Colonial Park paddleboats — Attraction in Franklin Township

The paddleboats are such an awesome amenity and neat addition to the already overall great Colonial Park. Compared to other paddleboat operations that I have seen, the one here at Colonial Park is much smaller when it comes to the water range/area that the boats can be operated on (there are also some areas of the pond that are advised to not venture into as the boats may get stuck).

Some quick pointers: The activity is seasonal; I believe it starts to open up mid-late Spring and goes into mid Fall before shutting down. As of 2024, the charge is $20 per boat (refer to the link attached to this Google location profile for more specifics); they accept credit card. Like many other paddleboat operations, there is no shelter from the sun as it is on open water so ensure that you wear sunscreen, wear long sleeves and/or headwear with appropriate visor. Everyone going on paddleboats will be required to wear flotation vests.

Despite the smaller size, the activity is still enjoyable, fun, and relaxing. I've taken my daughters here several times already since we've moved back to New Jersey, and it has always provided amusement each time. Each time we went on the paddleboats, there was little to no wait; they have between 5-6 available yellow duck style paddle boats with each boat safely accommodating a maximum of 5 personnel (2 paddlers and 3 passengers in the back).

A great pastime while you're visiting Colonial...

We did today the trail that start near the lake with the boats. It's really nice trail, but there's probably a beehive there, lots of bees chased us and stung us. The rest of the park...

there is a great hidden trail in the woods, starts at the end of knobs hill and comes back down to the road through the forest, small streams and...