Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park — Attraction in Hamilton Township

I first attempted this trail (Millstone Valley loop, near Princeton, NJ) at a way later time in the day than I should have, on March 26th, 2022. We didn't time our drive there accurately enough to allow us the  time necessary to begin this trail before nightfall, never mind finish it. So, basically, as soon as we started the loop, the sky started getting dark, lol. But we had flashlights and a lot of determination. So we made the most out of it and had an absolute blast venturing this trail in the dark for the first time, haha.

My second attempt was about two weeks after my first, in April, and this time, we arrived much earlier on in the day.

This trail is pretty much entirely flat, easy to travel, and provides you with beautiful scenery every step of the way. I walked this trail after it had rained, so there were some large puddles and muddy sections here and there, which should be expected on just about any hike after rainfall, lol. It wasn't too difficult to walk around or avoid stepping in at least most of those spots, which was nice. I was able to keep myself (my feet especially), mostly dry, if not entirely.

I think this is a great trail to ride your bike on or have your children and/ or pets join you on. The walk is very peaceful, and there's a good chance that you might get to experience seeing some really amazing wildlife, too.

I had a lot of fun on this trail, but I think the biggest highlight for me was getting to see a few (about 4-6) beavers swimming and splashing around! It was so cool getting to watch them interact with each other and just live their best lives under the sun and in the water, haha. That moment made such a sweet memory for me that I can still remember it pretty vividly. I hope to be able to see more wildlife (yes, from a safe distance) just enjoying their lives like that again if I ever do come back to visit this trail.

Please keep in mind that the following are prohibited:

🚫 Motorized vehicles 🚫 Alcoholic beverages 🚫 Dumping / littering 🚫 Hunting / trapping 🚫 Camping / fires 🚫 Side by side bicycle riding 🚫...

The D&R Canal trail at this section is right by Hwy 295, so it’s really very noisy. Nevertheless, the trail is very nice and you can see trains running by another side of the canal, water ducks sunbathing in the drying canal. From the Scenic Overlook by Exit 60 of Hwy 295 North you can go across the walkway bridge to another side and have a view of Delaware River between NJ and PA. I didn’t realize there’s an open view from the parking lot by the river on 295 S until I drove by it on my way back home.

I used to hike by section of the canal trail in Somerset County, which was really...

The Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park has some of the most beautiful scenery in NJ, straddling the canal. It has graveled tote paths which are great for biking and strolling. However, depending on locality, determines if this path is maintained. In some localities, the overgrowth has virtually overtaken paths and are often littered with debris, sometimes impassable from vegetation growth. Know your area before taking a long bike trip, scout the tote path out to see if it accessible and maintained...