Calendars of Events
D&R Canal Watch Programs
D&R Canal State Park Programs
The following programs are run by the D&R Canal State Park . Pre-registration via the Eventbrite link is required to participate in any of the listed events unless otherwise noted (see registration instructions under the program descriptions).
You'll be required to provide a contact name, email address and phone number in the event of cancellation.
Please note that programs begin at varied times and locations which are included in the descriptions below and are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather, insufficient interest or other unforeseen circumstances. A MINIMUM OF 4 REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS are needed to avoid program cancellation due to lack of interest. Call the park office at (609) 924-5705, or the contact person noted, if in doubt about a program's cancellation.
Wednesday Evening Walks: Join us to decompress after a long day of work!
Our 2022 SPRING and SUMMER Programs are here! Make sure to register to secure your spot (15 participants maximum per walk)!
Our new Wednesday Evening Walks is a series of spring into summer leisurely after work ambles along the canal towpath and nearby areas. Each section of the canal has a unique character and history; come enjoy some outdoor time and learn a bit about the historic and natural resources of each location from our our seasonal trail interpreter. These easy mid-week walks will last about 90 to 120 minutes and progress at a comfortable pace. All walks will return to the original meeting location (as indicated in each description below). Wednesday Walkers will meet at the parking areas listed for each of the programs at 5:30 PM.
Participates will be required to register via the Eventbrite link below each listing (name, contact phone number, email and number of attendees will be required). Registered participants will be contacted if program is to be canceled due to inclement weather, insufficient interest or other unforeseen circumstances. Upcoming walk descriptions, dates and locations are listed below.
IMPORTANT REGISTRATION NOTE:
If there are any questions or concerns please contact the D&R Canal State Park Office at (609) 924-5705 (Tuesday - Saturday 9:00 -4:00) or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
CLICK HERE to view our Wednesday Evening Walks Collection on Eventbrite and open those walks you are interested in attending. Click the "REMIND ME" button to be automatically notified when registration opens up for that program.
Due to the popularity of our walks, we ask REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS to either CANCEL THEIR TICKET or
NOTIFY US VIA EMAIL 12 HOURS BEFORE THE DAY & TIME OF THE PROGRAM if their plans have changed and can no longer attend. This is a courtesy to those on the wait list and allows us the opportunity to release a ticket to another potential attendee.
Two "no-shows" without prior cancellation notification will generate a "flag" for that registrant resulting in the potential inability to attend future walks this season. Thank you for your cooperation!
Wed., April 27
Washington Crossing State Park to Titusville Loop - 2.4 Miles
Join our trail interpreter for a leisurely walk and unwind at the end of the day! Come hear about the unique relationship between the canal and this riverside hamlet. Registered participants will meet at the northern end of the Washington Crossing State Park’s riverfront parking area, near the towpath ramp, at 5:30 PM Click here for map.
Wed., May 4
Colonial Park Gardens To East Millstone - 2.0 Miles
Join our trail interpreter for a leisurely walk and unwind at the end of the day! Enjoy late spring blossoms and visit the newly restored East Millstone Bridge Tenders Station. Upon returning to the Colonial Park Gardens, we’ll pass through the area’s outstanding arboretum. Allow extra time to visit the Rose Garden. This walk begins at Colonial Park in Somerset. Registered participants will meet at Colonial Park Garden’s Parking Lot F, near the Lilac Garden at 5:30 PM. Click here for map.
Wed., May 18
Fireman’s Eddy to Belle Mountain via the Restored Meadows - 2.5 miles
Learn about the area’s historic quarries and communities while walking along the NJ Sourland’s border. Then return through the expansive grasslands which were restored through the efforts of many agencies and organizations. Registered participants will park at the Fireman’s Eddy lot (follow the canal bridge road into the wooded area). Click here for map.
Wed., June 1
Mapleton Preserve - 2 miles
Join our trail interpreter at 5:30 PM for a leisurely walk around the former Princeton Nursery grounds, returning along the D&R Canal trail. Learn about the area's historic and natural resources and it’s current relationship to the D&R Canal State Park. Registered participants will meet at the D&R Canal State Park's Kingston Office parking lot located at 145 Mapleton Road. Click here for map.
Wed., June 29
Turning Basin Park to Millstone Aqueduct – 3.2 Miles
Join our trail interpreter at 5:30 pm and discover the bustling canal community that once occupied the area around Turning Basin Park at Alexander Road in Princeton. See the now inoperable turning bridge mechanism for the Dinky railroad spur line into Princeton and hear about the connections between the D&R Canal and Carnegie Lake. Registered participants will meet at the Turning Basin Parking Lot at 438 Alexander Road, Princeton. Click here for map.
