Park users, campers, hunters and all visitors to the D&R Canal State Park are asked to call 1-877-WARNDEP; 1-877-927-6337 if they require the assistance of our State Park Police. Please do not hesitate to call AT ANY TIME if assistance is needed. In the event of a life-threatening emergency we ask that you please call 911. And as always, we ask that the public contact our office to report any fallen trees or other obstructions encountered along the length of the path. Enjoy the park and be safe!
BE AWARE: As per NJ State Park Service Rules and Regulations swimming may take place ONLY IN A DESIGNATED SWIM AREA. In recent years, illegal swimming activity has increased in the Prallsville Mills area of Stockton in both the canal and historic lock. This area is fenced and posted. This is considered a RECKLESS ACTIVITY and in violation of the New Jersey Administrative Code (see below).
Swimming in the Delaware and Raritan Canal is a PROHIBITED ACTIVITY (N.J.A.C. 7:11-1.25). As per NJ State Park Service Rules and Regulations swimming may take place only in a designated swim area (N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.20). There are no designated swim areas in the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park and Bulls Island Recreation Area. Increased park police patrols have been instituted and violators may receive a summons.
JULY 23, 2022 As of July 21, 2022 the Millstone River along side the D&R Canal State Park at Blackwells Mill, Griggstown, County Rt 518 are experiencing a
WARNING LEVEL (RED). Harmful Algae Blooms in the Millstone River in the vicinity of Carnegie Lake is experiencing an
ADVISORY LEVEL (ORANGE). HAB is visible in the Millstone River from the Carnegie Lake area through Manville. HAB has NOT been noted in the D&R Canal. HABs are not true algae, the blooms are caused by cyanobacteria. Always keep children and pets away from areas with blooms or scums.
CLICK HERE for more information or to report a HAB
To access and view the results of testing choose the links below:
Impact on Recreation Activities:
❌Swimming is not permitted.
❌Aviso: No se permite nadar.
❌Do not drink the water (especially dogs).
❌Do not canoe, kayak or boat in the Millstone River.
⚠️Use caution while fishing; wear gloves and/or wash your hands after touching the water. Do not wade in the water. Experts advise against eating the fish.
✅The D&R Canal has not experienced an HAB bloom. Land-use activities such as biking, running, or walking on the towpath/rail-trail is permitted.
CLICK HERE to view the MOBILE HAB Dashboard
CLICK HERE to view the DESKTOP HAB Dashboard
JULY 22, 2022:
New Jersey State Park issued permits are available for deer bow hunters to access over 2,000 acres of land within Six Mile Run Reservoir Site. There are also a limited number of firearm permits available for a limited area within the Six Mile Run Reservoir Site. Please carefully read the instructions below to apply for either a bow or firearm permit.
BE ADVISED: Hunters MUST APPLY FOR A PARK PERMIT TO HUNT ANYWHERE WITHIN SIX MILE RUN. Download/Print the deer hunting map for Six Mile Run by clicking the link below:
SIX MILE RUN RESERVOIR SITE DEER HUNTING MAP - ZONE 14
PLEASE NOTE:
1. One stand/blind permitted per hunter;
D&R Canal State Park
Click the link to download/print the bow season application:
BOW HUNTER APPLICANT AGREEMENT SHEET
FIREARM SEASON: A total of 15 permits will be issued for the 2022/2023 season by a RANDOM lottery. To be considered for the lottery please submit your name with your email and/or phone to Stephanie Fox (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; 609-924-5705) by September 30, 2022. If your name is selected the park will notify you and provide you with a firearm application to be completed.
Please direct any questions to Stephanie Fox at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the park office at (609) 924-5705.
2. Parking Permit only needs to be displayed in Hunter Only Lots (see a map for details);
3. Please review the map as permissible hunting areas have changed;
4. Stands are prohibited from being placed directly on Six Mile Run Reservoir property lines or in the view-shed of residents residing directly adjacent to Six Mile Run Reservoir Site.
145 Mapleton Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
UPDATED - JULY 21, 2022
Visitors are asked to utilize the parking areas either at South Bound Brook or DeMott Lane to access the path for their enjoyment. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to make this improvement at the park.
Park Superintendent Patricia Kallesser can be reached for any questions at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
UPDATED - JULY 19, 2022
The project will consist of dismantling the spillway, and reconstructing the mortared stone over a reinforced concrete cap. Additional scope includes installation of gabions and rip rap (stone) along the toe of the spillway where it meets the Raritan River.
The project will require the closing of the multi use trail on both sides of Landing Lane Bridge. There will be no thru traffic on the trail at Landing Lane Bridge. The trail will be closed as required by the project. Signage will be posted at the Five Mile Lock in Franklin Township, the footbridge at Demott Lane, and at Landing Lane Bridge. The trail will be reopened upon project completion. We thank you for your patience as this work progresses.
