Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, NJ - Blackwells Mills to Kingston Bridge

ABOUT THE PARK: 

D&R Canal State Park - New Jersey State Park Service

John W. Flemer Preserve - Township of Franklin

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 40.47517, -74.57290

Blackwells Mills Road Parking

TRAIL MAP:

D&R Canal State Park Trail Map - New Jersey State Park Service

BIKE DISTANCE:  17.1 miles

THE BIKE:

The day after my first day of getting back to bike riding on asphalt was Memorial Day.  Cranking it up a notch, I decided to head to the D&R Canal Towpath that has a crushed stone surface and is a bit more difficult to pedal on.  

A short, steep ascent up to the towpath from the parking lot.

At the towpath, to the left is Blackwells Mills Road ...

... and to the right is the direction I was going.

I decided not to ride through the puddles and walked past them.  This was the only part with puddles.

I walked over this chunky spillway, too.  Not quite brave enough to ride that kind of surface yet.

Besides, someone was watching and waiting.  Not today, bud.

It was 3.5 miles until the first road crossing in Griggstown.

Another 3 miles to the road crossing in Rocky Hill.

In 1.85 miles at the tunnel under Route 27, I continued on to Route 27 ...

... and turned left over ...

... the canal.

Then just after the bridge left into ...

The trail starts at the far end of the parking lot and leads to ...

... a the Kingston Branch Loop Trail along the other side of the canal heading back.

Coming up on a parking lot the trail veers left ...

... to Trap Rock Quarry ruins then left on Washington Street over the canal then right to cross the street back on ...

... the D&R Canal Towpath to retrace back.

Stopping to let a turtle cross.

I had ridden over this spillway on the way out and it was pretty rough.  My behind was getting sore from two days of riding so I walked it this time.

Crossing back over Griggstown Causeway.

This was the only shot I could get as I saw him land before he immediately took off again.  I think it's a green heron.

Walking back over this spillway.  I had visions of being catapulted into the air and into the canal to join the turtles had I tried to ride over.  Everyone else does but I prefer to err on the side of caution for now.

Back at Blackwells Mills Road, the path to the left steeply downhill ...

... back to the now crowded parking lot.  I was the only one there at 7 AM.

Ironton Rail Trail, PA with Whitehall Parkway

ABOUT THE PARK: 

Ironton Rail Trail - Whitehall Township

Whitehall Parkway - Whitehall Township

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 40.65644, -75.48353

Water Street Parking

TRAIL MAPS: 

Ironton Rail Trail Map - Whitehall Township

Whitehall Parkway Trail Map - Whitehall Township

HIKE and BIKE DISTANCE:  15.3 miles

THE HIKE and BIKE: 

Every three months I get a cortisone injection in my ankle for arthritis and it works amazingly well allowing me to hike completely pain free for 10 weeks.  There are 2-3 weeks until the next injection when I have to manage with meloxicam and that doesn't work as well.  I came up with a solution:  Buy a bicycle.  So I will be switching it up to biking when that injection has worn off and to give my ankle a break off and on.  Often times there are hiking trails off of bike paths so I'll incorporate those when I can.  And that is what this hike and bike was.

And here she is.  I started left on the rail trail to go clockwise around the loop portion.

There are many kiosks, benches and things of interest along the way.

Off to the left there was a butterfly garden and bird area.

Indeed, there were birds down there.

There are steps to go down there but there was one thing lacking throughout this trail - not a single place to park bikes so you can walk the nature trails off of the rail trail.

There were pretty many road crossings which was good because my mount and dismount needed a lot of practice.

This is the intersection with the loop and spur trails.  I would be finishing the loop later but now left on the spur.

In a very short distance entering Whitehall Parkway, a nature preserve on either side of the rail trail.

Coplay Creek

I decided to ride the spur trail first and see if I could walk the Whitehall Parkway trails on the way back.

At this intersection ...

... a right turn leaving the rail trail briefly leads to the Toxell-Steckel House.

After trying to get a face shot of a white-breasted nuthatch, to no avail.

“God protect this house from danger, and lead our souls into the halls of heaven. Johan Peter Troxell and Maria Magdala.”

Continuing on the rail trail.

Barn Swallow - there were lots of them along this trail.

Coming up on some interesting ruins.

There is only a very short section along a road.

The last crossing is the worst one but there are pedestrian lights.  If drivers care to stop for them.  Some did, some didn't.

The end of the trail.

Heading back.

Soon after entering back into Whitehall Parkway a trail leave so the left.

It follows along Coplay Creek.  A bike rack would have been really nice here but no such thing to be found so I walked the bike.

Uh oh.

Double uh-oh on the other side of the bridge where the steps and a good chunk of earth are missing.

It was actually harder to get myself down over the huge hole at the bottom than it was to get the bike down.

Left on the rail trail ...

... then right opposite train car ...

... on a gravel path.

I locked the bike to a tree.  It was the best I could think of to do.

Now off on foot through the Bluebird Meadow.

No bluebirds.

Ah a footpath.  Yes, please!

They are actually mountain bike trails but I can promise you will not catch me mountain biking.

Ruins along the way.

Quarry

I went back to get my bike then headed over to where there are supposed to be overlooks.

Like about here somewhere.

Well, I suppose there is no longer an overlook.

This was a cute idea.  They are making a bird blind out of ruins.

No birds today.

Continuing on the rail trail.

At the intersection with the loop portion, I kept left to finish the loop.

Just across this intersection is Saylor Park.

Coming back up on the parking lot.