tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28956916075546101182024-03-05T02:42:52.176-05:00TowpathGuy's Towpath GuideThis is a Guide to the Main Canal and its towpath in the Delaware and Raritan (D&R) State Park of New Jersey. The guide includes information on biking, running, canoeing and other uses of the canal and the towpath. Maps showing access and parking information for all of the entrances are given. There are also pictures of interesting things to see on the towpath.TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-34802991810267961122018-08-02T21:38:00.012-04:002008-10-11T20:47:47.584-04:00Introduction<span style="font-family:arial;">The core of the <a href="http://www.dandrcanal.com/park_index.html">Delaware and Raritan State Park</a> in central New Jersey are its two Canals. The Main Canal extends from New Brunswick in central NJ to Trenton, and the Feeder Canal runs along the Delaware River on the western border of NJ from Trenton up to Frenchtown. Adjacent to the canal is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towpath">towpath</a>. Formerly, the working place of mules and horses, today the towpath is a long, vehicle-free "highway" for <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/bicycling-on-tow-path.html">bicyclists</a>, walkers, <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/running-on-towpath.html">joggers, runners</a>, fisherman, bird-watchers, and others, including horseback riders. It is a <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/running-on-towpath.html">running trail</a>, a <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/bicycling-on-tow-path.html">biking trail</a>, and a walking or hiking path. In addition, <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/boats-canoes-and-kayaks-in-canal.html">canoes and kayaks </a>are common in the adjacent Canal. This website will focus on the central NJ part of the park and its towpath. Most of the emphasis is on the use of the towpath for biking, both for recreation and commuters, but other users, hopefully, will find this information helpful.</span> The <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/towpath-access.html">Towpath Access</a> page has a map of the all of the entrances and the Towpath Guide (see right) lists all of the entrances, has a map for each one, and a short description.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;">What is the towpath?</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />The towpath is, essentially, a gravel and dirt road that runs alongside the Delaware and Raritan Canal. The central NJ portion is >30 miles long. No motor vehicles are allowed and there are limited access points. The limited access make it similar in some ways to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rail_trails_in_New_Jersey">rail trails in NJ</a>, but it is longer than most of them! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnv-iai5-S61jE5P_bwk9w-cvh7UAis3pBbayi_aNzeighegRc8Y0XYAnKTUBNEfrbMfyAAcuKJyOwBSSfTeohpQKWuq1T9li67uR63hd84tVCbzti5YFpudyv0o3PyG-qciFurHIDhC3R/s1600-h/TowpathEastFromDeMottFootbridge1_small.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237841202604570930" title="View of the towpath in the Delaware and Raritan State Park looking eastward from the DeMott Lane Footbridge" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="View of the towpath in the Delaware and Raritan State Park looking eastward from the DeMott Lane Footbridge" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnv-iai5-S61jE5P_bwk9w-cvh7UAis3pBbayi_aNzeighegRc8Y0XYAnKTUBNEfrbMfyAAcuKJyOwBSSfTeohpQKWuq1T9li67uR63hd84tVCbzti5YFpudyv0o3PyG-qciFurHIDhC3R/s200/TowpathEastFromDeMottFootbridge1_small.JPG" border="0" /></a>Parking is available at most of the entrances -- see the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/towpath-access.html">Towpath Access in the Towpath Guide</a>. The northern-end of the towpath is at the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/landing-lane.html">Landing Lane Bridge</a>, between the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raritan_River">Raritan River </a>and the Canal, i.e.., on the New Brunswick side of the bridge. The Towpath runs west from this point approximately parallel to Easton Avenue through Somerset to South Bound Brook. After South Bound Brook, the towpath makes a broad turn to the south and then goes through Somerset (again), East Millstone, Griggstown, Rocky Hill, Kingston, and Princeton before ending in Trenton. For much its length, the Canal runs close to the Raritan River or the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millstone_River">Millstone River</a>, a main tributary of the Raritan.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;">A (very) <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/history-of-canal-and-towpath.html">short history of the towpath</a></span><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/history-of-canal-and-towpath.html"> </a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />The Canal was built in the 1830's as a route for barges to haul coal from the coal mining areas of Pennsylvania to New York City without having to navigate around Cape May. During the years that the barge traffic moved the coal, and mules and horses provided the propulsion, walking on the towpath and towing the barges as they did so. The advent of the railroads made the barges un-economic and soon the towpath was abandoned. Eventually, the state of NJ took over the land and created what has become a wild-life and recreational paradise through the center of one of the most densely populated states in the U.S. The canal itself continues to supply drinking water to much of central NJ.<br /><br /></span><strong>How to get to the towpath?</strong><br /><br />Check out the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/towpath-access.html">Towpath Access</a> pages! If you live near one of the entrances, just hop on your bike and ride to it. If you use your car, check out the descriptions of the various entrances. If you're coming from from far away, use the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/davidson-avenue-lock.html">Davidson Avenue entrance </a>off Exit 10 of I-287, the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/landing-lane.html">Landing Lane entrance</a> near Rt 18, or the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/route-1.html">Route 1 entrance</a>, near the southern end. Access from NJ Transit stations from New York or Philadelphia is also possible -- this info will be added soon.</span>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-51982695403022034762009-06-29T20:56:00.000-04:002009-06-29T15:17:53.435-04:00Blackwells Mills Road<span style="font-family:arial;">The park is at its widest at Blackwells Mills. There is parking between the canal and the river, and there are also toilet facilities. </span><br /><iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.475403,-74.571998&spn=0.019491,0.021802&output=embed&s=AARTsJpgxCyVcgwV3nvshWUYGE-Vv8wiMg" scrolling="no" width="425" frameborder="0" height="350"></iframe><br /><small><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;" href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.475403,-74.571998&spn=0.019491,0.021802&source=embed">View Larger Map</a></small><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwells_Mills_Canal_House">Blackwells Mills Canal House </a>sits between the canal and Canal Road. The Canal house is a national historic site curently owned by <a href="http://www.themeadowsfoundation.org/blackwell-mills.html">The Meadows Foundation</a>. There are events of various sorts approximately monthly -- the next one is a "Paper Mania/Book Sale" on Saturday, September 13, 2008 from 10-4 p.m. The <a href="http://www.hillsborough-nj.org/cit-e-access/webpage.cfm?TID=45&TPID=6331">Blackwells Mill </a>itself sits on the west bank of the Millstone River.