Wed., July 27
Griggstown’s Infrastructure Sites – 2 Miles With An Optional 1.3 Miles Addition
Join our trail interpreter at 5:30 pm to learn about Griggstown and visit several distinct aspects of canal infrastructure in a single walk. This walk will be taken in two parts; first, we’ll see and discuss the "barracks” and the re-purposed bridge tender’s house now the Visitor Center for the Millstone Valley Scenic Byway; then the group will proceed to the spillway where it’s functional role, important to this day, will be explained. The first part of the walk will conclude with a stop at the bridge tender's station for a total of 2 miles. For those who wish to continue, the group will proceed to the Griggstown lock and lock tender’s house for an additional 1.3 miles. Registered participants will meet at at the Griggstown Causeway Parking Lot. Click here for map.
Wed., August 10
Lower Ferry Road to Upper Ferry Road - 2.5 Miles
Join our trail interpreter at 5:30 pm for this walk in Ewing Township that will introduce participants to some of the most tranquil areas along the feeder canal. With the construction and opening of the canal in the 1830s, a small village emerged here that was the center of this Wilbertha neighborhood. Registered participants will meet at at Lower Ferry Road; Parking is across the road from the Trenton Country Club golf course.
Click here for map.
Wed., August 24
Six Mile Run Trails & Blackwells Mills Canal House Gardens - 2.5 Miles
Come join our train interpreter at 5:30 pm for a early evening walk at Six Mile Run that begins through open fields with grassland birds and butterflies then progresses into the upland forest for a look at the native trees and shrubs. Afterwards participants may chose to visit the nearby gardens along the canal maintained by the Blackwells Mills Canal House Associaton members. Registered participants will meet at at parking lot at 625 Canal Road, Somerset NJ
Click here for map.
Wed., September 7
Cadwalder Park to Lower Ferry Road - 3.0 Miles
Join our trail interpreter at 5:30 pm for this walk along the D&R's feeder canal from the city of Trenton into Ewing Township along aqueducts and open acres of recreational and corporate campuses. This walk will start at Trenton's Cadwalader Park which was designed by Fredrick Law Olmstead and head through the historic neighborhood of West Trenton which is dotted with unique architectural styles. Registered participants will meet and park in front of Ellarslie Mansion in Trenton.
Click here for map.
Wed., September 21
Mapleton Preserve To Lake Carnegie (Kingston) - 3.0 Miles
Join our trail interpreter at 5:30 PM for a leisurely walk around the former Princeton Nursery trails/grounds then to the D&R Canal, Kingston Canal House, 18th Century stone-arched bridge, 19th century mill and on to Lake Carnegie. The group will return along the canal towpath and connected trails. Learn about this area's historic and natural resources and the former nursery property's current relationship to the D&R Canal State Park. D&R Canal State Park. Registered participants will meet at the D&R Canal State Park's Kingston Office parking lot located at 145 Mapleton Road.
Click here for map.
Weekend Walkers: Plan for a few leisurely weekend morning walks with us! (15 participants maximum per walk)
Join us for our “Walking into Winter” series of modest hikes along the canal towpath and nearby areas. Each section of the canal has a unique character and history which will be highlighted by our seasonal trail interpreter. We invite you to come enjoy some outdoor time with us and learn a bit about the historic and natural resources of each location listed below. These weekend walks will be moderately paced - at about 2 miles/hour - and range from 3.5 to 5.5 miles. These longer walks will take about 3 - 3.5 hours, progress at a leisurely pace and return to the original meeting place. Children are welcome but those under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Weekend Walkers will meet promptly at the designated parking areas at 9:30 AM.
Participates will be required to register via the Eventbrite link below each listing (name, contact phone number, email and number of attendees will be required). Registered participants will be contacted if program is to be canceled due to inclement weather, insufficient interest or other unforeseen circumstances. Upcoming walk descriptions, dates and locations are listed below.
IMPORTANT REGISTRATION NOTE:
If there are any questions or concerns please contact the D&R Canal State Park Office at (609) 924-5705 (Tuesday - Saturday 9:00 -4:00) or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
CLICK HERE to view our Weekend Walkers Collection on Eventbrite and open those walks you are interested in attending. Click the "REMIND ME" button to be automatically notified when registration opens up for that program.
Due to the popularity of our walks, we ask REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS to either CANCEL THEIR TICKET or
NOTIFY US VIA EMAIL 12 HOURS BEFORE THE DAY OF THE PROGRAM if their plans have changed and can no longer attend. This is a courtesy to those on the wait list and allows us the opportunity to release a ticket to another potential attendee.
Two "no-shows" without prior cancellation notification will generate a "flag" for that registrant resulting in the potential inability to attend future walks this season. Thank you for your cooperation!
Sat., July 23
Colonial Park to Zarephath – 4.5 Miles
Come join our trail interpreter for a summer morning walk along this stretch of the historic D&R Canal towpath. This section of the towpath offers a variety of natural landscapes along the Millstone River floodplain and close to the confluence with the Raritan River that have had significant impact on the surrounding areas. Along the way the group will see two former bridge tender's houses and the small community of Zarephath, where the "Pillar of Fire" was founded now the Somerset Christian College. For those interested, bring a bag lunch which will be eaten as a group after the walk. Bring your own portable chair or blanket if desired. This walk begins at Colonial Park in Somerset. Registered participants will meet at Colonial Park Garden’s Parking Lot F (North of Colonial Dr on East Side) at 9:30 AM.
