D&R Canal Watch Programs
D&R Canal State Park Programs
The following programs are run by the D&R Canal State Park . Please note that our programs begin at varied times and locations which are included in the descriptions below.
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).
Please look through the upcoming walk descriptions, dates, times and locations offered below.
All walks are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather, insufficient interest or other unforeseen circumstances. Registered participants will be contacted if a program is to be canceled. 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.
IMPORTANT REGISTRATION NOTES:
Also note that our walks progress at a consistent pace of about 2.5 miles an hour. Please keep this in mind when registering for any of our walks listed below.
Thank you for your cooperation!
BE ADVISED:
Due to the popularity of our walks, we ask REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS to either CANCEL THEIR TICKET or
NOTIFY US VIA EMAIL 24 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.
If you join us for a hike (or any other event), please understand that you are responsible for your own preparedness and well-being and will hold no one else liable in case of injury or mishap. You agree not to hold the organizer, its employees, or any other members responsible for any injuries, mishaps, or any other situation that may happen at a planned event. This release extends and applies to, and also covers and includes, all unknown, unforeseen, unanticipated and unsuspected injuries, damages, loss and liability. Your attendance on a walk signifies that you have read and accept the terms of this liability waiver. By signing up for our walks, programs or events you understand that you are attending at your own risk.
2025 Program Calendar To Be Posted
CHECK BACK SOON FOR OUR REGISTRATION REQUIRED/SCHEDULED WALKS
2025 "Pop-Up Walks”
REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED FOR OUR "POP-UP" PROGRAMMING; SIMPLY MARK YOUR CALENDAR & JOIN US!
Join us for a Pop-Up Walk along the canal towpath and nearby areas. Each section of the canal has a unique narrative 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 resources at the D&R Canal State Park. These round-trip walks will be moderately paced and depending on the distance, last about 1 1//2 - 2 1/2 hours. Children are welcome but those under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Participants are asked to meet promptly at the designated parking areas at the start time indicated below.
Join our trail interpreter at 10:30 am at the Weston Causeway in Somerset for a leisurely 3-mile round-trip morning walk to 10-Mile Lock. While walking along the D&R towpath, the group will learn about area's connection to the Revolutionary War including the Battle of Millstone at the Van Neste Mill and the story of the Pillar of Fire religious community at Zarephath. As the group walks the towpath, parts of the canal's infrastructure will be highlighted including canal houses, waste gates, culverts and locks! Put on your hiking shoes, dress for the weather, bring water to stay hydrated and come prepared to learn a bit about the D&R Canal and areas through which it flows.
Participating participants will meet at the D&R Canal State Park's parking lot located at the Weston Causeway in Somerset (see link above or below for location). Be prepared for a consistently paced 3-mile round-trip walk lasting about 2 1/2 hours. Bring water, dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes. Inclement weather will cancel this walk. A notice will be sent out should the program be canceled due to weather or other circumstance.
Have a question or need further information? Call the Kingston Office at (609) 924-5705 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WESTON TO 10-MILE LOCK POP-UP WALK
D&R CANAL STATE PARK & COMMISSION'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AT PRALLSVILLE MILLS
Location: Prallsville Mills, 33 Risler Street, Stockton, NJ
Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
Time: 2:00 -5:00 pm
Co-Sponsor: Canal Society of NJ & Delaware River Mill Society
We thank everyone who attended our milestone 50th year celebration on Saturday September 14th at the Prallsville Mill in Stockton! We are especially thankful to everyone who participated and assisted. A very special shout-out to our sponsors The Canal Society of NJ and the Delaware River Mill Society. We are also grateful to Ted Settle for his fabulous photography exhibit, "The Successful Failures" who provided the music, all our participating partner organizations, Smokey the Bear and Woodsy the Owl. It was a perfect day and a great event!
Mark your calendars and plan to help us celebrate the D&R Canal State Park and Commission's 50th Anniversary! This public event will be held at Prallsville Mills located at 33 Risler Street in Stockton, NJ on Saturday, September 14th from 2:00 - 5:00 pm (rain or shine).
Help us celebrate our 50 year milestone anniversary. Come speak with our partner organizations who will be on site and ready to interact with the public. These historic organizations and environmental groups selflessly support the stewardship mission of NJ State Parks and assist with the preservation and education of the natural, environmental and historic resources of the D&R Canal State Park. Come meet them, become a member and get involved! (See the participating partner organizatons list below)
Walk through the historic Grist & Saw Mills and learn their stories. Members of the Delaware River Mill Society will be on hand to answer questions about the mill workings, surviving equipment and the people who worked there.
Meet Smokey the Bear and make sure to wish him a happy 80th birthday! Smokey will be onsite with his friend "Woodsy the Owl" to help us celebrate the D&R's 50th anniversary. Don't pass up an opportunity to pose for a selfie with this historic and iconic U.S. Forest Fire mascot.
Enjoy a fresh street taco from Tia’s Tacos or indulge in a sweet treat from Kona Ice while enjoying the acoustic sounds of The Successful Failures including their original song “Dig Boys” inspired by the workers who built the D&R Canal.
Who Are "The Successful Failures?"
