Delaware and Raritan Canal

Opening in 1834, the Delaware and Raritan Canal was a shortcut from the coal mines of Pennsylvania to New York City. Despite the ascendancy of railroads, the canal stayed open until 1932. Now the remnants are the backbone of a State Park.

The towpaths see a lot more traffic than the canal, though it is ideal for kayaking and canoeing. There seem to be few places to put in and take out, and the canal banks are steep. One such place is Turning Basin Park in Princeton, NJ. There is a privately operated kayak and canoe rental in the basin and a small dock at the foot of broken stairs on the canal adjacent to the parking lot.

I paddled east, paralleling Carnegie Lake for much of the time. There is a spot where the canal passes through an aqueduct separating Millstone Creek and Carnegie Lake. This is where the lake is visible from a kayak; the towpath blocks the view of the lake’s water but not the large homes on the opposite shore. Mainly, they illustrate that enormous expenditure isn’t necessarily associated with decent architecture. The next time I am there, I will paddle west from the turning basin and see what that has to offer.

It is spring, the air is warm, and the water cold. The birds are singing their heads off, and the banks are festive with splashes of color. The D & R Canal was an excellent place to spend a spring day.

April 2023