Paul Harenberg of the New Jersey Water Supply Authority can be reached for any questions at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
NJ WATER SUPPLY AUTHORITY UPDATE - FEBRUARY 25, 2022
For the duration of the project, the D&R Canal multi-use trail will be closed to all through traffic from the spillway to the Landing Lane Bridge. The multi-use trail will also be closed east of the Landing Lane Bridge, as this area will be needed for the storage of construction equipment and materials. This closure is necessary for the safety of workers and the public, and to ensure that the spillway is put back into service in a timely fashion. The closure is expected to remain in effect until the Fall. Signs to inform trail users of the closure will be posted on both sides of the project site, at the pedestrian bridge over the Canal near Demott Lane in Franklin Township, and at the Five Mile Lock access site. The spillway will be entirely dismantled and rebuilt to match the existing structure. The project is designed to provide a robust yet historically appropriate repair that serves the varying needs of the public. The goal of this undertaking is to preserve both the structural integrity and historic character of the spillway.
This project will be managed by the New Jersey Water Supply Authority, a state agency that operates the D&R Canal as a public water supply source for central New Jersey.
JULY 1, 2021:
THINGS TO DO
Picnicking and grilling is permitted in designated picnic areas only;
The canal towpath is an ideal place to walk, bike or run;
Canoes and kayaks are allowed along the entire length of the canal;
Keep it clean and green! Take your trash home with you – trash cans are not provided.
COMMERCIAL TUBING RENTALS
River tubing in the Delaware River is one of the most popular activities at D&R Canal State Park.
Big Bear Gear is the only tubing company licensed to operate in the state park.
For more information on rentals and pricing visit Big Bear Gear’s website: https://bigbeargearnj.com/pages/delaware-river-tubing. Look for Big Bear Gear’s new shuttle service for members of the public who are tubing and need a ride back to their cars at D&R Kingwood and Delaware Township parking lots!
BRING YOUR OWN RIVER TUBE
Members of the public are welcome to bring their own tubes, park their cars and tube on their own. The public are only permitted to launch tubes from the new Riverview parking lot and only to exit the river at the stairs at the Point Pleasant parking lot. (Click here to access our park map) Look for the floating tube and flag marking this exit! We highly recommend life jackets and river tubes.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Check the current river height
Know the river; Be prepared: River Rescue in New Hope/Lambertville; July 19, 2021
JUNE 4, 2022:
We are super excited to introduce our park visitors to the much anticipated "Inlet Trail" at Bulls Island in Delaware and Kingwood Townships, Hunterdon County. For those of you who are long-time visitors to the Bulls Island Recreation Area, you will know that this much beloved section of the park, located alongside the scenic Delaware River, has been inaccessible to the public for several years. On June 3rd this new trail was officially opened for public use. It is is located between the Delaware & Raritan Canal and Delaware River and offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy a 1.3 mile leisurely stroll through shaded woods with scenic and historic views of the park.
On June 3rd The Department of Environmental Protection's Deputy Commissioner for Legal, Regulatory and Legislative Affairs Sean Moriarty, Assistant Commissioner for State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites John Cecil and D&R Canal Commission Vice Chairman Bruce Stout along with park employees Patricia Kallesser, Marsha Apffel and Stephanie Fox helped to cut the ribbon to the new "Inlet Trail."
We hope many of you have explored and enjoyed this new trail. For those who haven't, we certainly invite you to come by for a visit and enjoy!
IMPORTANT UPDATE - AUGUST 10, 2022
BE ALERT AND AWARE -May 17, 2022
We are asking our park users to always be on alert, aware and use caution, especially those who enjoy our trails solo. This assault occurred along the multi-use trail at the Six Mile Run Reservoir Site in Somerset. This well-used trail system located near Blackwells Mills and Canal Roads in Franklin Township is used by off-road bikers and hikers alike. Anyone with information about this assault please contact the police as described below and detailed in the article linked here.
The victim reported to authorities that the unknown male suspect was on a bicycle when he dismounted and tackled her to the ground while she was running on the trail. The victim fought with the male suspect, escaped from the assault and immediately notified authorities by dialing 911. The suspect is said to have fled the area on a bicycle. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment and released.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic man about 5-foot 6-inches to 5-foot 7-inches tall, heavier build, about mid 30's, wearing black pants or shorts, a green hoodie, and a blue gator face covering. (see the released sketch of the suspect). Detectives are attempting to determine if the suspect involved in this recent incident is the same actor involved in previously reported attacks in Somerset and Middlesex Counties. The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information relating to the sexual assault or surveillance footage of the area is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Sex Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 908-873-5533 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.
Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers' Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential. Tips may also be submitted to www.middlesextips.com
We ask the public to be vigilant and always aware when enjoying the many trails available at the D&R Canal State Park. Your safety is paramount! The New Jersey State Park Police is coordinating with the Middlesex County Prosecutor has stepped up patrols in the park. In an effort to educate and empower our park visitors we are sharing some basic steps and tips below that should be followed every day when out and about at the park and elsewhere. These will help you to stay alert, increase awareness of your surroundings, be present and stay safe. And of course report anything suspicious or concerning to the proper authorities.
