About D&R Canal State Park
The Delaware and Raritan (D&R) Canal State Park is a 70-mile linear park in central New Jersey, following the route of a historic canal opened in 1834 to connect Philadelphia and New York City. Once used for transporting goods via mule-powered and steam-powered boats, the canal now features a flat, continuous towpath popular for cycling, hiking, and running, offering a quiet escape from nearby highways and suburban areas.
Much of the original canal infrastructure remains, including wood bridges, lock and bridge tender houses, cobblestone spillways, and stone-arched culverts. The main canal runs from Bordentown to New Brunswick, passing through towns like Princeton, Kingston, and Griggstown, while the 22-mile feeder canal extends from the Delaware River through Stockton, Lambertville, and Titusville to Trenton. The park is managed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, with the D&R Canal Commission overseeing land use and the New Jersey Water Supply Authority maintaining the canal as a vital water supply, pumping 75 million gallons daily.