Follow the Delaware and Raritan Canal Park along its 70 mile stretch from Landing Lane Bridge at New Brunswick all the way to Milford and you’ll have lots to write home about. History and nature stand side-by-side in this remarkably diverse park which is part of the National Recreation Trail System.
For history lovers, the story of the region’s industrial heritage is preserved in the 19th century buildings and towns along the Park’s perimeter. The 19th century mill complex at Prallsville Mills, the locktender’s house in Kingston, a wooden canal bridge and Muletender’s Barracks in Griggstown and other charming, historic towns are worth a visit . . . and a few pictures.
For lovers of the great outdoors, you’ll be spoiled by the amount of activities that you can choose from. The lengthy trail is ideal for hiking, jogging, biking, horseback riding and sections of the surface are smooth enough for wheelchairs.
Naturalists gravitate to both Bull’s Island and the Cook Natural Areas to view birds, bees, flowers and trees. A short (one mile) trail at Cook winds through freshwater marsh and forested habitats where you can spot purple loosestrife, bulrushes and knotweeds. Bull’s Island is a lowland floodplain that is also a hotspot for a variety of birds including several species warblers, including the Prothonotary, Yellow-throated, and Cerulean. In fact, more than 160 species of birds have been spotted in the Park.
Like so many others, you might like the D&R Canal Park so much you don’t want to leave. In that case, spend the night at one of the 69 campsites at the Bull’s Island Recreation Area. The camping area has toilets, showers, fire rings and picnic tables (but no water or electric hook-ups).