PERSONAL SAFETY
PROPERTY & VEHICLE SECURITY
Man Charged with Sexually Assaulting Women in NJ Parks, Officials Say
MARCH 23, 2022
BE ADVISED:
UPDATE: MAY 10, 2022
BE ADVISED:
UPDATE: JULY 7, 2022
BE ADVISED:
Work crews will be mobilizing at the Five Mile Lock parking area and resurfacing the path in Franklin Township (Somerset County) adjacent to Easton Avenue between Landing Lane and the Five Mile Lock Parking Area. Park visitors may encounter flag crews to safely direct them down the path. We ask for your patience while this much anticipated project is underway. For everyone's safety we ask our park patrons to be cooperative and mindful of the contractor's instructions. PLEASE NOTE that the Landing Lane Spillway will soon be under repair/restoration and visitors CANNOT access the Landing Lane Bridge from the trail.
Work has been completed between Landing Lane and Chapel Drive in Zarephath.
Work will continue south of Chapel Drive towards Griggstown beginning the week of May 23rd.
Please be patient and respectful of the contractors directions.
Thank you for your continued patience as the park continues to recover from Tropical Storm Ida damage.
We are pleased to report that the towpath restoration/resurfacing has been completed from Landing Lane to Blackwells Mills. Work is now progressing south of Blackwells Mills towards Rocky Hill at Route 518.
Please be patient and respectful of the contractors directions when encountering the work crews.
Your continued patience with this storm recovery effort is much appreciated.
MARCH 18, 2022
Tropical Storm Ida towpath repairs in Lambertville will get underway the week of March 21st and continue for approximately 5 days.
Work crews will be mobilizing, resurfacing and working on the path between Elm Street (adjacent to Nieces Lumber) north to the 202 parking area adjacent to the Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead Museum. Patrons may encounter flag crews to safely direct them down the towpath. Please be patient and respectful of the contractors directions. As always, we thank you for your patience as this work progresses.
UPDATE: MARCH 23, 2022
Repairs to the towpath have been completed along this stretch in Lambertville. The path has been resurfaced, rolled and is now ready to be used and safely enjoyed!
March 1, 2022
Some of our park visitors may have noticed construction on a small structure next to the canal and bridge tender’s house in East Millstone. What looks at first glance like an unimportant small outdoor shed is actually a reconstruction of East Millstone’s historic bridge tender’s station - one of five similar surviving buildings that once served the needs of the tenders who operated the swing bridges at their assigned locations. This station was literally “hanging on the edge,” clinging to the side of the eroding canal bank - a victim of the passing years and continual flooding events. Thanks to the dogged support of the D&R Canal Watch, starting funds were raised and then supplemented in large measure by the D&R Canal Commission paving the way for the project to begin. Pieces of the historic station that could be salvaged and reused were carefully removed, saved and then used in the reconstruction of this small, but significant, piece of D&R history. An idea that began years ago is at long last underway! We are grateful to the staunch support of our partners at the D&R Canal Commission, D&R Canal Watch, HMR Architects, Hawley Brothers and our colleagues at the NJ State Historic Preservation Office and Office of Resource Development who all helped make this preservation effort a reality. Successful preservation projects DO take a village!
SEPTEMBER 10, 2021
(Current as of JULY 19, 2022)
CLOSED: Canal bridge over Alexauken Creek in Lambertville. Please follow the path closer to the river between Coryell Street to the Holcombe Jimison Farm (follow the posted detour signs).
CLOSED: Canal bridge over the Wichecheoke Creek in Stockton and a closure of the path behind the Prallsville Mills in Stockton due to undermining of the towpath.
OPEN: The towpath is now repaired and OPENED in Lawrence Township, Mercer County in the vicinity of the Port Mercer Bridge Tender's House (along Quaker Road which has also been repaired and reopened).
OPEN: The towpath is now RESURFACED and REPAIRED along the main stem of the canal from LANDING LANE to BLACKWELLS MILLS. Work continues south toward ROCKY HILL at ROUTE 518.
OPEN: Delaware River boat launches.
OPEN: Bulls Island Day Use Area - picnic area and playground.
OPEN: D&R Canal Towpath Trail is accessible and open between:
Frenchtown to Bulls Island;
BE ADVISED:
Visitors should always use caution when walking. CYCLING IS NOT ADVISED ON RUTTED SURFACE. Resurfacing and repair of the remaining stretch along the main stem of the towpath towards Kingston is currently underway (as of July 11, 2022).
Prallsville Mill (Stockton) to Trenton (follow detours in Lambertville);
The main canal from Landing Lane to Trenton
(expect a rutted, difficult path where resurfacing
has not yet occurred and mud during rainy conditiions;
ALWAYS USE CAUTION).
Evaluations and restoration work are ongoing. Updates will be posted here and on our Facebook page. We thank you for your cooperation and patience as we continue to recover from this storm.
