years in Lambertville on the multi-use trail directly adjacent to "It’s Nutts On the Canal" (formerly Lilly’s on the Canal), where several trees fell into the canal and collapsed a retaining wall. The cost to repair that wall was more than $280,000.
More than 1,000,000 people rely on the canal for water and the Authority is obligated to move an
average of 100 million gallons per day of water through it, as measured at Port Mercer. The Authority must take every reasonable measure to properly maintain the canal’s infrastructure in order to protect
our ability to continue to deliver water through it.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2022:
A very grateful thank you to the dedicated D&R Canal Watch volunteers who took on the task of retrieving, repairing, replacing and/or rebuilding several boat access docks that were either damaged or swept away by Tropical Storm Ida over a year ago. A special "shout out" to Watch members Bob Barth, Chuck Martin, Tim Roth, Ted Chase and Wayne Petko who not only gave their time, expertise and sweat equity but also managed the project and helped with the acquisition by The Watch of all the needed materials to see it through.
It has taken time for the Park to comeback from, and address, much of the damage caused by Ida (some projects are still ongoing) but the task has been made just a bit easier with the support of our most dedicated volunteers! Not only did they assist with some of the immediate after storm clean-up, but thanks to their continued efforts, the docks at Kingston, Rocky Hill, Griggstown and Blackwells Mills are now back in service and can be used by all our park users. THANK YOU to the D&R Canal Watch and the "Wednesday Work Crew" volunteers!
If you are interested in supporting the park then consider becoming a D&R Canal Watch member and/or volunteer! Click here to access their membership form.
JULY 22, 2022:
New Jersey State Park issued permits are available for deer bow hunters to access over 2,000 acres of land within Six Mile Run Reservoir Site. There are also a limited number of firearm permits available for a limited area within the Six Mile Run Reservoir Site. Please carefully read the instructions below to apply for either a bow or firearm permit.
BE ADVISED: Hunters MUST APPLY FOR A PARK PERMIT TO HUNT ANYWHERE WITHIN SIX MILE RUN. Download/Print the deer hunting map for Six Mile Run by clicking the link below:
SIX MILE RUN RESERVOIR SITE DEER HUNTING MAP - ZONE 14
PLEASE NOTE:
1. One stand/blind permitted per hunter;
D&R Canal State Park
Click the link to download/print the bow season application:
BOW HUNTER APPLICANT AGREEMENT SHEET
FIREARM SEASON: A total of 15 permits will be issued for the 2022/2023 season by a RANDOM lottery. To be considered for the lottery please submit your name with your email and/or phone to Stephanie Fox (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; 609-924-5705) by September 30, 2022. If your name is selected the park will notify you and provide you with a firearm application to be completed.
Please direct any questions to Stephanie Fox at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the park office at (609) 924-5705.
2. Parking Permit only needs to be displayed in Hunter Only Lots (see a map for details);
3. Please review the map as permissible hunting areas have changed;
4. Stands are prohibited from being placed directly on Six Mile Run Reservoir property lines or in the view-shed of residents residing directly adjacent to Six Mile Run Reservoir Site.
145 Mapleton Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
UPDATED - JULY 21, 2022
UPDATED - AUGUST 16, 2022
Visitors are asked to utilize the parking areas either at South Bound Brook or DeMott Lane to access the path for their enjoyment. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to make this improvement at the park.
Park Superintendent Patricia Kallesser can be reached for any questions at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
This project is complete and the parking lot is now accessible for use by our park users.
JUNE 4, 2022:
We are super excited to introduce our park visitors to the much anticipated "Inlet Trail" at Bulls Island in Delaware and Kingwood Townships, Hunterdon County. For those of you who are long-time visitors to the Bulls Island Recreation Area, you will know that this much beloved section of the park, located alongside the scenic Delaware River, has been inaccessible to the public for several years. On June 3rd this new trail was officially opened for public use. It is is located between the Delaware & Raritan Canal and Delaware River and offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy a 1.3 mile leisurely stroll through shaded woods with scenic and historic views of the park.
On June 3rd The Department of Environmental Protection's Deputy Commissioner for Legal, Regulatory and Legislative Affairs Sean Moriarty, Assistant Commissioner for State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites John Cecil and D&R Canal Commission Vice Chairman Bruce Stout along with park employees Patricia Kallesser, Marsha Apffel and Stephanie Fox helped to cut the ribbon to the new "Inlet Trail."
