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.

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