UPDATED: JANUARY 19, 2022
We are pleased to report that Quaker Road in Princeton, closed since sustaining damage from Hurricane Ida, has, at long last, reopened for vehicular traffic! As part of the project to restore the road, the embankment alongside the towpath has also now been repaired.
The towpath was rebuilt, filled-in, graded and a rolled, top stone coat has now been applied. This repaired section of the path is fully open and accessible to our visitors! We thank you for your patience and cooperation as the DOT crews worked diligently to complete this repair.
JANUARY 6, 2021
The revitalization of the parking lot at Moores Creek in Ewing Township, Mercer County along Route 29 is underway! While this lot does not provide access to the towpath, it is very popular spot for fishermen. Please be aware that the parking lot will be closed while contractors work on the improvements including safer entrance/exit access and parking space demarcation. Depending on winter weather events and the potential delays they may cause, we are told this project will be completed towards the end of January. As always, we appreciate the public's patience as the work progresses. We look forward to this project's completion.
UPDATE: APRIL 4, 2021
The revitalization of the parking lot at Moores Creek in Ewing Township, Mercer County along Route 29 is now completed and ready for use!
JANUARY 6, 2021
BE ADVISED:
Hazardous Ash Tree removal will begin the week of JANUARY 10th, 2022 for sections along the D&R Canal Feeder Canal towpath. The project area will start at the Fireman's Eddy Parking lot, in West Amwell (Hunterdon County) and proceed south to Trenton. Park visitors may encounter a rolling closure along segments of the path, as ash trees are pieced down safely. We ask for your patience and caution as tree crews work in this area of the park.
DECEMBER 14, 2021
Christmas arrived early for this historian and it arrived in the form of a question. Can you identify the location captured in this photograph? Such inquiries make to my inbox from time to time but this one was especially exciting because it involved an interesting backstory attached to a great photograph.
The request came from a gentleman in California who attended graduate school at Rutgers in the 1970s. While there he had purchased a box of unidentified glass plate negatives at an antique shop. The collection had no provenance; just a box of discarded and forgotten images. As a photographer himself, he felt compelled to acquire the entire set. Slowly, over a period of years, he carefully digitized all the plates and began the laborious process of researching. During COVID, with time on his hands and with a need for a good project, he went on a deep-dive journey of discovery that led him to late nineteenth/early twentieth century New Brunswick, early photography and photographers, and eventually to 238 George Street; the home, he would come to learn, of the Howell family. And that’s where the story became especially interesting.
The Howell household included three unmarried sisters - Alice/Allie, Nettie and Margaret/Maggie. It seemed likely that one of these three sisters was the photographer behind the lens that captured their 19th-20th century lives in New Brunswick. A bit of digging revealed that two of the sisters died in the early twentieth century - Maggie in 1911 at 34 years old and Nellie in 1914 at 40 years old. Their deaths roughly coincided with the time frame of the collection of images which spanned from about the 1890s to the early 1900s which seems to suggest that either Maggie or Nellie was the unidentified photographer. The remaining sister, Alice, never married, continued to reside at 238 George Street with her brothers William and Charles and sister-in-law Anna, and passed away in the 1950s. The collection of glass plates were likely stored away in the house and forgotten. In time the home was sold and with no living descendants to claim this collection (another story) the box made its way to an antique shop in town and eventually into the hands of John Cruz. Not seen in many, many years, the collection revealed historic images of turn-of the century New Brunswick. Mr. Cruz went about the task of identifying locations, researching the family and learning about early photography and cameras. In an unselfish act of generosity, he donated this treasure of glass plates to the New Brunswick Public Library where they now safely reside. Thank you Mr. Cruz, you are a preservation hero!
Included in the collection was a photograph that baffled him - the one seen on the bottom half of the comparison image here. He couldn’t place it. He thought it might be Landing Lane in New Brunswick since the majority of images were taken in and around the city but it didn’t quite match. He cast out a net in an effort to locate someone who might be able help identify the canal house captured by the Howell lens around the turn of the century. That inquiry eventually landed in my inbox. I was excited; it was without doubt a fantastic, newly uncovered, photograph of a D&R Canal bridge house but…which one? Without question, it was not Landing Lane! Although some features stumped me, my initial instinct was that this was the bridge house that once stood at what is now Route 518 in Rocky Hill. Two things stood out - the “Look Out For The Locomotive” sign (indicating the presence of a railroad connection) and the distinct curve of the approaching dirt road towards the bridge. It was the road that stood out and was so familiar to me. With a bit of digging I located an identified photograph from the collection of the Rocky Hill Community Group that captured that same distinctive curved road and the “Lookout for the Locomotive” sign - a match! The A-Frame swing bridge had been replaced by a Kingpost, but this was Rocky Hill.
And thus my early holiday surprise! A perfect gift for the historian in your life! So look in those attics, basements and stored away boxes…you never know what treasures from the past might be revealed or photographs of our canal are packed away. My inbox is always open! Happy Holidays everyone!