We hope many of you have explored and enjoyed this new trail. For those who haven't, we certainly invite you to come by for a visit and enjoy!
IMPORTANT UPDATE - AUGUST 10, 2022
BE ALERT AND AWARE -May 17, 2022
We are asking our park users to always be on alert, aware and use caution, especially those who enjoy our trails solo. This assault occurred along the multi-use trail at the Six Mile Run Reservoir Site in Somerset. This well-used trail system located near Blackwells Mills and Canal Roads in Franklin Township is used by off-road bikers and hikers alike. Anyone with information about this assault please contact the police as described below and detailed in the article linked here.
The victim reported to authorities that the unknown male suspect was on a bicycle when he dismounted and tackled her to the ground while she was running on the trail. The victim fought with the male suspect, escaped from the assault and immediately notified authorities by dialing 911. The suspect is said to have fled the area on a bicycle. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment and released.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic man about 5-foot 6-inches to 5-foot 7-inches tall, heavier build, about mid 30's, wearing black pants or shorts, a green hoodie, and a blue gator face covering. (see the released sketch of the suspect). Detectives are attempting to determine if the suspect involved in this recent incident is the same actor involved in previously reported attacks in Somerset and Middlesex Counties. The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information relating to the sexual assault or surveillance footage of the area is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Sex Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 908-873-5533 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.
Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers' Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential. Tips may also be submitted to www.middlesextips.com
We ask the public to be vigilant and always aware when enjoying the many trails available at the D&R Canal State Park. Your safety is paramount! The New Jersey State Park Police is coordinating with the Middlesex County Prosecutor has stepped up patrols in the park. In an effort to educate and empower our park visitors we are sharing some basic steps and tips below that should be followed every day when out and about at the park and elsewhere. These will help you to stay alert, increase awareness of your surroundings, be present and stay safe. And of course report anything suspicious or concerning to the proper authorities.
PERSONAL SAFETY
PROPERTY & VEHICLE SECURITY
Man Charged with Sexually Assaulting Women in NJ Parks, Officials Say
MARCH 23, 2022
BE ADVISED:
UPDATE: MAY 10, 2022
BE ADVISED:
UPDATE: JULY 7, 2022
BE ADVISED:
Work crews will be mobilizing at the Five Mile Lock parking area and resurfacing the path in Franklin Township (Somerset County) adjacent to Easton Avenue between Landing Lane and the Five Mile Lock Parking Area. Park visitors may encounter flag crews to safely direct them down the path. We ask for your patience while this much anticipated project is underway. For everyone's safety we ask our park patrons to be cooperative and mindful of the contractor's instructions. PLEASE NOTE that the Landing Lane Spillway will soon be under repair/restoration and visitors CANNOT access the Landing Lane Bridge from the trail.
Work has been completed between Landing Lane and Chapel Drive in Zarephath.
Work will continue south of Chapel Drive towards Griggstown beginning the week of May 23rd.
Please be patient and respectful of the contractors directions.
Thank you for your continued patience as the park continues to recover from Tropical Storm Ida damage.
We are pleased to report that the towpath restoration/resurfacing has been completed from Landing Lane to Blackwells Mills. Work is now progressing south of Blackwells Mills towards Rocky Hill at Route 518.
Please be patient and respectful of the contractors directions when encountering the work crews.
Your continued patience with this storm recovery effort is much appreciated.
MARCH 18, 2022
Tropical Storm Ida towpath repairs in Lambertville will get underway the week of March 21st and continue for approximately 5 days.
Work crews will be mobilizing, resurfacing and working on the path between Elm Street (adjacent to Nieces Lumber) north to the 202 parking area adjacent to the Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead Museum. Patrons may encounter flag crews to safely direct them down the towpath. Please be patient and respectful of the contractors directions. As always, we thank you for your patience as this work progresses.
UPDATE: MARCH 23, 2022
Repairs to the towpath have been completed along this stretch in Lambertville. The path has been resurfaced, rolled and is now ready to be used and safely enjoyed!