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The <a href="http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=01402000">USGS maintains a river gauge (01402000)</a> on the Millstone River at the Blackwells Mills. A <a href="http://newweb.erh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=phi&gage=BKWN4">website from the NOAA</a> provides useful monitoring functions and an interpretation of the readings. The NOAA provides forecasts for the levels of the Millstone River at Blackwells Mills "as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.". The <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/griggstown-causeway.html">Griggstown Causeway </a>(about 3.5 miles upstream) is closed when the river reaches about 6 feet. At 9 feet River Road at Blacwells Mills is affected. The record high was 21.01 ft on 09/17/1999 from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Floyd">Hurricane Floyd</a>.<br /></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">6 Mile Run</span></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Adjacent to the park across Canal Road is 6 Mile Run with hiking and biking trails. The parking lot is on Canal about 100 yards south of Blackwells Mills Road. There is a toilet facility in this parking lot. The large building next to the parking lot is a Delaware and Raritan State Park Building. Formerly, this was the part headquarters building.<br /></span>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-88803122853562700882009-06-29T20:47:00.000-04:002009-06-29T15:19:18.562-04:00Landing LaneThis is the only entrance to the towpath in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Brunswick,_New_Jersey">New Brunswick</a>. It is located on the northwest side of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_Lane_Bridge">Landing Lane Bridge </a>between the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raritan_River">Raritan River </a>and a much smaller bridge that goes over the canal. If you live or work at Rutgers University, UMDNJ, or anywhere in New Brunswick, Piscataway or Highland Park, this is the entrance that is closest to you.<br /><iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c03f07f6cd1f328&ll=40.514321,-74.461856&spn=0.012528,0.0315&output=embed&s=AARTsJp62JFo3XuJD8MOFMapzcUQh1HfoQ" scrolling="no" width="425" frameborder="0" height="350"></iframe><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">Map of the Landing Lane Entrance to the D&R Canal Towpath showing parking in Johnson Park and access routes from the Rutgers University Busch Campus and Johnson Park. </span><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c03f07f6cd1f328&ll=40.514321,-74.461856&spn=0.012528,0.0315&source=embed" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;">Click to View Larger Map</a></small><br /><br />Only a gate and a couple of inconspicuous signs mark the entrance. About 10 yards beyond the gate, there is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spillway">spillway</a> (about 50 yards long) paved with large stones. The surface of the spillway is now (Summer, 2009) covered with a nice gravel/sand mixture so one can walk, run or ride a bike across easily. After a major flood, however, the surface of this spillway becomes uneven. Also, sometimes it is generally wet in its low spots because it is only inches higher than the normal level of the canal, i.e., ~3 feet lower than the towpath itself. Even when the gravel/sand has been washed away, walking across the spillway to the towpath on the large stones is easy. The gaps between the stones can, however, "grab" your bike tire so be careful if you ride across.<br /><br />From the New Brunswick side of the river street access is either on Landing Lane or George Street; both are busy and neither has a paved sidewak. The west side of Landing Lane has a grassy walkway, whereas from the east side the parking lots of two rather tall apartment buldings are accessible by crossing a narrow grassy strip from the paths in <a href="http://www.cityofnewbrunswick.org/depts/publicworks/parks.asp#buccleuch">Buccleuch Park</a>. <a href="http://www.rutgers.edu/">Rutgers University</a>'s College Avenue campus, The Rutgers Busch campus, the New Brunswick train station, and two hospitals with emergency rooms (Robert Wood Johnson and St. Peter's) are all located within 1 mile of this entrance.<br /><br />From the Piscataway side of the river there is a protected walkway/bikeway on the Landing Lane Bridge. This walkway connects to the road/bikepath in Johnson Park. The towpath, the walkway across the Land Lane Bridge, and the bikepath in Johnson Park are all part of the <a href="http://www.greenway.org/traillist.htm">East Coast Greenway</a>, a planned 3,000 mile long off-road connecting cities from Maine to Florida. You will see the small East Coast Greenway signs at most of the towpath entrances on the Main Canal.<br /><br />Across River Road from Johnson Park sits the Busch campus of Rutgers University. Right at the intersection of Landing Lane and River Road (about 300 yds from the bridge) is a campus Rutgers bikepath (unmapped on campus maps but see map above) that goes up a fairly steep bluff to a parking lot for the tennis courts and the athletic teams' training center (Hale Center), both of which are behind the stadium. This bikepath provides great access to the towpath for commuters who work on the Busch campus and for students living there. The distance from the Landing Lane entrance to the top of this bikepath is ~0.42 mi (0.67 km) and to the traffic circle in front of the Werblin Gym at Rutgers is ~0.81 mi (1.3 km).<br /><br />Johnson Park's single road and bikepath also has a spur (see map above) connecting to Sutphen Avenue and the western end connects to Hoes Lane. The eastern part of the Johnson Park bike path connects Highland Park (Raritan Ave to Cleveland Avenue and Cedar Lane) to the towpath. There is parking and toilets in Grove 5 which is about 0.25 miles from the bridge. Enter from the park from the Landing Lane entrance and turn left into Grove 5 after 0.25 mi. There is a trail from the back of the parking lot to the bridge.<br /><br />Finally, in the 18th and early 19th century the Landing Lane was a busy port called <a href="http://www.raritanlanding.com/">Raritan Landing</a>! This was the end of the navigable portion of the Raritan River. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelius_Low_House">Cornelius Lowe House</a>, built in 1741, sits on a bluff looking over Landing Lane, the bridge and Johnson Park. Today it is a <a href="http://www.co.middlesex.nj.us/culturalheritage/museum.asp">museum</a> that documents the merchants and commerce that gave birth to the canal and its towpath. Admission is free, but hours are limited so call or check the <a href="http://www.co.middlesex.nj.us/culturalheritage/museum.asp">official website</a> if you plan to visit.<br /><br />Parking near the Landing Lane entrance is available in Johnson Park, across the river. There are also a few (2-3) spaces in a small lot directly across the street. This lot is the entrance to a short (~500 yd) continuation of the towpath(!) that ends at a giant spillway just before the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_A._Lynch,_Sr._Memorial_Bridge">Lynch Bridge</a>. This part of the towpath is not part of the D&R state park; it is, apparently, owned by the City of New Brunswick. The next ~2 miles of the canal/towpath has been lost due to the construction of the Lynch Bridge in the early 1980s. However, the historical end of the canal/towpath survived; it is about 2 1/2 miles further downstream in <a href="http://www.cityofnewbrunswick.org/depts/publicworks/parks.asp#boyd">Boyd Park in New Brunswick</a> where the last lock has been restored.TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-45529239157384453822008-09-20T16:54:00.006-04:002008-10-11T20:46:57.701-04:00Wheelchair Access to the TowpathWheelchair access to the towpath is available at a number of locations. The TowpathGuy has not evaluated all of the entrances for absence of stairs, etc., but the following list of locks and footbridges provide both parking near the towpath with no roads to cross. Of these entrances, the footbridges at Little Valley and DeMott Lane provide a nice place to sit and look down the canal. Entrances south of the ones listed below need to be evaluated by TowpathGuy before he can add them to this list. See the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/towpath-access.html">Towpath Access page</a> for a overall map and a listing of all of the towpath entrances.