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Gravitas: RDB: MTB: Proximity:
(Note: For full turn-by-turn directions, visit the Google Maps link above. This ride is best ridden on a hybrid or mountain bike. Road-bike riders should be able to negotiate the hard-packed gravel tow-path, but there is the possibility of running into soft spots, we rate it for intermediate road riders.)
This is a charming (and generally easy) 6 mile ride which begins at Mercer County’s South Riverwalk Park (which sits above the Route 29 tunnel), goes through Trenton’s oft-forgotten Marine Terminal Park, through the Abbott Marshlands along a orphaned section of the Delaware and Raritan Canal trail, and all the way to downtown Bordentown. It’s a really charming ride, and it’s flat as can be. Plus, if you start in Trenton, you end up in Bordentown where you can get a nice bit of lunch before you cycle home.
You can pick up the ride at South Riverwalk Park, a 6.3 acre community park that celebrates Trenton’s history and the history of the Delaware River waterfront. It’s a really immaculately maintained park (under Mercer County’s jurisdiction) and it features interpretive sculptures of Trenton’s history through the ages (from Native Americans to 2006). Sure, the history that’s presented is a little politically-correct for my taste, but still it’s a beautiful site to see. Over the river edge of the park, you have a terrific view of the Delaware River and Pennsylvania (and the Trenton Makes bridge).
In the South corner of the park (on the river side) you’ll find a small walkway that shoots you down a ramp onto Lamberton Street, which you can follow until you get to Marine Terminal Park. This is one of Trenton’s city parks. It was originally a port for cargo ships coming up the Delaware. You can see the striking gantry cranes that were used to unload ships, as well as some of the preserved equipment of Trenton’s industrial past. Still, it’s sad to see the contrast between the beautiful county park and the often unkempt city park.
Keep following Lamberton St. until you get to your first left, which is Canal Blvd. Make the left, and you’ll see the entry to the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park trail almost immediately on your right (don’t be tempted to keep following Lamberton, it dead ends in an industrial section of Duck Island and you’ll have to turn around). This is an orphaned section of the Canal State Park, separated from the rest of the park (which you can read more about here). The path follows next to the NJ Transit “River Line” tracks through the Abbot Marshlands, with the canal on your left and Duck Creek on your right. This section of the Delaware and Raritan Canal, built in the 1830’s (by hand!), used to carry barges from Bordentown to the Raritan River in New Brunswick. The canal was the primary means by which Pennsylvania coal and bricks traveled North towards central New Jersey and New York. It’s completely flat, and better maintained than the sections of the canal between Trenton and Princeton, making for easy cycling on the hard-packed fine gravel. Along the way, it is possible to see beavers, white tailed deer, bald eagles, and painted turtles, along with a plethora of resident and migratory songbirds.
At the end of this ride, you’ll find yourself in downtown Bordentown, where you can sample any number of the fine restaurants for a bite before you turn around and make the return trip. There’s a tiny elevation to get from the canal to downtown (and another when you get back into Trenton), but it’s really only a few feet of climb. It’s the easiest cycling that we’ve found along the canal, and it’s a beautiful ride.
I really enjoyed this ride. I have a hybrid bike with no suspension and it was bumpy but not too rough. My tires are closer to being road tires and I enjoy the challenge so this was the perfect trail for a cool afternoon ride.
I road from the Bordentown Docks to the D&R Canal State Park entrance on Canal Rd last week. This was the first time I road this trail, so I was unsure of where to go. But, after reading this post, I will try it again and go through the Marine Terminal Park up to South Riverwalk Park.
It was a nice ride. The trail is pretty narrow and overgrown on the section between Canal Rd. and the 295 overpass. But, after that it’s much wider and the trail is more gravel than dirt.
I rode this once it pretty much overgrown with trees and other stuff it is like riding through the jungle
We have ridden it recently (yesterday). The entrance is a bit overgrown, but after that the riding was pretty good–they have trimmed back the overgrowth substantially along the path.
One of my fave rides. If anyone in this area is looking for manual wheels. Boys & Girls Club Bike Exchange on Olden Ave has great prices and Tues Thurs & Sat are there days
I’m sorry but I’m confused. I grew up in the burg part of Trenton. Where exactly is this entrance located cause I now live in roebling which is close to Bordentown and would live to take the ride
I am going to run on it but I cant figure out where the trail starts in Bordentown. any help? I live in Btown twp but grew up on Stuyvesant ave in what was and will be again the greatest city around. Trenton for life!
Sure, if you take Farnsworth Ave to the end (where it hits the yacht club) at Crosswicks Creek, you will end up going down a very steep hill. At the base of that hill, you will cross the train tracks for the River Line, and you can then see a footpath along the bridge to your right (over the Creek). Follow that footpath and you will be on a trail. There is only one fork in the trail (immediately after the next bridge) and you should make a right at the fork. After that you are smooth sailing.
sweet! thank you very much!
I love what you are doing