March 1, 2022
Some of our park visitors may have noticed construction on a small structure next to the canal and bridge tender’s house in East Millstone. What looks at first glance like an unimportant small outdoor shed is actually a reconstruction of East Millstone’s historic bridge tender’s station - one of five similar surviving buildings that once served the needs of the tenders who operated the swing bridges at their assigned locations. This station was literally “hanging on the edge,” clinging to the side of the eroding canal bank - a victim of the passing years and continual flooding events. Thanks to the dogged support of the D&R Canal Watch, starting funds were raised and then supplemented in large measure by the D&R Canal Commission paving the way for the project to begin. Pieces of the historic station that could be salvaged and reused were carefully removed, saved and then used in the reconstruction of this small, but significant, piece of D&R history. An idea that began years ago is at long last underway! We are grateful to the staunch support of our partners at the D&R Canal Commission, D&R Canal Watch, HMR Architects, Hawley Brothers and our colleagues at the NJ State Historic Preservation Office and Office of Resource Development who all helped make this preservation effort a reality. Successful preservation projects DO take a village!
UPDATED: JANUARY 19, 2022
We are pleased to report that Quaker Road in Princeton, closed since sustaining damage from Hurricane Ida, has, at long last, reopened for vehicular traffic! As part of the project to restore the road, the embankment alongside the towpath has also now been repaired.
The towpath was rebuilt, filled-in, graded and a rolled, top stone coat has now been applied. This repaired section of the path is fully open and accessible to our visitors! We thank you for your patience and cooperation as the DOT crews worked diligently to complete this repair.
JANUARY 6, 2022
The revitalization of the parking lot at Moores Creek in Ewing Township, Mercer County along Route 29 is underway! While this lot does not provide access to the towpath, it is very popular spot for fishermen. Please be aware that the parking lot will be closed while contractors work on the improvements including safer entrance/exit access and parking space demarcation. Depending on winter weather events and the potential delays they may cause, we are told this project will be completed towards the end of January. As always, we appreciate the public's patience as the work progresses. We look forward to this project's completion.
UPDATE: APRIL 4, 2022
The revitalization of the parking lot at Moores Creek in Ewing Township, Mercer County along Route 29 is now completed and ready for use!
DECEMBER 14, 2021
Christmas arrived early for this historian and it arrived in the form of a question. Can you identify the location captured in this photograph? Such inquiries make to my inbox from time to time but this one was especially exciting because it involved an interesting backstory attached to a great photograph.
The request came from a gentleman in California who attended graduate school at Rutgers in the 1970s. While there he had purchased a box of unidentified glass plate negatives at an antique shop. The collection had no provenance; just a box of discarded and forgotten images. As a photographer himself, he felt compelled to acquire the entire set. Slowly, over a period of years, he carefully digitized all the plates and began the laborious process of researching. During COVID, with time on his hands and with a need for a good project, he went on a deep-dive journey of discovery that led him to late nineteenth/early twentieth century New Brunswick, early photography and photographers, and eventually to 238 George Street; the home, he would come to learn, of the Howell family. And that’s where the story became especially interesting.
The Howell household included three unmarried sisters - Alice/Allie, Nettie and Margaret/Maggie. It seemed likely that one of these three sisters was the photographer behind the lens that captured their 19th-20th century lives in New Brunswick. A bit of digging revealed that two of the sisters died in the early twentieth century - Maggie in 1911 at 34 years old and Nellie in 1914 at 40 years old. Their deaths roughly coincided with the time frame of the collection of images which spanned from about the 1890s to the early 1900s which seems to suggest that either Maggie or Nellie was the unidentified photographer. The remaining sister, Alice, never married, continued to reside at 238 George Street with her brothers William and Charles and sister-in-law Anna, and passed away in the 1950s. The collection of glass plates were likely stored away in the house and forgotten. In time the home was sold and with no living descendants to claim this collection (another story) the box made its way to an antique shop in town and eventually into the hands of John Cruz. Not seen in many, many years, the collection revealed historic images of turn-of the century New Brunswick. Mr. Cruz went about the task of identifying locations, researching the family and learning about early photography and cameras. In an unselfish act of generosity, he donated this treasure of glass plates to the New Brunswick Public Library where they now safely reside. Thank you Mr. Cruz, you are a preservation hero!