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong><em>Wheelchair access points to the Main Canal towpath from north to south.</em></strong><br /></span><p></p><ol><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/demott-lane-footbridge.html">DeMott Lane Footbridge</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/davidson-avenue-lock.html">Davidson Avenue Lock - 5 Mile Lock</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>, hotels, close to I-287)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/south-bound-brook-lock.html">South Bound Brook Lock</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>, picnic area)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/10-mile-lock.html">10 Mile Lock</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/griggstown-lock.html">Griggstown Lock</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/little-valley.html">Little Valley</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>) footbridge<br /></li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/kingston.html">Kingston Lock</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>)</li><br /></ol>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-19540845820040687762008-09-20T15:51:00.001-04:002008-10-11T20:41:58.742-04:00Towpath Access with Maps<p><span style="font-family:arial;">The section contains a a map listing of ALL of the entrances to the towpath of the Main Canal. Each entrance is shown on a google map and there is a short description. Some entrances provide access for pedestrians or <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/bicycling-on-tow-path.html">bicyclists</a>, whereas others have parking. <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/boats-canoes-and-kayaks-in-canal.html">Canoes, kayaks and boats</a> can also be launched into the canal. Facilities, i.e., toilets, are rare, and are listed on the guide below. There is no access to food and water on the towpath itself or in the nearby properties of the <a href="http://www.dandrcanal.com/">D&R Canal State Park</a>. For some entrances, Towpathguy has listed the location of nearby amenities. The google maps of each entrance allow you to search for nearby restaurants. Hotels are located near to the towpath only at the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/davidson-avenue-lock.html">Davidson Avenue</a> and <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/bakers-basin-road.html">Bakers Basin Road</a> entrances.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">The northern terminus of the towpath is at <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/landing-lane.html">Landing Lane</a> in New Brunswick in Middlesex County, and the southern terminus is at <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/mulberry-road.html">Mulberry Road</a> in Trenton in Mercer County. In between, the canal and towpath pass through Somerset, South Bound Brook, East Millstone, Griggstown, Rocky Hill, Kingston, Princeton, Lawrence, and Hamilton. The total rideable/hikable/runnable distance is 33.9 miles (54.6 km).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">If you live in any of these towns, you have easy access to the towpath and canal from one or more of a variety of entrances (see the map below). In addition, for much its length the towpath runs right along the border of two towns, so the residents of Highland Park, Piscataway, Bound Brook, Manville, Millstone, Hillsborough, and Montgomery also have easy to this haven for bicyclists and runners. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">The <a href="http://www.dandrcanal.com/">official website of the D&R state park </a>has <a href="http://www.dandrcanal.com/maps.html">maps</a> and a <a href="http://www.dandrcanal.com/mileage-main.html">mileage chart </a>for the Main Canal (and also,of course, for the Feeder Canal on the Delaware River). The D&R maps and charts show parking and picnic areas. The availability of parking obviously increases access especially if you live far from the towpath, dread biking on the street or have children who are not quite ready for fighting NJ traffic. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">A bonus not evident from the D&R maps is that several of the park entrances are near a NJ Transit station which makes access for bicyclists from northern NJ, New York City or Philadelphia possible! </span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">T</span><span style="font-family:arial;">he list provided here (below the map) details the towpath access points from north to south. This list includes information not available elsewhere including restrooms (rare), restaurants, hotels, museums, and, where needed, detailed directions for both drivers and bicyclists.</span><br /><iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.416411,-74.54804&spn=0.36,0.36&output=embed&s=AARTsJpgxCyVcgwV3nvshWUYGE-Vv8wiMg" scrolling="no" width="425" frameborder="0" height="350"></iframe><br /><small>Access Points to the Main Canal. <span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 153);">Green dots</span> indicate entrances with parking; <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">red dots</span> indicates the presence of parking and toilets; <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">blue dots</span> are for pedestrian and/or bicycle accss. <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;" href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.416411,-74.54804&spn=0.36,0.36&source=embed">View Larger Map</a></small><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong><em>The access points to the Main Canal towpath from north to south.</em></strong><br /></span></p><ol><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/landing-lane.html">Landing Lane</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span> in Johnson Park, close to Rutgers University and UMDNJ, 1 mile from NJ Transit in New Brunswick)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/demott-lane-footbridge.html">DeMott Lane Footbridge</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/davidson-avenue-lock.html">Davidson Avenue Lock - 5 Mile Lock</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>, hotels, close to I-287)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/converted-rail-bridge.html">Converted Rail Bridge</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/queens-bridge.html">Queens Bridge</a> (1/2 mile from NJ Transit in Bound Brook)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/south-bound-brook-lock.html">South Bound Brook Lock</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>, picnic area)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/footbridge-on-weston-canal.html">Footbridge on Weston Canal Rd.</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/10-mile-lock.html">10 Mile Lock</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/zarephath.html">Zarephath</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/manville-causeway.html">Manville Causeway</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/canal-and-towpath-news.html">Colonial Park Footbridge -- proposed by Somerset County Park Commission -- bids supposedly out, estimated completion in 2010, according to the D&R Canal Main Office</a>.