NOVEMBER 16, 2021
We are so happy to share the news that the long-awaited shared-use path connecting New Jersey's D&R Canal State Park to Pennsylvania's Delaware Canal State Park at Scudder Falls is NOW OPEN!
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission formally opened the crossing during a well-attended public ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ceremonial ribbon was cut by Anne Scudder Smith, ninth-generation descendant of early Ewing Township settler Richard Betts Scudder and the granddaughter of John Montgomery Scott who cut the opening-day ribbon on the first Scudder Falls Bridge in June 1961.
The new river link makes Scudder Falls the only river crossing allowing bicyclists to pedal across without dismounting their bikes.
John Cecil, the Director of the Division of Parks and Forestry, gave remarks at the opening ceremony on the importance of this new connection.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Historic Preservation Office, Green Acres Program, and Division of Parks and Forestry were integral in the planning and coordination of this project with the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the Joint Toll Bridge Commission.
We are pleased to add this new loop trail crossing the Delaware River to the five others that link the D&R Canal State Park to the Delaware Canal State Park! Use it well and ENJOY!
Read more about it: COMMISSION OPENS NEW DELAWARE RIVER CROSSING FOR WALKERS, BICYCLISTS, SIGHTSEERS AT SCUDDER FALLS
IMPORTANT UPDATE - AUGUST 10, 2022
BE ALERT AND AWARE - September 30, 2021 We are asking our park users to always be on alert, aware and use caution, especially those who enjoy hiking solo. This assault occurred along the berm side of the canal in the Kingston/South Brunswick/Plainsboro area of the park. The berm trail is part of the larger trail system that is accessible from the Kingston Office as well as from the Kingston area of the park. Anyone with information about this assault please contact the police as described below and detailed in the article linked here.
Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone, Chief Fred Tavener of the Plainsboro Police Department, and Chief Raymond Hayducka of the South Brunswick Police Department announce authorities are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying an individual believed to be involved in an aggravated sexual assault that occurred in the area of Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park on the border of Plainsboro and South Brunswick Townships.
The suspect is believed to be a Latino male, approximately 5’5” – 5’6” tall, wearing dark-colored clothing and a dark baseball cap (see the released sketch of the suspect).
The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information or surveillance footage of the area is asked to contact Detective Sue Kowalski of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3287, Detective Patrick Miller of the Plainsboro Police Department at (609)799-2333, or Detective Dominick Delucia of the South Brunswick Police Department at (732)329-4646. Tips may also be submitted to www.middlesextips.com
We ask the public to be vigilant and always aware when enjoying the towpath and the many trails available at the D&R Canal State Park. Your safety is paramount! The New Jersey State Park Police is coordinating with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and has stepped up patrols in the park. In an effort to educate and empower our park visitors we are sharing some basic steps and tips from the South Brunswick Police Department below that should be followed every day when out and about at the park and elsewhere. These will help you to stay alert, increase awareness of your surroundings, be present and stay safe. And of course report anything suspicious or concerning to the proper authorities.
PERSONAL SAFETY
PROPERTY & VEHICLE SECURITY
Man Charged with Sexually Assaulting Women in NJ Parks, Officials Say
SEPTEMBER 5, 2021
CLOSED: Canal bridges over Alexauken Creek in Lambertville and over the Wichecheoke Creek in Stockton.
CLOSED: The pedestrian bridge at Demott Lane is packed with storm debis and is inaccessible.
BE ADVISED: The towpath is impassable in Lawrence Township, Mercer County in the vicinity of the Port Mercer Bridge Tenders House. Do not attempt to walk on this unstable surface.
OPEN: Bulls Island Day Use Area - picnic area and playground
OPEN: D&R Canal Towpath Trail between Bridge Street in Lambertville and Trenton.
Evaluation along the remainder of the park is still ongoing. The towpath remains muddy, blocked by downed trees, limbs, debris and is compromised in many areas. As sections become accessible and safe, updates will be posted here and on our Facebook page. We thank you for your cooperation and patience as we slowly recover from this storm.
SEPTEMBER 2, 2021
AUGUST 28, 2021
July 27, 2021:
The march is memorialized by the National Park Service’s Washington Rochambeau National Historic Trail that stretches from New England to Virginia. The trail follows public roadways such as River Road in Hillsborough and Montgomery, and Canal Road in Franklin Township. Troops crossed the river twice, at the one-lane Griggstown Causeway bridge, and again at Route 518 near Rocky Hill.
In the morning, a Trenton-based group will interpret the First Rhode Island Regiment, a mixed-race American unit that marched the trail and fought at Yorktown. In the afternoon, two reenactors will interpret the French Officers Rochambeau and Chastellux, who led allied French troops who played a crucial role in the American victory.