Included in the collection was a photograph that baffled him - the one seen on the bottom half of the comparison image here. He couldn’t place it. He thought it might be Landing Lane in New Brunswick since the majority of images were taken in and around the city but it didn’t quite match. He cast out a net in an effort to locate someone who might be able help identify the canal house captured by the Howell lens around the turn of the century. That inquiry eventually landed in my inbox. I was excited; it was without doubt a fantastic, newly uncovered, photograph of a D&R Canal bridge house but…which one? Without question, it was not Landing Lane! Although some features stumped me, my initial instinct was that this was the bridge house that once stood at what is now Route 518 in Rocky Hill. Two things stood out - the “Look Out For The Locomotive” sign (indicating the presence of a railroad connection) and the distinct curve of the approaching dirt road towards the bridge. It was the road that stood out and was so familiar to me. With a bit of digging I located an identified photograph from the collection of the Rocky Hill Community Group that captured that same distinctive curved road and the “Lookout for the Locomotive” sign - a match! The A-Frame swing bridge had been replaced by a Kingpost, but this was Rocky Hill.
And thus my early holiday surprise! A perfect gift for the historian in your life! So look in those attics, basements and stored away boxes…you never know what treasures from the past might be revealed or photographs of our canal are packed away. My inbox is always open! Happy Holidays everyone!
NOVEMBER 16, 2021
We are so happy to share the news that the long-awaited shared-use path connecting New Jersey's D&R Canal State Park to Pennsylvania's Delaware Canal State Park at Scudder Falls is NOW OPEN!
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission formally opened the crossing during a well-attended public ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ceremonial ribbon was cut by Anne Scudder Smith, ninth-generation descendant of early Ewing Township settler Richard Betts Scudder and the granddaughter of John Montgomery Scott who cut the opening-day ribbon on the first Scudder Falls Bridge in June 1961.
The new river link makes Scudder Falls the only river crossing allowing bicyclists to pedal across without dismounting their bikes.
John Cecil, the Director of the Division of Parks and Forestry, gave remarks at the opening ceremony on the importance of this new connection.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Historic Preservation Office, Green Acres Program, and Division of Parks and Forestry were integral in the planning and coordination of this project with the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the Joint Toll Bridge Commission.
We are pleased to add this new loop trail crossing the Delaware River to the five others that link the D&R Canal State Park to the Delaware Canal State Park! Use it well and ENJOY!
Read more about it: COMMISSION OPENS NEW DELAWARE RIVER CROSSING FOR WALKERS, BICYCLISTS, SIGHTSEERS AT SCUDDER FALLS
IMPORTANT UPDATE - AUGUST 10, 2022
BE ALERT AND AWARE - September 30, 2021 We are asking our park users to always be on alert, aware and use caution, especially those who enjoy hiking solo. This assault occurred along the berm side of the canal in the Kingston/South Brunswick/Plainsboro area of the park. The berm trail is part of the larger trail system that is accessible from the Kingston Office as well as from the Kingston area of the park. Anyone with information about this assault please contact the police as described below and detailed in the article linked here.
Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone, Chief Fred Tavener of the Plainsboro Police Department, and Chief Raymond Hayducka of the South Brunswick Police Department announce authorities are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying an individual believed to be involved in an aggravated sexual assault that occurred in the area of Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park on the border of Plainsboro and South Brunswick Townships.
The suspect is believed to be a Latino male, approximately 5’5” – 5’6” tall, wearing dark-colored clothing and a dark baseball cap (see the released sketch of the suspect).
The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information or surveillance footage of the area is asked to contact Detective Sue Kowalski of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3287, Detective Patrick Miller of the Plainsboro Police Department at (609)799-2333, or Detective Dominick Delucia of the South Brunswick Police Department at (732)329-4646. Tips may also be submitted to www.middlesextips.com
We ask the public to be vigilant and always aware when enjoying the towpath and the many trails available at the D&R Canal State Park. Your safety is paramount! The New Jersey State Park Police is coordinating with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and has stepped up patrols in the park. In an effort to educate and empower our park visitors we are sharing some basic steps and tips from the South Brunswick Police Department below that should be followed every day when out and about at the park and elsewhere. These will help you to stay alert, increase awareness of your surroundings, be present and stay safe. And of course report anything suspicious or concerning to the proper authorities.