<br /></li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/amwell-road.html">Amwell Road</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/blackwells-mills-road.html">Blackwells Mill Road</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>, picnic area)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/griggstown-causeway.html">Griggstown Causeway</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>, picnic area)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/griggstown-lock.html">Griggstown Lock</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/little-valley.html">Little Valley</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/rocky-hill.html">Rocky Hill</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/kingston.html">Kingston Lock</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/millstone-aqueduct.html">Millstone Aqueduct</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>, picnic area)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/harrison-street.html">Harrison Street</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/washington-road.html">Washington Road</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/alexander-road.html">Alexander Road</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>, picnic area, 1/2 mile from NJ Transit in Princeton Junction)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/institute-woods.html">Institute Woods</a> -- pedestrians only (no bikes!)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/port-mercer-quakerbridge-road.html">Port Mercer/Quaker Bridge Rd</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>, picnic area)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/provinceline-road.html">Provinceline Road</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/brearley-house-trail.html">Brearley House Trail</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/route-1.html">U.S. Route 1</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>)</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/bakers-basin-road.html">Bakers Basin Road</a> </li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/carnegie-road.html">Carnegie Road</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>), 3/4 mile from NJ Transit in Hamilton).</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/whitehead-road.html">Whitehead Road</a> (1/2 mile from NJ Transit in Hamilton).</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/mulberry-road.html">Mulberry Road</a> -- (1.8 mile from NJ Transit in Trenton).</li><br /></ol>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-20947409063129761492008-09-20T14:23:00.007-04:002008-09-20T15:52:27.822-04:00Day Trip or Weekend Getaway from New York or Philadelphia<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br />If you live in NY City or Philadelphia and want to ride on the D&R towpath, you can easily reach it whether you have a car or not.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reaching the Towpath by Car</span><br /><br />From northern NJ, New York, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens or Long Island, take the NJ Turnpike or the Highway 440 to I-287. Take I-287 to Exit 10, Easton Avenue. This will bring you to the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/davidson-avenue-lock.html">Davidson Avenue Entrance</a>. The parking lot requires you to make a u-turn -- this is explained on the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/davidson-avenue-lock.html">Davidson Avenue entrance page</a>. There are hotels near this entrance -- see the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/davidson-avenue-lock.html">Davidson Avenue entrance</a> for information. If your goal is to ride the entire towpath, you'll want to start at <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/landing-lane.html">Landing Lane</a>. To reach <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/landing-lane.html">Landing Lane</a>, take the NJ Turnpike to Exit 9 (Highway 18), go north on Highway 18 through New Brunswick to River Road. Take River Road (west) to Landing Lane, turn left, and make the first right into Johnson Park, park in Grove 5. See the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/landing-lane.html">Landing Lane entrance page</a> for details. In the Fall, you should check the Rutgers University football schedule as on the day of home games, Johnson Park is not open for parking. You can use the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/demott-lane-footbridge.html">DeMott Lane Footbridge entrance</a> as an alternate entrance on those days.<br /><br />From Philadelphia, make your way to Route 1 in New Jersey as it comes through Trenton and park at the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/route-1.html">Route 1 entrance</a>. Use the google map on the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/route-1.html">Route 1 page</a> to get directions.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reaching the Towpath by <a href="http://www.njtransit.com/">NJ Transit</a></span><br /><br />A total of 6 entrances are close to an NJ Transit station. Five of these are on the Northeast Corridor Line, one (<a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/queens-bridge.html">Queens Bridge</a> in South Bound Brook) is on the Raritan Valley Line.<br /><ol><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/landing-lane.html">Landing Lane</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span> in Johnson Park, close to Rutgers University and UMDNJ, 1 mile from NJ Transit in New Brunswick) -- Northeast Corridor Line.<br /></li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/queens-bridge.html">Queens Bridge</a> (1/2 mile from NJ Transit in Bound Brook) -- Raritan Valley Line.<br /></li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/alexander-road.html">Alexander Road</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>, picnic area, 1/2 mile from NJ Transit in Princeton Junction) -- Northeast Corridor Line.</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/carnegie-road.html">Carnegie Road</a> (<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">parking</span>), 3/4 mile from NJ Transit in Hamilton) -- Northeast Corridor Line.</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/whitehead-road.html">Whitehead Road</a> (1/2 mile from NJ Transit in Hamilton) -- Northeast Corridor Line.</li><br /><li><a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/mulberry-road.html">Mulberry Road</a> -- (1.8 mile from NJ Transit in Trenton) -- Northeast Corridor Line.</li></ol><br />For a day trip from New York take the NJ Transit from Penn Station in NY to any of the 2 northern entrances listed above and ride to one of the 4 southern entrances or vice versa. To reach Bound Brook you'll need to transfer in Newark. NJ Transit allows bicycles at most times other than weekday rush hours. Bikes ride at no charge in the handicapped areas, but handicapped riders have priority. <a href="http://www.njtransit.com/rg/rg_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=BikeProgramTo">Click here for the exact NJ Transit rules for bicycles.</a> Alternatively, you can take the PATH train to Newark and pick up your NJ Transit train there. PATH trains also allow bicycles -- <a href="http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/path/html/rules.html">click here for the exact PATH rules for bicycles</a>.<br /><br />For a day trip from Philadelphia, you'll need to take SEPTA to Trenton and then either ride to the Mulberry Road entrance or take NJ Transit to one of the stations on the Northeast Corridor (NOT the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/queens-bridge.html">Queens Bridge entrance</a> because Bound Brook is on the Raritan Valley Line).<br /><br />For a weekend getaway, use the hotels near the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/davidson-avenue-lock.html">Davidson Avenue Entrance</a> (several in various price categories) or on Route 1 near the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/bakers-basin-road.html">Bakers Basin Road Entrance</a> (limited selection). To find them use the google maps on the respective pages. Note the Quality Inn near the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/davidson-avenue-lock.html">Davidson Avenue entrance</a> has a swimmable lap pool in its "health club".TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-73932773581364483592008-09-20T13:22:00.004-04:002008-09-20T13:47:41.427-04:00Mulberry RoadThis is the southern terminus of the Main Canal and its towpath. Much of the remainder of the canal and towpath were covered up as part of a WPA project during the 1930's. The historical end of the main canal is on Duck Island on the Delaware River about 6 miles further south. The entrance is about 1.8 miles from the Trenton NJ Transit station.