Click here for map.
Sat., September 17
Kingston to Rocky Hill with a Stop at Rockingham – 4.2 Miles
Join our trail interpreter for a roundtrip morning walk from Kingston Lock to Rocky Hill with a short visit to the grounds of historic Rockingham! In addition to learning about the D&R Canal registered participants will see two historic homes along the way - The Kingston Canal House and 18th century Rockingham - General George Washington's last wartime headquarters. The group will begin this walk along the canal’s bermside path with a side hike up to Rockingham where they will be met by the site historian for a brief introduction to the property and its significance. From there attendees will proceed on to Rocky Hill and then back towards Kingston on the canal towpath. Dress for the weather, wear comfortable hiking shoes and join us for this 4.5 mile round trip walk. Registered participants will meet at the Kingston Canal House promptly at 9:30 am.
Click here for map.
Sat., October. 22
Washington Crossing State Park to Titusville - 4.4 Miles
Join us for an autumn morning walk to explore and learn about this historic location where the waters of the D&R's feeder canal flows through the area where General George Washington and the Continental Army made their famous Christmas Crossing of the Delaware River in 1776. We will meet at the lower river parking lot where the group will hear about the D&R Canal and its relationship with the riverside hamlet of Titusville. Afterwards we will head over the pedestrian bridge and into Washington Crossing State Park for a walk along their trail network including historic Continental Lane where we will follow in the footsteps of Washington and his exhausted but determined army. The group will head back to and along the canal path then through the riverside hamlet of Titusville before ending back at the river parking lot. For those interested, bring a bag lunch which can be eaten as a group in the picnic area after the walk. Registered participants will meet at southern end of the Washington Crossing State Park riverfront parking area promptly at 9:30.
Click here for map.
Sat., November 19
Bulls Island’s Trail Network – 4.0 Miles
Come explore several trails in one morning with us! Bulls Island’s newest "Inlet Trail" offers both towpath and Delaware River views. Here you'll see where the canal’s “feeder” begins the 22-mile trip south to Trenton. Then a walk through the "Natural Trail" and finish with a partial loop on the "White Oak Trail" (click here for Bulls Island Trail Map). Afterwards the group will stop to take in the view of the Delaware River from the historic Roebling Pedestrian Bridge and then a peek at the historic photos on display in the visitor center. Hikers are invited to bring their lunch, a portable chair and/or blanket and join the staff at the guard lock picnic area. Registered participants will meet at the Bulls Island parking lot.
Click here for map.
Lunchtime “Walk & Talks”: Join us for a leisurely lunchtime walk! (15 participants maximum per walk)
We've added lunchtime walks to our programming schedule. These are FREE lunch hour outings along the canal towpath and nearby areas. These leisurely walks located at various places within the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park will last about 90 to 120 minutes and progress at a comfortable pace. All walks will return to the original meeting location (as indicated in each description below). Lunchtime "Walk and Talk"registrants will meet at the parking areas listed for each of the programs promptly at 11:30 AM. For those interested, bring a bag lunch which will be eaten as a group after the walk. Bring your own portable chair, if desired.
Participates will be required to register via the Eventbrite link below each listing (name, contact phone number, email and number of attendees will be required). Registered participants will be contacted if program is to be canceled due to inclement weather, insufficient interest or other unforeseen circumstances. Upcoming walk descriptions, dates and locations are listed below.
IMPORTANT REGISTRATION NOTE:
If there are any questions or concerns please contact the D&R Canal State Park Office at (609) 924-5705 (Tuesday - Saturday 9:00 -4:00) or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Due to the popularity of our walks, we ask REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS to either CANCEL THEIR TICKET or
NOTIFY US VIA EMAIL 12 HOURS BEFORE THE DAY OF THE PROGRAM if their plans have changed and can no longer attend. This is a courtesy to those on the wait list and allows us the opportunity to release a ticket to another potential attendee.
Two "no-shows" without prior cancellation notification will generate a "flag" for that registrant resulting in the potential inability to attend future walks this season. Thank you for your cooperation!
Thursday, June 15
Smell the Roses at Colonial Park Gardens and Walk to East Millstone - 2.0 Miles
The roses are in bloom! Come join our trail interpreter at lunch time, bring a bag lunch and plan to take time to smell the roses! Enjoy these beautiful early summer blossoms with us and then afterward we will walk the D&R towpath to East Millstone to visit the newly restored Bridge Tenders Station. Upon returning to the Colonial Park Gardens, we’ll pass through the area’s outstanding arboretum. This will be a leisurely mid-afternoon outdoor program, so plan to be with us a few hours. This lunch hour “walk and talk” will begin at Colonial Park in Somerset. This walk begins at Colonial Park in Somerset. Registered participants will meet at Colonial Park Garden’s Parking Lot F, near the Lilac Garden at 11:30 AM. Click here for map.