PERSONAL SAFETY
PROPERTY & VEHICLE SECURITY
Man Charged with Sexually Assaulting Women in NJ Parks, Officials Say
MARCH 1, 2021:
PARTNERSHIPS! This is how we can achieve our goals towards creating a healthier environment for all. On a rainy Saturday morning in late February, ten dedicated volunteers from the Central Jersey Stream Team, the Hackensack Riverkeeper, D&R Canal State Park staff and the owner of Tire Disposal Service pulled out 216 muck filled tires from the canal at the Duck Island section of the park - 216 TIRES!! While these dedicated volunteers provided the muscle power, the Mercer County Clean Communities program funded the responsible disposal of the tires. Some of the tires pulled our of the water date back to the 1960's!!! We can't thank all of these groups enough for taking on this challenge and look forward to PARTNERING with them again. There is more work to be done but with dedication of organizations like these we can make a difference. Please consider volunteering for a clean up near you, every set of hands is appreciated.
BE ADVISED:
Click here for details about this project.
BE ADVISED:
Click here for details about this project.
BE ADVISED: The D&R Canal Dredging project will begin operations at Access Area 5 (East Millstone Park) located near the intersection of MARKET STREET and AMWELL ROAD starting on, or about, APRIL 1, 2020. The initial work involves mobilization of equipment and materials to the area, as well as a small soil sampling program. The contractor will occupy this area to support operations through October 31, 2020. Demobilization and restoration of the area will be conducted during November 2020.
ADVISORY - SEPTEMBER 4, 2020 (updated October 28, 2020):
Why do trees along the towpath have orange markers?
Project Work Dates: Nov 9, 2020 - Nov 20, 2020
Why are ailanthus trees being removed?
Why are ash trees being removed?
Why do these pests spread in D&R?
What is the timeline?
Tree removal and ailanthus stump treatment will begin in the Fall of 2020.
More information:
The park service has marked ailanthus and ash trees along the D&R Canal State Park towpath in the City of Lambertville (Eastern side of Canal) for removal.
Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven), is an invasive non-native species which outcompetes New Jersey’s native species. It is also a species is known for attracting the invasive non-native insect the spotted lanternfly. The spotted lanternfly feeds on over 70 different plant species, including fruit trees, ornamental trees, vegetables, herbs and vines. The pest poses a threat to the health of New Jersey's agriculture and forests.
Ash trees have been impacted by the emerald ash borer, an invasive non-native beetle that has killed hundreds of millions of trees in North America. Once an ash tree is infested with emerald ash borer, the beetle kills the tree within three to four years, and 99% of the ash trees die after initial infestation. Ash die from the top down and rapidly become brittle, and potentially risk dropping large branches and tree tops. The brittleness of the infested trees poses a safety concern for park patrons in heavily-used areas. The removal of EAB-infested Ash trees throughout the park, including the City of Lambertville, has been specifically authorized by the Delaware and Raritan Canal Commission (DRCC #16-4938), which was granted a certificate of approval on February 15, 2017 which remains valid until 2022.
Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park is 70-miles long and wooded which helps the invasive insects easily spread throughout the park and to adjacent areas.
October 1, 2020: While it’s not unusual for researchers to make new discoveries - a private collection of letters, newly archived documents that were previously inaccessible, recently gifted journals, photographs, objects and/or manuscripts - it is a happy surprise to literally uncover a historic structure thought to be long gone. In this case the rebuilt bridge tender’s station at Zarephath! Covered in vines, brush, overgrown grass and presumed to be a storage shed, upon closer inspection, and a bit of research, was revealed to be the rebuilt station that once stood next to the western facade of Zarephath Bridge Tender’s House and alongside the canal! In the two top black & white photos pictured here, the house and its station are seen in their original locations at Chapel Drive near the campus of what was “The Pillar of Fire” community then "Somerset Christian College" and now "Pillar College". The photo on the left - snapped in the late 1970s-early 80s show a a house in need of some care and the original station precariously supported on blocks. The image on the right, taken around 1915-1920, captures a well-maintained house along with its station and outhouse in the waning years before the canal closed as a transportation corridor. A project to rehab/restore the house and move the station away from the canal’s bank was completed in the early 1990s. Plans from the project revealed that much of the station was too far gone to save it and so a decision was made to create a replica using what materials could be salvaged from the original structure including the wood door. The rebuilt replacement was positioned behind the house, used by past tenants as a storage shed and its original purpose slowly forgotten in the 28 years that followed. Happily the structure, and it’s story, has been recently rediscovered and can now proudly take its rightful place on the very exclusive short list of similar surviving bridge tender’s stations that still stand along the canal!
