Others came to the canal via Bristol, Pa., and Philadelphia, entering at Bordentown and heading to Trenton, New Brunswick and all points in between and beyond.
The trails were barren, standing in stark contrast to the forested routes now found along the 70-mile multiuse trail that makes up the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/q4oV5sl8z1686833155028/5686868673.jpg]
The D&R Canal opened in 1834 and provided a transportation connection between Philadelphia and New York City via the outlet locks at Bordentown and New Brunswick. From the outlet at New Brunswick, goods were transported via the Raritan River into New York City. The entire journey could take about two days, but before that transportation choices were to travel by land, or by boat via the ocean around the southern tip of the state, which could take up to two weeks, said Vicki Chirco, D&R Canal State Park resource interpretive specialist.
“The canal opened for navigation in 1834 — taking four years to construct, open and become navigable for boat traffic, but it was not officially completed until 1838,” Chirco said. “The first vessels were mule-drawn boats, which was the mainstay for a good portion of the canal’s working life. Mule-drawn boats on the canal were still being used up until World War I and perhaps lingering for some time beyond, but steam-powered vessels were also in use as early as the mid-1840s. One thing that made the canal unique was that it had open-swing bridges, so there were no height restrictions and masted vessels could use the corridor as well.”
The canal eventually fell into disuse and was turned over to the state of New Jersey in 1936. After decades serving as a water supply, the canal was eventually transitioned into a linear park that now runs from Frenchtown to the Bulls Island Recreation Area, through Lambertville, Washington Crossing State Park, Trenton, Princeton, Griggstown and ends in New Brunswick, with various stops in between. The park’s numerous access points make it an excellent and easy way to enjoy the outdoors.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/q4oV5sl8z1686833155028/6172866671.jpg]
“The roads and pristine surface are really new to the park, and you have some beautiful pathways from Frenchtown to New Brunswick. It just keeps getting more and more popular, not just for local people, but it’s a great destination spot,” said Stephanie Fox, D&R Canal State Park resource interpretive specialist.
The well-kept tow path and nearby loop paths are dotted with cobblestone spillways, stone-arched culverts, historic locks and bridge tender houses and various historic points. But the park also provides ample opportunities for boating, fishing, biking, hiking and even cross-country skiing.
Chirco and Fox can’t say for sure how many visitors D&R Canal State Park gets, but they estimate that it’s the second most visited state park, right behind Liberty State Park.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/q4oV5sl8z1686833155028/6866586488.jpg]
“Our park is visited every single day, and it becomes such a place for solace for people who live near it and use it once or twice a day. They bring the dog, or their job is nearby, so we have the benefit of the local residents using it daily, then the additional people who come on weekends,” Fox said. “One of the things that makes the park interesting is that we have either private businesses or homeowners along every single square foot of park.”
Many of those businesses serve to enhance the park. Whether it’s a nearby restaurant, or the Griggstown Canoe and Kayak Rental, these businesses are part of what makes the D&R unique. One popular attraction is th...
The trails were barren, standing in stark contrast to the forested routes now found along the 70-mile multiuse trail that makes up the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/q4oV5sl8z1686833155028/5686868673.jpg]
The D&R Canal opened in 1834 and provided a transportation connection between Philadelphia and New York City via the outlet locks at Bordentown and New Brunswick. From the outlet at New Brunswick, goods were transported via the Raritan River into New York City. The entire journey could take about two days, but before that transportation choices were to travel by land, or by boat via the ocean around the southern tip of the state, which could take up to two weeks, said Vicki Chirco, D&R Canal State Park resource interpretive specialist.
“The canal opened for navigation in 1834 — taking four years to construct, open and become navigable for boat traffic, but it was not officially completed until 1838,” Chirco said. “The first vessels were mule-drawn boats, which was the mainstay for a good portion of the canal’s working life. Mule-drawn boats on the canal were still being used up until World War I and perhaps lingering for some time beyond, but steam-powered vessels were also in use as early as the mid-1840s. One thing that made the canal unique was that it had open-swing bridges, so there were no height restrictions and masted vessels could use the corridor as well.”
The canal eventually fell into disuse and was turned over to the state of New Jersey in 1936. After decades serving as a water supply, the canal was eventually transitioned into a linear park that now runs from Frenchtown to the Bulls Island Recreation Area, through Lambertville, Washington Crossing State Park, Trenton, Princeton, Griggstown and ends in New Brunswick, with various stops in between. The park’s numerous access points make it an excellent and easy way to enjoy the outdoors.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/q4oV5sl8z1686833155028/6172866671.jpg]
“The roads and pristine surface are really new to the park, and you have some beautiful pathways from Frenchtown to New Brunswick. It just keeps getting more and more popular, not just for local people, but it’s a great destination spot,” said Stephanie Fox, D&R Canal State Park resource interpretive specialist.
The well-kept tow path and nearby loop paths are dotted with cobblestone spillways, stone-arched culverts, historic locks and bridge tender houses and various historic points. But the park also provides ample opportunities for boating, fishing, biking, hiking and even cross-country skiing.
Chirco and Fox can’t say for sure how many visitors D&R Canal State Park gets, but they estimate that it’s the second most visited state park, right behind Liberty State Park.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/q4oV5sl8z1686833155028/6866586488.jpg]
“Our park is visited every single day, and it becomes such a place for solace for people who live near it and use it once or twice a day. They bring the dog, or their job is nearby, so we have the benefit of the local residents using it daily, then the additional people who come on weekends,” Fox said. “One of the things that makes the park interesting is that we have either private businesses or homeowners along every single square foot of park.”
Many of those businesses serve to enhance the park. Whether it’s a nearby restaurant, or the Griggstown Canoe and Kayak Rental, these businesses are part of what makes the D&R unique. One popular attraction is th...
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Jersey's Best (Digital) - 1 Issue, Summer 2023