For this event, Canal Road in Franklin from Amwell Road to Route 518 will be closed to through traffic from 10 AM to 4 PM on August 28 to encourage walking and biking on the narrow road. A half-mile section between Butler Road and the Griggstown Causeway will remain open as usual to permit east-west traffic to cross the Millstone River.
The Millstone Valley National Scenic Byway Center on the Griggstown Causeway will be open during the event. The Center is located in the 1834 Bridge Tender’s House and features an information room and a museum room, which has been restored to as it would have been in the 19th Century, as well as interpretive garden areas.
Click here for more information on this upcoming event in Griggstown
Click here for information on Franklin Township's "Canal Walk & Roll" Event on August 28
Click here to Find Griggstown
JULY 23, 2021:
BE ADVISED: Hunters MUST APPLY FOR A PARK PERMIT TO HUNT ANYWHERE WITHIN SIX MILE RUN. Download/Print the deer hunting map for Six Mile Run by clicking the link below:
SIX MILE RUN RESERVOIR SITE DEER HUNTING MAP - ZONE 14
2021/2022 CHANGES TO SIX MILE RUN RESERVOIR DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM:
Stands are prohibited from being placed directly on Six Mile Run Reservoir property lines or in the view-shed of residents residing directly adjacent to Six Mile Run Reservoir Site.
PLEASE NOTE:
One stand/blind permitted per hunter;
Parking Permit only needs to be displayed in Hunter Only Lots (see a map for details);
Please review the map as permissible hunting areas have changed.
BOW SEASON: There will be NO LIMIT on the number of bow permits issued for Six Mile Run.
Email, or mail, a completed legible application along with a copy of your current hunting license and government issued identification (ex driver’s license) to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. or via US Postal Service to:
D&R Canal State Park
145 Mapleton Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
Use the link below to download/print the bow season application:
BOW HUNTER APPLICANT AGREEMENT SHEET
FIREARM SEASON: A total of 15 permits will be issued for the 2021/2022 season by a RANDOM lottery. To be considered for the lottery please submit your name with your email and/or phone to Stephanie Fox (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; 609-924-5705) by September 30, 2021. If your name is selected the park will notify you and provide you with a firearm application to be completed.
Please direct any questions to Stephanie Fox at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the park office at (609) 924-5705.
July 20, 2021:
Click here to view the "Griggstown Bridge Tender's House 19th Century Interpretive Gardens" brochure
Click here to Find Griggstown
MARCH 1, 2021:
PARTNERSHIPS! This is how we can achieve our goals towards creating a healthier environment for all. On a rainy Saturday morning in late February, ten dedicated volunteers from the Central Jersey Stream Team, the Hackensack Riverkeeper, D&R Canal State Park staff and the owner of Tire Disposal Service pulled out 216 muck filled tires from the canal at the Duck Island section of the park - 216 TIRES!! While these dedicated volunteers provided the muscle power, the Mercer County Clean Communities program funded the responsible disposal of the tires. Some of the tires pulled our of the water date back to the 1960's!!! We can't thank all of these groups enough for taking on this challenge and look forward to PARTNERING with them again. There is more work to be done but with dedication of organizations like these we can make a difference. Please consider volunteering for a clean up near you, every set of hands is appreciated.
BE ADVISED:
Click here for details about this project.
BE ADVISED:
Click here for details about this project.
BE ADVISED: The D&R Canal Dredging project will begin operations at Access Area 5 (East Millstone Park) located near the intersection of MARKET STREET and AMWELL ROAD starting on, or about, APRIL 1, 2020. The initial work involves mobilization of equipment and materials to the area, as well as a small soil sampling program. The contractor will occupy this area to support operations through October 31, 2020. Demobilization and restoration of the area will be conducted during November 2020.
ADVISORY - SEPTEMBER 4, 2020 (updated October 28, 2020):
Why do trees along the towpath have orange markers?
Project Work Dates: Nov 9, 2020 - Nov 20, 2020
Why are ailanthus trees being removed?
Why are ash trees being removed?
Why do these pests spread in D&R?
What is the timeline?
Tree removal and ailanthus stump treatment will begin in the Fall of 2020.
More information:
The park service has marked ailanthus and ash trees along the D&R Canal State Park towpath in the City of Lambertville (Eastern side of Canal) for removal.
Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven), is an invasive non-native species which outcompetes New Jersey’s native species. It is also a species is known for attracting the invasive non-native insect the spotted lanternfly. The spotted lanternfly feeds on over 70 different plant species, including fruit trees, ornamental trees, vegetables, herbs and vines. The pest poses a threat to the health of New Jersey's agriculture and forests.
Ash trees have been impacted by the emerald ash borer, an invasive non-native beetle that has killed hundreds of millions of trees in North America. Once an ash tree is infested with emerald ash borer, the beetle kills the tree within three to four years, and 99% of the ash trees die after initial infestation. Ash die from the top down and rapidly become brittle, and potentially risk dropping large branches and tree tops. The brittleness of the infested trees poses a safety concern for park patrons in heavily-used areas. The removal of EAB-infested Ash trees throughout the park, including the City of Lambertville, has been specifically authorized by the Delaware and Raritan Canal Commission (DRCC #16-4938), which was granted a certificate of approval on February 15, 2017 which remains valid until 2022.
Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park is 70-miles long and wooded which helps the invasive insects easily spread throughout the park and to adjacent areas.
October 1, 2020: While it’s not unusual for researchers to make new discoveries - a private collection of letters, newly archived documents that were previously inaccessible, recently gifted journals, photographs, objects and/or manuscripts - it is a happy surprise to literally uncover a historic structure thought to be long gone. In this case the rebuilt bridge tender’s station at Zarephath! Covered in vines, brush, overgrown grass and presumed to be a storage shed, upon closer inspection, and a bit of research, was revealed to be the rebuilt station that once stood next to the western facade of Zarephath Bridge Tender’s House and alongside the canal! In the two top black & white photos pictured here, the house and its station are seen in their original locations at Chapel Drive near the campus of what was “The Pillar of Fire” community then "Somerset Christian College" and now "Pillar College". The photo on the left - snapped in the late 1970s-early 80s show a a house in need of some care and the original station precariously supported on blocks. The image on the right, taken around 1915-1920, captures a well-maintained house along with its station and outhouse in the waning years before the canal closed as a transportation corridor. A project to rehab/restore the house and move the station away from the canal’s bank was completed in the early 1990s. Plans from the project revealed that much of the station was too far gone to save it and so a decision was made to create a replica using what materials could be salvaged from the original structure including the wood door. The rebuilt replacement was positioned behind the house, used by past tenants as a storage shed and its original purpose slowly forgotten in the 28 years that followed. Happily the structure, and it’s story, has been recently rediscovered and can now proudly take its rightful place on the very exclusive short list of similar surviving bridge tender’s stations that still stand along the canal!
MAY 22, 2020 - BE ADVISED:
The New Jersey State Park Service looks forward to seeing you this Memorial Day weekend. We are all in this together and we all would like to enjoy our parks and forests together. Please remember to bring your masks along with you, on our trails, paths, beaches, and forests. Where it is difficult to maintain a six-foot distance simply mask up. Once you mask up, let us know by taking a selfie and posting to social media using the hashtags #iheartNJParks and #MaskUp. Be sure to let us know why YOU Mask Up in New Jersey's state parks. In addition, with some limitations, picnicking is once again permitted in state parks and forests. Please bring a blanket and a cooler with your food. Picnic areas, tables and grills continue to be closed at this time. Swimming is NOT permitted this weekend as we continue to hire lifeguards to fill our ranks. Click here if you are interested in becoming a State Park Service lifeguard.
We invite you to watch the Division of Parks and Forestry's most recent video highlighting the guidelines for using our parks safely this holiday weekend and in the coming weeks ahead.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE:
Both the Bulls Island Recreation Area and the parking lot at 625 Canal Road remain closed.
MORE INFORMATION:
Learn more about COVID-19 from the New Jersey Department of Health.
Learn more about COVID-19 in New Jersey NJ residents can call 211 with questions or concerns about COVID-19 and to learn resources available to them.
Residents can also text NJCOVID to 898-211 to subscribe to text message updates on NJ COVID-19.
Posts are also updated on the D&R Canal State Park Facebook Page.
Check the Division of Parks and Forestry’s website for any new information.
MAY 9, 2020 - BE ADVISED:
Since we remain under a statewide state of emergency, we'd like to remind our park users about current rules, the importance of social distancing and using masks as encouraged by the CDC. We invite you to watch the Division of Parks and Forestry's most recent video highlighting the guidelines for using our parks under the current Executive Order.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE:
Both the Bulls Island Recreation Area and the parking lot at 625 Canal Road remain closed.
MORE INFORMATION:
Learn more about COVID-19 from the New Jersey Department of Health.
Learn more about COVID-19 in New Jersey NJ residents can call 211 with questions or concerns about COVID-19 and to learn resources available to them.
Residents can also text NJCOVID to 898-211 to subscribe to text message updates on NJ COVID-19.
As our park users may be aware we have experienced a significant amount of visitation throughout the entire State Park Service since reopening on Saturday, May 2nd. We were delighted to invite New Jerseyans back to their parks, and D&R Canal was no exception. D&R Canal is our state’s second most visited state park. Last weekend’s visitation proved that we are much loved and we experienced an enormous volume of people return to the park.
Posts are also updated on the D&R Canal State Park Facebook Page.
Check the Division of Parks and Forestry’s website for any new information.
MAY 2, 2020 - BE ADVISED:
D&R CANAL STATE PARK:
SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIRED, FACE COVERING STRONGLY ENCOURAGED
Learn more tips in our social distancing video.
To help keep NJ families safe from COVID-19, certain activities and amenities are not permitted/open. We will reevaluate this list as virus cases in New Jersey continue to decline.