Operations began in March 2018 and active dredging of the Canal and debris removal began in May 2019. Operations on the dewatering site, including trucking of the removed sediment, occur year-round. During periods of active dredging the portion of the Canal being dredged is closed to boaters. Occasional, temporary closures of the towpath may be necessary during the project. Signage will be posted at D&R Canal State Park entrances surrounding the closed areas to notify the public.
The Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park is happy to welcome back an old friend! On October 4, 2019 an important piece of the historic canal was reinstalled along its towpath. Milepost 22/22 - the marker which indicates the halfway point along the canal's 44-mile main stem from Bordentown to New Brunswick - was carefully retrieved, patched and put back in place between Rocky Hill and Griggstown. It had been knocked off its base years ago and lay hidden in the floodplain under overgrown grass, plants and poison ivy. Lost, but by no means forgotten, it was recently spotted by a regular park user who reached out to the D&R Canal Commission and advocated for its retrieval. After determining its condition, and discussing all options with the Park staff, it was decided to attempt a rescue, repair and reinstall mission. Thanks to the local resident who brought the wayward milepost to our attention, the D&R Canal Commission for funding the project and the expert crew from Pennacchi & Sons who did the work, this historic piece of the D&R Canal State Park has been returned to its rightful place on the towpath - a successful team effort! Welcome back 22/22! Long may you stand!
A dredging project is planned for the D&R Canal from Kingston to Amwell Road at East Millstone. This extensive and needed project (administered by NJ Water Supply Authority), began on July 9, 2018 and may take up to three years to complete. We thank you for your patience as the project continues along this section of the park.
The Spotted Lanternfly has been located in the park. This pest is invasive and can do damage to trees. Please report all sightings.
Click here for more information about the spotted lanternfly.
Hydrilla was discovered in the Washington Crossing section of the Canal in July 2016. Hydrilla is an extremely aggressive invasive aquatic plant that spreads very rapidly and forms dense mats that can choke the flow of water through the canal. A lake management firm was hired in September, 2016 to survey, assess, and map the extent of hydrilla and other problem weeds in the high-priority segments of the Delaware & Raritan Canal. The survey report indicates that, for the 18.31 miles surveyed, submerged aquatic vegetation was collected at 96 percent of the sites, confirming the spatial extent and diversity of vegetation in the Canal. Hydrilla was observed at 56 percent of the survey sites.
On May 31, 2017, the Authority began a low-dose (<4 ppb) herbicide injection of Sonar Genesis for up to 120 days targeting the hydrilla and other nuisance aquatic vegetation. At these low rates, there are no restrictions on fish/fish consumption, human/animal water consumption or contact. There are some recommended water irrigation usage restrictions that have been posted along the tried areas of the canal. All Canal water customers have been engaged in the management planning process and continue to be updated on the status of treatment. The herbicide application is showing promising signs of effectively controlling the Hydrilla and other nuisance aquatic plants. The Authority and consulting firm are monitoring the status of plants and the herbicide concentrations at several points along the Canal.
Click here for monitoring and project information.
The State Forest and State Park Services have identified the D&R Canal State Park as a high-use area for the preemptive felling of ash trees to reduce the anticipated hazards caused by the Emerald Ash Borer infestation effecting the State. At-risk, dying and dead ash trees will be harvested along the path. These areas will be replanted with new seedlings. It is estimated that approximately 1,550 trees, 5-inches or more in diameter, leaning over or located with 15 feet of the path will be felled. Click here for more information on the Emerald Ash Borer and the progress of the project here at D&R Canal State Park. Thank you for your patience.
Click here for more information on the Emerald Ash Borer
Click here for information about the ongoing project at the D&R Canal State Park