Delaware & Raritan Canal (Belle Mead)

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Map(s)

DE-Raritan Canal.jpgRoad map (631x965).  393K size.

Scenery

The canal extends from Trenton in the south to New Brunswick in the north, paralleling the Millstone River and its dammed up portion, Carnegie Lake.  This page deals the portion between Griggstown & Blackwell Mills.

Note: There is a current going from south to north, which amounts to half a mile per hr.  (Suspected it for a while, then a comparison of 10 GPS tracklogs confirmed it.)

Putins with sandy, sloping spots near parking areas, are rare.  One spot is a patch of dirt north of the South Brunswick Water Treatment Plant.  Going north to the Blackwells Mills bridge, south the Griggstown bridge, then back to the launch, amounts to a wimpy 7.1 to 7.6 miles.  The former bridge can be passed under if you kiss the deck, but the later does not have enough clearence.  Canal Road is on your east side, and the tow path (inhabited by walkers, bikers, and joggers), is on your west side.  Turtles, ducks, frogs, geese, deer, grouse, and beaver can be seen along this foresty stretch of water way.  Best protected area on this web site; I come here on bad weather days, late fall through early spring.

There HAS TO BE more viable putins, but I have not found them yet.  As they are found, they will be added.

Fees

None.

Directions

Take route 31, past the Titus Mill Road traffic light, to Pennington Hopewell Road (exiting at a 45 degree angle).  This becomes route 518 after 3 mi.  Take route 518 past the route 206 intersection, to Canal Road; this will be about 10.8 mi from route 31.  Follow Canal Road until it forms a T-intersection with Suydam Road.  Turn left toward the canal, where you will see a patch of dirt, next to the South Brunswick Water Treatment Plant, that serves as the parking lot.

Careful turning on to this patch of dirt; since the road has been repaved, there is a steep drop on to the dirt patch.

Parking

Limited; 3 considerate cars is pushing things.  Surprisingly not a problem, but I rarily come here during good weather.  Watch where you walk: This area is loaded with poison ivy.

Distance to the Launch Area

It does not get any closer.

Restrooms

NOTHING!  Not even a good tree to go behind.  Griggstown, on the towpath side, has port-a-johns, but getting out of boat is tricky: Trade-off between mud, gelcoat-scratching rocks, and a steep drop.

Status of Launch Area

Fine gravel, and sloping.  This is best launch area on the canal that I have found.

Wind Conditions

What wind?  VERY WELL protected; this is where I go when the wind forecast is too nasty for my primary destination.

Powerboats

Electric only.

Foliage

Quite nice; one of the best destinations because of all of the deciduous trees.

Rolling Practice?

Good, but not great.  Proected from the wind, not very deep, but the bottom is muck & water fowl will sometimes make the water too stinky.

More Information . . .

For more info about the canal, go to Delaware & Raritan Canal.