New Jersey Kayaking

Starting at the right or eastern-most point, or going upstream, the markers on the map are:

New Brunswick - Boyd Park

You could get in here at the north end, but it is so small - why bother? Part of the canal was filled-in to build Route 18 in New Brunswick, and the water spills down into the river. Just east of Route 27 is a small disconnected remnant of the canal, with the re-built terminal locks. It's an interesting park, but too small to bother paddling, although there is a boat ramp to the river.

New Brunswick - Landing Lane

Parking is very limited. From here you can go a short ways downstream (east) to the impoundment at the end of the canal, where I have seen a lot of nice catfish caught. Or you can go under the bridge or over the road, and go west several miles up to:

Somerset - DeMott Lane

My favorite spot. Not a lot of parking, but never seen it full. From here you can go either direction for several miles - very picturesque, especially in the fall.

Franklin - Easton Avenue

Similar to DeMott Lane, you can go directly south under 287, or north after a short portage around the lock. Plenty of parking. Easton Avenue is very close by - traffic noise in many places.

South Bound Brook - Canal Road

A mirror image of the previous entry, but no footbridge across the canal.

Manville - Weston Canal Road

Now you are out in the country. Probably too far to portage to the Millstone River, on a fairly busy road.

East Millstone - Amwell Road

Not terrible access to the Millstone River here, less than a quarter mile away.

Blackwell's Mills - Blackwell's Mills Causeway

Not terrible access to the Millstone River here, less than a quarter mile away.

Griggstown - Griggstown Causeway

• Griggstown Canoe and Kayak Rental

Access to the Millstone River is unfortunately blocked by a huge tree stump and poison ivy.

Rocky Hill - Franklin Turnpike

A pretty short portage to the Millstone River.

Kingston - Route 27 (Old Lincoln Highway)

A short portage between the canal and the Millstone River, with Lake Carnegie not far away. Good parking.

Plainsboro - Mapleton Rd

From here you can go five directions:

• North on the canal
• North on Lake Carnegie
• South on the canal (portage over the causeway)
• South on Lake Carnegie
• South on the Millstone River

Plenty of parking and porta-johns. The difference in water level between the lake and the canal is about two feet.

Princeton Junction - Lower Harrison Street & Washington Road

Limited parking.

Princeton Junction - Alexander Street

Easy access to both the canal and the Stony Brook. Plenty of parking.

• Princeton Canoe and Kayak Rental

Princeton - Quaker Road

Port Mercer - Quaker Road

Port Mercer - Province Line Road

Parking

Lawrence - Bakers Basin Road

Little parking

Lawrence - Carnegie Road

Parking

Ewing - Whitehead Road

Parking

Trenton - Mulberry Street

End of the line. Parking?

The canal does not actually end in Trenton, it just goes underground, and emerges again to the west, where it connects with the feeder canal that runs north along the Delaware River for another 20 miles. The feeder canal is also accessible in a number of places:

The feeder canal is smaller than the main canal, it was not designed for barge traffic. It also has no locks, and access points are fewer and more spread-out than the main canal. A number of roads actually pass under the feeder canal in Trenton. There may be more accesses than I have marked. If anyone knows, please share.

I imagine you could paddle through the underground section in Trenton that connects the feeder canal with the main canal, but that would not be legal, or smart. Who knows what is in there? Feral politicians. Rodents of unusual size. Politicians of unusual size.

South of Trenton, disconnected remnants of the main canal still hold water along the railway down to Bordentown; probably not usable. Scroll the map a little more, and you can see there are more canals along the other side of the river in Pennsylvania. That's something for another day.