<br /><br />From this entrance you can ride through city streets to the southern terminus of the Feeder Canal and its towpath (directions to be added).<br /><br /><iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.238949,-74.741964&spn=0.019491,0.021802&output=embed&s=AARTsJpgxCyVcgwV3nvshWUYGE-Vv8wiMg" scrolling="no" width="425" frameborder="0" height="350"></iframe><br /><small><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;" href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.238949,-74.741964&spn=0.019491,0.021802&source=embed">View Larger Map</a></small>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-30364054729191091902008-09-20T13:20:00.003-04:002008-09-20T13:33:17.260-04:00Whitehead RoadThis entrance is about 1/2 mile from the NJ Transit Hamilton Station.<br /><br /><iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.248972,-74.728746&spn=0.019491,0.021802&output=embed&s=AARTsJpgxCyVcgwV3nvshWUYGE-Vv8wiMg" scrolling="no" width="425" frameborder="0" height="350"></iframe><br /><small><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;" href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.248972,-74.728746&spn=0.019491,0.021802&source=embed">View Larger Map</a></small>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-45601998503206279152008-09-20T13:01:00.004-04:002008-09-20T13:33:45.137-04:00Carnegie RoadThis entrance has parking and is about 3/4 mile from the Hamilton NJ Transit station.<br /><br /><iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.274533,-74.703469&spn=0.019491,0.021802&output=embed&s=AARTsJpgxCyVcgwV3nvshWUYGE-Vv8wiMg" scrolling="no" width="425" frameborder="0" height="350"></iframe><br /><small><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;" href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.274533,-74.703469&spn=0.019491,0.021802&source=embed">View Larger Map</a></small>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-59576897772168488342008-09-20T12:34:00.004-04:002008-09-20T13:33:30.658-04:00Bakers Basin RoadThis entrance does not have parking, but it is close to a couple of hotels on Route 1.<br /><br /><iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.274533,-74.703469&spn=0.019491,0.021802&output=embed&s=AARTsJpgxCyVcgwV3nvshWUYGE-Vv8wiMg" scrolling="no" width="425" frameborder="0" height="350"></iframe><br /><small><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;" href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.274533,-74.703469&spn=0.019491,0.021802&source=embed">View Larger Map</a></small>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-18394603559180096362008-09-14T17:32:00.002-04:002008-09-14T18:24:55.196-04:00Fishing in the D&R CanalMost weekday afternoons and weekends, Towpathguy sees fishermen (men, women and children) trying their luck in the D&R Canal or in the Raritan River. On weekdays in the afternoons, the spillway at <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/landing-lane.html">Landing Lane </a>or the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/mile-markers-on-towpath.html">culvert at One Mile Run </a>usually has one or more anglers with a rod and reel. Most of the time the fishermen are on foot and are close to one of the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/towpath-access.html">entrances</a>; however, some carry their rods and reels on their bikes to get access to sites further from the entrances.<br /><br />The fishing seems to be pretty good. The buckets frequently have nice size fish in them. Also, a few weeks (late August, 2008), Towpathguy watched a fisherman land a small bass. The favorite fishing spots are the cleared areas near the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/towpath-access.html">entrances</a>, <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/mile-markers-on-towpath.html">culverts and spillways</a>, especially just downstream from the locks. Also, there are plenty of small areas on the canal bank that are large enough for a lone fisherman to cast. Occasionally, a <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/09/boats-canoes-and-kayaks-in-canal.html">jonboat with an electric motor </a>can be seen trolling. <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/demott-lane-footbridge.html">DeMott Lane</a> is a good place to put a boat in.<br /><br />An article in <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/fishing/news/story?page=f_map_06_NJ_DR_Canal">Fishing and Hunting News </a>a couple of years ago says the "most productive area" of the D&R canal is the stretch from the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/griggstown-causeway.html">Griggstown Causeway </a>to <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/south-bound-brook-lock.html">South Bound Brook</a>. Apparently, winter is the best time to go for pickerel and crappie. The article also correctly points out that the D&R Main Canal rarely ices over in the winter. Towpathguy only recalls two winters in the past 20 when the ice was thick enough to support an adults weight. Most winters the slow moving current keeps the canal open.TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-3417229486795415242008-09-13T19:11:00.004-04:002008-09-13T21:00:46.844-04:00Boats, Canoes and Kayaks in the Canal<p>The Main Canal is a great place of still water kayaking or canoeing. There is a slow current, but the average depth is about 8 feet, so there are no rapids. If you fish, a small boat or jonboath is also a good way to access parts of the canal that have dense growth along the banks. Note only non-powered boats or boats with electric motors are allowed.</p><p><strong>Where to launch a boat, kayak or canoe?</strong></p><p>Most of the entrances that have parking have a place where a canoe or kayak can be launched from the shore. A small row boat or jonboat can probably be launched there as well, but note for most of these sites there is no way to get a trailer close to the launch point and so your vessel will need to be carried, sometimes only a few feet. Entrances confirmed by TowpathGuy to be suitable for launching either because the shore is low and clear of trees or because there is a small dock are <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/demott-lane-footbridge.html">DeMott Avenue</a>, <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/davidson-avenue-lock.html">Davidson Avenue (5 Mile Lock)</a>, the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/south-bound-brook-lock.html">South Bound Brook Lock</a>, the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/10-mile-lock.html">10 Mile Lock</a>, the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/manville-causeway.html">Manville Causeway</a>, <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/amwell-road.html">Amwell Road</a>, the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/griggstown-causeway.html">Griggstown Causeway</a>, the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/griggstown-lock.html">Griggstown Lock</a>, and <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/rocky-hill.html">Rocky Hill</a>. At the locks look for a narrow (3-4 foot wide) ramp into the impounded water near the sluice gate/dam. </p><p><strong>Lock and Low Bridges</strong></p><p>Locks and low bridges limit the range of your boat. For example, if you put in at <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/demott-lane-footbridge.html">DeMott Avenue</a>, you will be confined to the canal between <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/landing-lane.html">Landing Lane</a> (low bridge) and the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/davidson-avenue-lock.html">5 Mile Lock at Davidson Avenue</a>. The bridges at <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/landing-lane.html">Landing Lane</a>, <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/manville-causeway.html">Manville Causeway</a>, <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/amwell-road.html">Amwell Road</a>, <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/blackwells-mills-road.html">Blackwells Mills</a>, <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/griggstown-causeway.html">Griggstown Causeway</a> and <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/rocky-hill.html">Rocky Hill (Rte. 518)</a> are all too low for boats. The footbridges and the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/queens-bridge.html">Queens Bridge </a>all provide generous clearance for boats. The two bridges carrying I-287 over the canal are very high above the canal and towpath. The clearance of the other bridges not mentioned has have not yet been confirmed by TowpathGuy.