Duke Island Park, NJ

ABOUT THE PARK:
Duke Island Park - Somerset County Park Commission

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates to Parking Lot B 40.551174, -74.666689

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Parking Lot B

TRAIL MAP:
Duke Island Park Map - Somerset County Park Commission
Duke Island Park, NJ at EveryTrail


HIKE DISTANCE:  5 miles

THE HIKE:

From the parking lot cross the park road at the crosswalk on the left side of the Visitor Center.

Then turn left on the Canal Trail - this is looking back at the Visitor Center from the Canal Trail.

The Canal Trail is between the Raritan Power Canal on the right and the paved Bikeway on the left.

Some recent beaver activity along the canal.

There must be a bluejay smorgasbord along this trail - have never seen so many at one time - 5 in this one picture!

Promised her an easier hike this time and this is about as easy as it gets.

The dirt Canal Trail merges into the paved Bikeway ...

... and passes a dam.

When the Bikeway ends at a parking lot, you can continue up the footpath on the hill ...

... for some views of the Raritan River from up above before retracing.

Have never seen so many squirrels at one time either.  They are everywhere!

Looks like raccoon and deer tracks along the river.

More Canada geese on the ground and in the air than I have ever seen in one place also.

Raritan River

Canada geese on the ground and this is just one small group.

The Bikeway was heavily salted so we tried to stay on the grass.  Neither of us is big on walking on pavement anyway.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

The Bikeway starts to feel more remote once it enters the woods beyond the picnic areas.

That's where this guy was hanging out.

The Bikeway hits Robert Street where it continues to the right and ends at ...

... the Hibernia Mine Railroad Bridge over the Raritan Power Canal with the York Road parking lot on the other side.

Raritan Power Canal from the bridge.

Pick up the Canal Trail at the bridge to head back.

Beaver teeth chisel marks.

Our favorite part along the canal.  Everyone else was over on the paved Bikeway.  We had the Canal Trail all to ourselves.

Just us and the beavers.

The Canal Trail crosses over Robert Street and continues all the way back to the Visitor Center.

Some fake geese along the canal.

Duck Pond nearing the Visitor Center.

Back at the Visitor Center and Parking Lot B.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Facing the Visitor Center from the parking lot, cross the park road on the crosswalk at the left side of the Visitor Center, follow paved path uphill then turn left on the dirt Canal Trail
[  0.75]  Keep right on paved Bikeway when the Canal Trail ends
[  1.00]  End of paved Bikeway, continue through parking lot to path to top of hill, retrace
[  1.35]  Keep right on paved Bikeway when the Canal Trail starts on the left
[  1.45]  Keep right at intersection
[  1.90]  Keep right at fork
[  2.15]  Keep right at fork and cross bridge
[  3.15]  Turn right on Robert Street and continue straight where Bikeway resumes at end of street
[  3.60]  End of Bikeway at bridge, turn left before bridge on dirt Canal Tail
[  4.15]  Cross Robert Street
[  4.50]  Duck Pond on left
[  4.75]  Cross park entrance road
[  4.90]  Back at Visitor Center/Parking Lot B

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