Delaware Canal State Park, PA and D&R Canal State Park, NJ - Washington Crossing to Bulls Island Loop

ABOUT THE PARKS: 

Delaware Canal State Park - Pennsylvania DCNR

Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park - New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 40.29736, -74.86805

Washington Crossing Bridge Parking Lot

TRAIL MAP: 

Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Map - New Jersey DEP

Friends of the Delaware Canal has the most up to date information on their site showing which loops are currently open on the PA side.  There are several construction closures along the closed loops. Pink shows loops used for this bike.

BIKE DISTANCE:  29.3 miles

THE BIKE: 

From the parking lot a ramp leads up to the trail.

At the top, left towards Lambertville.

The Delaware River comes into view on the left.

Up ahead the Bridge Street bridge that I would be crossing in a bit.

In Lambertville ...

... left on Bridge Street ...

... to the bridge.

Delaware River

In New Hope, PA ...

... right at the first stop light.

Then left ...

... then right on the Delaware Canal Towpath.

Going under the Route 202 bridge.

Had to give right of way to lots of Canada geese.  The ones in these parts don't seem to be afraid of bikes at all.

Impossible to miss this HUGE snapper digging a hole next to the canal.

I was on foot when I saw this little guy.

At the Center Bridge - Stockton bridge you need to get the bike up steps but I did not need to do that since I was continuing on to the next bridge on the PA side.

At the Virginia Forrest Recreation Area there are nice restrooms.

You might want to dismount and duck under some of these bridges.

Coming up on the historic Lumberville - Raven Rock suspension bridge which I would be crossing.

To get there you have to continue under the bridge for a bit to the Paunacoussing Creek Aqueduct ...

... left over the bridge ...

... then left on River Road to the suspension bridge.

Looking back at where I had been.

Delaware River

After continuing through Bulls Island Recreation area, right on the Delaware and Raritan Canal Trial.

Over at a view of the canal and Delaware River ...

... lots of bird activity.

Prallsville Mills on the left.

Passing through Stockton.

Headed towards the river in a power cut for a look where ...

... this guy was singing his little heart out.

Things get a bit confusing here.  I kept straight and the trail did not look like I was expecting.  Turns out I was on the wrong trail so I backtracked.

Should have crossed the canal on this bridge at River Road just after passing under Route 202 but did not see the "TRAIL" sign.

Alexauken Creek Aqueduct

Coming back into Lambertville.

Crossing Bridge Road.

Retracing back to the beginning.

A little baby snapper on the trail and wow, did he scoot fast.

Back at the Washington Crossing parking lot.

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