</p><p><strong>Canoe and Kayak Rental on the Canal</strong></p><p>Canoes and Kayaks are available for rent at the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/griggstown-causeway.html">Griggstown Causeway </a>and just beyond the southern end of Lake Carnegie at <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/alexander-road.html">Alexander Road</a>. Both rental sites are run by <a href="http://www.canoenj.com/">CanoeNJ</a>, which has an informative website. Check out their <a href="http://www.canoenj.com/faq.htm">FAQ</a> for answers to common questions -- note these are cash only businesses -- no credit cards accepted.</p>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-20295686465092590532008-09-13T19:03:00.003-04:002008-09-13T19:10:44.932-04:00Hurricane Ike's Projected Path<div>Hurricane Ike has brought great damage and rainfall to Texas. It's path is now projected to go well north of NJ sometime on Tuesday. We might get some rain, but probably not enough to flood <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/blackwells-mills-road.html">Blackwells Mills </a>or <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/queens-bridge.html">Bound Brook</a>.</div>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-4369704417744836782008-09-06T05:14:00.003-04:002008-09-06T05:29:43.826-04:00Tropical Storm Hanna vs Hurricane Floyd(9/6/08) -- Tropical Storm Hanna is on the same path as the devastating Hurricane Floyd in 1999 -- see <a href="http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/at19996.asp">http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/at19996.asp</a> for Floyd's path. Hanna is moving faster so there should be less rain. Let's hope that turns out to be true. See the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/queens-bridge.html">Queens Bridge</a> page for links to the USGS flood gages and info about Hurricane Floyd's floods.TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-65598265469806554382008-09-05T10:47:00.001-04:002008-09-05T10:48:39.087-04:00Track of Tropical Storm HannaSee <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/weather-watch.html">Weather Watch Page</a>.TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-32783387649920450882008-09-05T10:30:00.003-04:002008-09-13T19:09:25.726-04:00Weather Watch<span style="font-family:arial;">Listed in reverse chronological order. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">TowpathGuy uses <a href="http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/">WeatherUnderground</a> for its computer projections of the tropical storms as well as for local weather reports.</span><br /><br />(9/12/08) -- Hurricane Ike has brought great damage and rainfall to Texas. It's path is now projected to go well north of NJ sometime on Tuesday. We might get some rain, but probably not enough to flood <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/blackwells-mills-road.html">Blackwells Mills </a>or <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/queens-bridge.html">Bound Brook</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">(9/6/08) -- Tropical Storm Hanna is on the same path as the devastating Hurricane Floyd in 1999 -- see </span><a href="http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/at19996.asp"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/at19996.asp</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> for Floyd's path. Hanna is moving faster so there should be less rain. Let's hope that turns out to be true. See the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/queens-bridge.html">Queens Bridge</a> page for links to the USGS flood gages and info about Hurricane Floyd's floods. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">(9/5/08) -- <a href="http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/at200808.html">Tracking predictions for Tropical Storm Hanna</a> show it expected to arrive here tonight. The computer models show it passing directly over central NJ. Flash flood warnings are in effect so as and after the storm passes check </span><a style="FONT-FAMILY: arial" href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/queens-bridge.html">Queens Bridge</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> and </span><a style="FONT-FAMILY: arial" href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/blackwells-mills-road.html">Blackwells Mills Road</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> pages for pointers to USGS flood gages and NOAA predicted river levels. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">9/3/08 -- The computer models all show Tropical Storm Hanna passing over NJ on Saturday.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />9/2/08 -- Hurricane Gustav has come ashore near New Orleans. Fortunately, without a major disaster (so far). The remnants of Gustav are projected to pass north of us, but Tropical Hannah is on a track that leads it over NJ this coming weekend.<br /><br />8/28/08 -- Tropical Storm Gustav is heading into the Gulf of Mexico. Watch for weather in NJ and on the towpath in 7-10 days. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-37882698410662530152008-09-03T22:50:00.018-04:002008-09-17T20:32:02.450-04:00Books about the History of the D&R Canal and Towpath<div><span style="font-family:arial;">The canal and towpath played an important role in the economic development of NJ. Most communities along the towpath were strongly influenced by the traffic that the canal and towpath brought into their borders in the 19th century. There are numerous historical information signs along the towpath route that make interesting reading.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Short History of the D&R Canal and the Towpath</span><br /><br />According the<a href="http://www.dandrcanal.com/history.html"> history page of the D&R Canal State Park</a>, the canal itself was dug by hand! There is a sign commemorating the work of the Irish imigrants who did most of this digging at the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/rocky-hill.html">Rocky Hill</a> entrance on the south side of 518. Construction started in 1830, and it opened only 4 years later in 1834. The canal was profitable until 1892, and remained open (mostly for recreation) until 1932. The state took it over in 1932 and turned the Canal into a water supply for Central NJ -- a function it still has. In 1972, the canal, the towpath and the associated structures were entered into the National Register of Historic Places. In 1974, over 60 miles of the canal, the towpath and a narrow strip of adjacent land became a state park. In the 1980's a section north of Bull's Island was added to the Feeder Canal. The towpath and the trail system became a National Recreation Trail in 1992.