STAY SAFE WHILE VISITING PARKS
MORE INFORMATION:
Learn more about COVID-19 from the New Jersey Department of Health.
Learn more about COVID-19 in New Jersey NJ residents can call 211 with questions or concerns about COVID-19 and to learn resources available to them.
Residents can also text NJCOVID to 898-211 to subscribe to text message updates on NJ COVID-19.
Please note that while the D&R's towpath is now accessible and open, access to the Bulls Island Recreation Area will remain closed. Additionally, there WILL NOT BE access to the Lumberville-Raven Rock pedestrian bridge to PA, nor the Bulls Island boat launch.
Do your part to protect others while outdoors — wear a face covering. We know you want to get out in nature, as do many of your fellow New Jerseyans, that is why we are required to follow social distancing in order to keep all New Jersey families safe.
✅Hike/Walk
✅Horseback Ride
✅Bicycle
✅Fish/Hunt (with permit)
✅Boat/Canoe/Kayak
✅Bird/wildlife watch
NOT OPEN AT THIS TIME:
PARKING CAPPED at 50% CAPACITY
Available parking at parks is limited to 50% of the maximum capacity at one time, and visitors are prohibited from parking in undesignated areas, including in roadways.
Check the Division of Parks and Forestry’s website for any new information.
APRIL 7, 2020 - BE ADVISED:
HIKING PROHIBITED
All park gates and entrances are CLOSED. Trail use is PROHIBITED. Save yourself the trip and STAY HOME to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
AREAS PATROLLED
New Jersey State Park Police will patrol park areas to ensure the public is following the Governor’s directives to stay home to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
To keep your family and our entire New Jersey family safe, stay home, practice good hygiene and follow all State and CDC guidelines concerning COVID-19.
MORE INFORMATION
Click here to learn more about COVID-19 and to find related/useful resources. OR text NJCOVID to 898-211; or call 211.
Check the Division of Parks and Forestry’s website for updated information.
MARCH 24, 2020 - BE ADVISED:
If you're considering visiting the D&R Canal State Park, it is important keep in mind the following to protect yourself and other park visitors:
2. Do not gather in groups and maintain a six foot distance between yourself and others at all times;
3. Leave any area that you cannot maintain a six foot distance;
4. Cover sneezes and refrain from touching your face;
5. Wash your hands;
6. Stay home if you exhibit any symptoms.
As PARK RESTROOMS ARE CLOSED due to COVID-19 concerns, please also remember to "go" before you go out to parks.
Click Here to learn more about COVID-19 from the New Jersey Department of Health.
NJ residents can call 211 with questions or concerns about COVID-19 and to learn resources available to them.
Residents can also text NJCOVID to 898-211 to subscribe to text message updates on NJ COVID-19.
1. While on trails, warn other users of your presence and as you pass, and step aside to let others pass;
MARCH 17, 2020 - BE ADVISED:
FACILITIES CLOSED; EVENTS CANCELED
To protect public health and safety due to the spread of COVID-19, the State Park Service has closed all park facilities (restrooms, offices, nature centers, historic buildings), canceled all events, and canceled all upcoming camping reservations through Thursday, April 30.
CAMPING RESERVATIONS REFUNDED
Existing camping reservations from Monday, March 16, through Thursday, April 30, will be canceled. Reservations will be refunded in full at our earliest convenience. Campers currently occupying a campsite will be required to leave by the end of today, March 16. No new future camping reservations are being accepted.
Check the Division of Parks and Forestry’s website for any new information.
Click here to learn more about COVID-19 from the New Jersey Department of Health.
The New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry would like to remind you practice social distancing while visiting park trails, to cover sneezes, and wash your hands often.
BE ADVISED: Recent heavy rains and a warmer than usual winter has led us to suggest a limited access/usage throughout the Six Mile Run trail network. In order to preserve the quality of the trails, we are asking for the cooperation of our park users - especially those who bike the trails - to please delay your use/ride until the ground dries and conditions improve. We appreciate your cooperation and patience. Let's hope for drier weather soon!
The Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park is happy to welcome back an old friend! On October 4, 2019 an important piece of the historic canal was reinstalled along its towpath. Milepost 22/22 - the marker which indicates the halfway point along the canal's 44-mile main stem from Bordentown to New Brunswick - was carefully retrieved, patched and put back in place between Rocky Hill and Griggstown. It had been knocked off its base years ago and lay hidden in the floodplain under overgrown grass, plants and poison ivy. Lost, but by no means forgotten, it was recently spotted by a regular park user who reached out to the D&R Canal Commission and advocated for its retrieval. After determining its condition, and discussing all options with the Park staff, it was decided to attempt a rescue, repair and reinstall mission. Thanks to the local resident who brought the wayward milepost to our attention, the D&R Canal Commission for funding the project and the expert crew from Pennacchi & Sons who did the work, this historic piece of the D&R Canal State Park has been returned to its rightful place on the towpath - a successful team effort! Welcome back 22/22! Long may you stand!