“The first thing you should know about The Successful Failures is that any attempt to plug them into one genre or another is very much a fool’s errand. Hailing from Trenton, N.J., the band deftly combines Americana, Pop, Rock, and enough of a dusting of Bluegrass that serves as an appetizer to the main course without overwhelming the entire meal.” – July 2020, Rock is the New Roll
No Depression magazine dubbed The Successful Failures as “one of the hardiest and most prolific outfits on the planet” playing “instantly infectious melodies that tread the line between power pop and Americana without wholly committing to either”. With a name borrowed from a Jack London short story and an indie rock work ethic The Successful Failures have been together playing music for 19 years and are set to release their 11th full length album in October 2024. Singer and songwriter Mick Chorba often chooses off-beat topics for his songs such as shark attacks, armadillos, vikings and presidents. The band’s 2022 single “Dig Boys” tells the story of the real life immigrants who dug the Delaware and Raritan canal. Chorba was inspired by the information provided by the park service along the trail near Lambertville, NJ and the song was written in a classic “work song” style with grunts and yelps to simulate the digging. The band is excited to perform the tune while celebrating the 50th anniversary of the D&R Canal State Park! www.thesuccessfulfailures.com
PARTICIPATING PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
The Friends of Abraham Staats House, Inc. was established in 1999 and incorporated in 2004 to support the ongoing restoration, preservation and interpretation of the historic Abraham Staats House, one of the finest surviving buildings of the 18th century Dutch settlement of the Raritan Valley.
The Canal Society of New Jersey protects and restores the remains of New Jersey’s Morris and D&R canals, preserving the history of the sites and educating the public. Working collaboratively with other stakeholders, the Society generates interest in the canals as historic, educational, and recreational resources.
The D&R Canal Watch protects, maintains, & promotes the recreational, historical, aesthetic & environmental qualities of the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park & its environs; assists & supports regional, state, local & private enterprise efforts which contribute to this goal; investigates the restoration of the canal to through navigation.
The Delaware River Greenway Partnership works to bring individuals,
communities, businesses, recreational users, and all levels of
government together to promote and protect a continuous corridor of
natural and cultural resources along the Delaware River and its
tributaries.
The East Coast Greenway is a walking and biking route stretching 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida, connecting our nation’s most populated corridor. The Greenway offers a safe place for bicyclists, walkers, runners, and more to commute, exercise, and visit new destinations.
The Friends of the Delaware Canal is an independent, non-profit organization working to restore, preserve, and improve the Delaware Canal and its surroundings. Our primary goals are to ensure the Canal is fully-watered from Easton to Bristol and the towpath trail is usable over its entire length.
Formed in 2000 the Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands preserves the cultural landscape of the former Princeton Nurseries. It is dedicated to the preservation, protection, development & interpretation of the historical, horticultural and natural resources of the former Princeton Nurseries Kingston site for the enjoyment of present and future generations.
Kingston Greenways Association aims to establish a permanent green belt around the village of Kingston consisting of natural environments, recreational park land, agricultural & horticultural land, wetlands/streams and sites of historical interest; to preserve & create connections of green for walking, bicycling and horseback riding; to promote understanding of our local region through study and education, and to provide oversight and advocacy for open space in the Kingston area.
The Kingston Historical Society was formed in 1997 as a non-partisan, non-profit organization to preserve, enhance & promote the history of the village of Kingston, New Jersey. Its headquarters are in the Locktender’s House on the Delaware and Raritan Canal where it maintains the original circa 1834 home of families who operated the Kingston locks on the canal.
The Lawrence Historical Society was formed in 1975 as a non-partisan non-profit organization. Its purpose is to preserve & promote the richly diverse history of Lawrence Township by building a bridge from the past to the future. It accomplishes this by maintaining two historic sites, the Brearley House & Port Mercer Canal House & sponsoring a variety of programming, including lectures, awards & events
The Millstone Valley Scenic Byway received national and state designation for its scenic beauty, historic importance & environmental integrity. Located in central New Jersey, the Byway is a touchstone for preservation & conservation efforts. The Millstone Valley Preservation Coalition, sponsor of the Byway, encourages you to visit the Valley, drive the byway, and enjoy walking, birding, fishing and canoeing at the D&R Canal State Park.
Lower Delaware Wild & Scenic is a nationally recognized wild and scenic
river. It is overseen by a Management Council dedicated to protecting
and preserving water quality, natural resources, historic resources,
recreation, open space, and economic development.
Prallsville Mills offers a variety of cultural and community activities in a magnificent setting along the Delaware River and D&R Canal. Come to the mill for a tour, a yoga class, an art show, a lecture or a concert. Get engaged in our history – or married in one of our magnificent structures.
The mission of SPLASH Delaware River Floating Classroom is to educate and inspire through accessible aquatic-based experiential learning and citizen science on the Delaware River and its shores.
Since 2004, SPLASH has been delighting school-age and adult groups with educational programs focused on the vital importance of the Delaware River.
The Rockingham Association was incorporated in 1964 as the NJ State-recognized, non-profit auxiliary organization to Rockingham State Historic Site. Our membership come from throughout the state of New Jersey as well as from out of state. The Association supports preservation & interpretation goals of the site & helps fund various programs/events throughout the year.