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Books about the D&R Canal and the Towpath</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">A local author,</span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.lindajbarth.com/"> Linda J. Barth</a><span style="font-family:arial;">, has written two interesting books about the D&R Canal, the towpath and the history and economy of NJ. Ms. Barth was raised in South Bound Brook and boated in the canal as a girl. She is the former curator of the museum that was </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/griggstown-causeway.html">in the old barracks at Griggstown</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> -- closed in 1999 after the floods from Hurricane Floyd. Her two books are definitely worth reading:</span><br /><ol><li style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738510815?ie=UTF8&tag=towstowgui-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0738510815">The Delaware and Raritan Canal</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=towstowgui-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0738510815" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; display: none;" width="1" border="0" height="1" /></li><li><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738535974?ie=UTF8&tag=towstowgui-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0738535974">The Delaware and Raritan Canal at Work</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=towstowgui-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0738535974" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; font-family: arial; display: none;" width="1" border="0" height="1" /><br /></li></ol><span style="font-family:arial;">Ms. Barth is also the author of a fiction book for children about the life of a boy from Griggstown on the D&R Canal. This book, Bridgetender's Boy is available through her</span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.lindajbarth.com/"> website</a><span style="font-family:arial;">.<br /><br /><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/towstowgui-20">Amazon sells these books and other towpath related items.</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></div>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-46837997808703659142008-09-01T21:45:00.015-04:002008-10-11T20:43:08.796-04:00Mile Markers on the Towpath<span style="font-family:arial;">If you've ever walked, ran or biked on the towpath, you might have noticed concrete "posts" along the towpath, always located on the side away from the canal. These are mile markers. If you stop to look at one, you'll discover that there are two numbers on the top. The sum of these numbers is always 44 -- approximately the historic length of the towpath. One number is the distance to the southern terminus on Ducks Island in Burlington (south of Trenton); the other is the distance to the northern terminus in New Brunswick (about 3 miles downstream from <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/landing-lane.html">Landing Lane</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Runners beware! The mile markers are only approximately 1 mile apart. Some are lost, and some are in the "wrong" place. In the space below, TowpathGuy will put the approximate position of each Mile Marker (and other landmarks) and the distance of each one from one of the towpath entrances. For now, all distances will be from the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/landing-lane.html">Landing Lane</a> gate. Have patience as this list will take some time to accumulate. Distances are measured to the middle of the landmark, unless specified otherwise.<br /></span><ul><li style="font-family: arial;">0.00 mi (0.00 km) <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/landing-lane.html">Landing Lane</a> entrance gate</li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">0.03 mi (0.05 km) Landing Lane west end of spillway</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">0.16 mi (0.25 km) Culvert at One Mile Run (stream goes under the canal)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">? </span><span style="font-family:arial;">mi (? km ) Mile Marker 41/3 - this marker should be about 100 yards past the One Mile Run Culvert -- missing?<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">1.10 mi (1.78 km) Culvert (name? of stream)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">1.20 mi (1.94 km) Mile Marker 40/4</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">1.25 mi (2.01 km) large uprooted tree root on canal bank<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">2.00 mi (3.22 km) <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/demott-lane-footbridge.html">DeMott footbridge</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">2.06 mi (3.32 km) fork in towpath</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">2.09 mi (3.36 km) east end of spillway</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">2.19 mi (3.53 km) west end of spillway</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">2.26 mi (3.63 km) Mile Marker 39/5</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">est. 3.26 mi (5.25 km) Mile Marker 38/6 -- exact distance not yet confirmed</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">3.52 mi (5.66 km) I-287<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">3.60 mi (5.79 km) <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/davidson-avenue-lock.html">5 Mile Lock -- Davidson Avenue<br /></a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">est. 4.26 mi (6.86 km) Mile Marker 37/7</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> -- exact distance not yet confirmed</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">est 5.01 m (8.06 km) <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/converted-rail-bridge.html">Converted Rail Bridge</a> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">-- exact distance not yet confirmed</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">est 5.26 (8.47 km) Mile Marker 36/8 on west side of <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/queens-bridge.html">Queens Bridge</a> about 5 feet from gate</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> (5.23 mi on google maps) -- exact distance not yet confirmed</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">to be continued ...<br /></span></li></ul>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-86123082844474210242008-09-01T19:59:00.005-04:002008-09-05T10:23:21.738-04:00Route 1<span style="font-family:arial;">This entrance was built a few years ago to connect two parts of the towpath that were interrupted by Route 1. The Canal goes under Route 1, and now there is a bridge connecting the towpath on the two sides of Route 1.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">There is parking available here accessible from Route 1 Northbound. This is the entrance you probably want to do if you are approaching by car from the south. Park here and cycle north, through Princeton and beyond. The towpath between here and Kingston passes along Lake Carnegie. If you want more shade and fewer people, try either the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/kingston.html">Kingston</a> entrance or the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/rocky-hill.html">Rocky Hill</a> entrance and go north from there.</span><br /><iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.274533,-74.703469&spn=0.019491,0.021802&output=embed&s=AARTsJpgxCyVcgwV3nvshWUYGE-Vv8wiMg" scrolling="no" width="425" frameborder="0" height="350"></iframe><br /><small><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;" href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.274533,-74.703469&spn=0.019491,0.021802&source=embed">View Larger Map</a></small>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-62411107618055648772008-09-01T18:43:00.006-04:002008-09-01T19:52:12.566-04:00Running on the Towpath<span style="font-family:arial;">There are almost certainly more runners on the towpath than anyone else. On every trip to the towpath, TowpathGuy sees lone runners, pairs of runners, runners with dogs, ROTC runners from Rutgers, etc. Some of the runners are slow and moving along quite slowly; others are obviously quite good. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Where to Run?</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Running on the towpath is easy. Use the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/towpath-access.html">Towpath Access Guide with Maps </a>to find an entrance near you, put on your running shoes, and go. The maps can help you figure out the distance you want and given the length of the towpath even ultra-long distance runners can get a good workout. Another way to find a run on the towpath is to enter the name of the entrance that you want to use, the word "towpath" and "mapmyrun.com" into your favorite search engine. There are a lot of mapped runs that use the towpath.