The Delaware & Raritan Canal & Towpath are part of the National Recreational Trail System. Most of the canal system remains intact today and is a reminder of the days when freight was delivered via the canal. The Main Canal runs 36 miles from Trenton to New Brunswick with a break at the Route 1 crossing. The Feeder Canal travels 22 miles north, from Trenton to Frenchtown, along the Delaware River. SEE MAP BELOW.  All along the canal are 19^th century bridges, locks, cobblestone spillways, stone arched culverts and even old bridge tender houses. The two Letterboxes are located along the Main Canal. Another letterbox is located along the Delaware Canal on the Pennsylvania side. See; Delaware Canal Letterbox . For more information visit; D & R CANAL or  EAST COAST GREENWAY .

D & R CANAL NORTH:

WESTON, NJ

Planted:                April 23, 2003

Length:                South Bound Brook Lock to Weston Causeway; 3 miles

                              South Bound Brook Lock to Letterbox; 2 ½ miles

                              Weston Causeway to Letterbox; ½ mile

                              Drive by; 10 Mile Lock

Difficulty:            Easy. Flat, hard packed surface.

Directions:

From I-287 north or south, take exit 12. At the end of the ramp, turn right onto Canal Road for the South Bound Brook Lock or left for the Weston Causeway and 10 Mile Lock. The South Bound parking lot is on your left. The Weston parking lot is on your right, just before you cross over the Canal. The 10 mile Lock is located next to the NJ Water Authority (not sure about public parking).

Starting from the South Bound Brook parking lot, cross over the lock and head left along the Towpath. Right will take you 1 ½ miles to the 5 Mile Lock. The Towpath takes you between the Canal on your left and the Raritan River on your right. After a ¼ mile you'll cross over a spillway and then pass under I-287 at 0.8 miles. One mile brings you to a stream gauging station and just short of 2 miles you'll pass an old granite mileage marker. You come to a pedestrian bridge after 2.2 miles that crosses over the Canal and after 2 ½ miles, will be Lock 10. The NJ Water Authority has an office here. With your back to the Lock, you will see a wooden bridge that crosses into an open field. Instead of crossing the bridge, look to your left, where you will see a large Ash tree next to the Towpath. In the backside of the tree is a large cavity covered with a piece of wood. Inside is the D & R Canal North Letterbox. Please reinsert the piece of wood firmly over the opening. Also note that this tree is visible from the Water Authority building, so please be discreet. Continue down the Towpath another ½ mile to the Weston Causeway.

HH

LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED ON

APRIL 13, 2008

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D & R CANAL SOUTH:

ROCKY HILL, NJ

Planted:                April 27, 2003

Length:                Blackwells Mills Causeway to Kingston ; 8 ½ miles

                               Griggstown Causeway to Letterbox; 2 miles

                               Kingston to Letterbox; 3 miles

                               Rocky Hill to Letterbox; 1 mile

                               Drive by; Little Valley (see directions)

Difficulty:            Easy. Flat, hard packed surface.

Directions:

To start in Griggstown; From Route 206, take State Road 533 ( River Road ) east, then right on State Road 632. Before you cross over the Griggstown Canal Causeway, there will be a parking lot on your right. A path takes you up to the Canal Towpath. To start at Blackwells Mills, cross over the Causeway and take a left onto Canal Road . This will bring you to the Blackwells Mills Causeway.

To start in Rocky Hill; From Route 206, take State Road 518 east. Just before crossing the Canal, there will be a parking lot on your left. For a Drive by; after crossing the Canal on State Road 518, turn left onto State Road 603 and look for a pedestrian bridge crossing the Canal about a mile up. There will be a small pull out for parking next to this bridge. Across the road will be a sign that says "Little Valley Boat Stop".

To start in Kingston; Continue over the Canal and turn right on State Road 603 (Canal road). When you hit Route 27, turn right to a parking lot at the Kingston Lock. 

Starting in Kingston ; Which contains a mill site; lock tender's house & station and Lock 8.

Note; Heading south along the towpath will take you 2 miles along Carnegie Lake.

Head north from the parking lot, towards Griggstown, by taking the path on your right and traveling under the Route 27 tunnel. This brings you to the Towpath. The Canal will be on your right and the Raritan River will be on your left. There is a paved trail on the east side of the Canal that goes all the way to Rocky Hill. After 1 ¼ miles you will cross a spillway and then pass by an old granite mileage marker. This one is mile 23. They are spaced a ½ mile apart along the Canal. Two miles brings you to the Rocky Hill parking lot, along State Road 518. At 3 miles, a wooden bridge crosses over the Canal to Canal Road . On your left (River side) will be a dirt trail that goes down towards the river. Two wooden posts mark the entrance to this path, although one has been knocked down by a tree. Pass by the posts and immediately look to your right. Down a slight embankment, you should spot a downed tree, about 3 feet off the ground. There are two cavities in this branch. Look in the right side cavity for the D & R Canal South Letterbox, under some cement rocks. Continuing north, you cross another spillway after 4 miles and 4 ½ miles brings you to another Lock. You then reach the Griggstown Causeway after 5 miles. A path to the left takes you to a parking lot. After about 5 ¾ miles you’ll cross a cobblestone spillway and after 8 ½ miles you'll come to Blackwells Mills. Take a right to cross over the causeway and you'll spot the old Bridge Tender’s House. The State Park office is located along Canal Road , along with the Six Mile Run Reservoir Site (contains over 3,000 acres and offers hiking, biking, horseback riding and bird watching).  

HH

LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED ON

APRIL 26, 2008

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