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The towpath surface is hardpacked throughout its length. About the only thing that a runner can't do on the towpath is hill work! It's really flat. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Some towpath runners carry water bottles (sometimes several) strapped to their waists or wear water packs on their backs. Others seem to leave water containers at entrances along their routes. Towpathguy has seen group organizers with large coolers and cups waiting for the runners to pass by.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Organized Runs on the Towpath</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The <a href="http://www.rvrr.org/vitalstats.htm">Raritan Valley Road Runners Club </a>-- "New Jersey Best Running Club" -- has a <a href="http://www.rvrr.org/towpath.htm">group run </a>on the Towpath every Saturday at 8:00 am, leaving from Johnson Park, near <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/landing-lane.html">Landing Lane </a>and going "from 4.8 to 20 miles" to "forever", if you want(!) but the idea is that this is a low pressure support group. Runners of all levels are welcome.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Running Races on the Towpath</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">There is one organized running race on the towpath -- The <a href="http://www.math.rutgers.edu/~weibel/mayday.html" name="top">Fred Almgren Memorial "Mayday" Race</a>. Every Spring, early in May, since 1976(!) the Princeton University and Rutgers University Math Departments have a relay race. In even years the race is northbound from <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/washington-road.html">Washington Road </a>in Princeton to New Brunswick; in odd years the race is southbound from <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/landing-lane.html">Landing Lane </a>to <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/alexander-road.html">Alexander Road</a>. Last year (Spring, 2008) there were 11 teams competing. The history and stories behind this relay race are fascinating and worth a read -- visit the <a href="http://www.math.rutgers.edu/~weibel/mayday.html">website</a>!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-5302489553772666052008-09-01T18:15:00.005-04:002012-12-01T14:08:47.092-05:00Feedback About This Website<span style="font-family: arial;">Do you like this website? If you're reading this, the answer is probably "yes". (If it was "no", you're long gone.) There are several ways to express your opinion. You can:</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Go for walk, hike, run, or bike ride on the towpath or a canoe or towpath ride in the canal.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Enter your answer to the poll in the right-hand column.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Tell your friends by sending them the URL. The send icon at the end of each page makes this easy.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Put a link to the URL (http://towpathguy.blogspot.com) on your website.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Become a towpath advocate!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Send a comment or send feedback to <a href="mailto:towpathguy@gmail.com">towpathguy@gmail.com</a>.</span></li>
</ol>
TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-14925865151102973172008-08-31T22:01:00.004-04:002008-09-04T23:08:43.502-04:00Converted Rail BridgeThis entrance is about 400 yards east of the <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/queens-bridge.html">Queens Bridge</a>. It is an old railway bridge that has been converted into a footbridge as part of a new town house development in South Bound Brook.<br /><iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.558971,-74.527688&spn=0.019491,0.021802&output=embed&s=AARTsJpgxCyVcgwV3nvshWUYGE-Vv8wiMg" scrolling="no" width="425" frameborder="0" height="350"></iframe><br /><small><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;" href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.558971,-74.527688&spn=0.019491,0.021802&source=embed">View Larger Map</a></small>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-6928219048909036462008-08-31T20:53:00.009-04:002008-09-01T07:11:18.037-04:00Institute Woods<span style="font-family:arial;">This is an unmarked entrance to the trails on land owned by the <a href="http://www.ias.edu/about/institute-grounds/">Institute of Advanced Study</a>. These trails are private property, and the public is allowed accss, for hiking, cross country skiing, etc., but no wheeled vehicles are allowed -- to be clear no bicycles allowed. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The <a href="http://www.njtrails.org/index.php">New Jersey Trails Association </a>describes these <a href="http://www.njtrails.org/trailguide.php?TrailID=7">trails and has a map</a>. It also describes the crossing at Stony Brook as "stepping stones", i.e., there is no bridge. Bird watchers like the area included in this trail system, which is described as <a href="http://www.nycbirds.com/wiki/index.php?title=Princeton_Institute_Woods">"one of the prime areas for migratory birds in the immediate area"</a>. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The entrance is about 1/2 mile south of Alexander Road.</span><br /><br /><iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.322009,-74.661884&spn=0.019491,0.021802&output=embed&s=AARTsJpgxCyVcgwV3nvshWUYGE-Vv8wiMg" frameborder="0" width="425" scrolling="no" height="350"></iframe><br /><small><a style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); TEXT-ALIGN: left" href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.322009,-74.661884&spn=0.019491,0.021802&source=embed">View Larger Map</a></small>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-17331375443950312582008-08-31T16:48:00.008-04:002008-08-31T19:46:26.576-04:00Brearley House Trail<span style="font-family:arial;">The Brearley House Trail connects with the towpath about halfway between <a href="http://towpathguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/port-mercer-quakerbridge-road.html">Port Mercer </a>and Route 1. The Brearley House Trail is about 1/3 of a mile long and leads to the Brearley House. The trail includes a footbridge crossing the Shipetaukin Creek. From <a href="http://www.thelhs.org/AboutBrearley.htm">Brearley House</a> there is access to Princeton Pike via Meadow Road and also to the <a href="http://www.lhtrail.org/guide.html">Lawrence Hopewell Trail</a>, a 20 mile loop that is approximately 50% complete. </span><br /><br /><iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.292817,-74.694114&spn=0.019491,0.021802&output=embed&s=AARTsJpgxCyVcgwV3nvshWUYGE-Vv8wiMg" frameborder="0" width="425" scrolling="no" height="350"></iframe><br /><small><a style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); TEXT-ALIGN: left" href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.292817,-74.694114&spn=0.019491,0.021802&source=embed">View Larger Map</a></small>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2895691607554610118.post-51122780704057953632008-08-31T16:40:00.002-04:002008-08-31T16:42:39.827-04:00Provinceline Road<span style="font-family:arial;">The towpath goes under the bridge at Provinceline Road. This entrance is close to large shopping malls on Route 1 (Mercer Mall, Nassau Park Pavilion, and Quakerbridge Mall).</span><br /><br /><iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.302342,-74.688621&spn=0.019491,0.021802&output=embed&s=AARTsJpgxCyVcgwV3nvshWUYGE-Vv8wiMg" frameborder="0" width="425" scrolling="no" height="350"></iframe><br /><small><a style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); TEXT-ALIGN: left" href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117126530936180568491.000453c0841568039fdd3&ll=40.302342,-74.688621&spn=0.019491,0.021802&source=embed">View Larger Map</a></small>TowpathGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05451495165267452741noreply@blogger.com