Northeast - D&R towpath in New Brunswick has been resurfaced

To anyone who's been avoiding the Delaware and Raritan canal path (http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/drcanal.html) due to the unrideable coarse, slippery gravel, avoid it no longer. I was on it today, for about four miles, and the surface is now fine gravel, similar to how the path is along the Delaware River.

I understand it's this way all the way to Bound Brook, possibly further. Can anyone report on the canal from Bound Brook to Princeton?

Nobody?

Hey Neilfein, I rode from Bound Brook to Princeton back in early March and the fine crushed gravel lasted about 3/4 of the way. I didn't note exactly where it transitioned to the coarser stuff. It's a nice path and I'd like to do it again in the summer when the trees have leaves.

I haven't been down that way in a few months. Half the time I'm on the road on the other side of the canal anyway. ;)

Which Delaware canal road are you talking about, the one near New Hope?

Which Delaware canal road are you talking about, the one near New Hope?

Yeah, but I'm talking about the Trenton - New Brunswick section.

I have ridden the D&R canal towpath from New Brunswick to Trenton and it has fine gravel all the way down. You still have to
walk your bike across the stone spillways that dot the towpath. I would not recommend riding on them unless you like to true your
wheels and replace broken spokes. Otherwise, it is in good condition all the way to Trenton.

@bikeguy - Great to know!

(Although I know a guy who rides on the spillways, he's a bike mechanic and fixing a spoke is not a big deal for him. I still walk across those -- I'm on the Bound Brook--New Brunswick section weekly these days.)

Is the new surface that red gravel? I didn't know what it was for but it looked very 'scarlet knights' to me.

Between about Lawernce up through at least 6 mile run is clear sailing (Franklin? Bound Brook? South Brunswick?).

There is construction on the canal-running Rd in Plainsboro (Mapleton) which I had to turn back for last Friday but the canal itself is clear.

They finally did whatever they were doing on the Canal north of Princeton so those annoying hard contsruction tread-grooves seem to have melted back into mud.

Weekend before last, I rode this from Bound Brook to Trenton and up again to Lambertville. It was all fine gravel, except for the spillways. Also, mud. Great ride.

Is the new surface that red gravel? I didn't know what it was for but it looked very 'scarlet knights' to me.

Yeah, that's it.

Bringing this back for a quick question.
Fine gravel...will 28c tires on a steel "road" frame do the trick, or should I put on my 35s?

Normally I would say 28c tires would be OK, but the towpath took a big hit from flooding from Irene and what was Lee. Most of the crushed red stone has washed of the trail. I would only be using a MTB at this time.

Normally I would say 28c tires would be OK, but the towpath took a big hit from flooding from Irene and what was Lee. Most of the crushed red stone has washed of the trail. I would only be using a MTB at this time.

Confirmed. But it sure was nice while it lasted.

I recently rode the towpath south from Harrison St in Princeton, and actually saw alot of work was done after Irene. But after about 8 miles there still were some trees lying on the path

I still see a lot of trees being cleared in parks and on paths. I assume this is especially true for a trail of this length.

Thank you all for your responses. I scratched a trip to the towpath and instead did the Henry Hudson Trail out to Sandy Hook. Great ride.

I scratched a trip to the towpath and instead did the Henry Hudson Trail out to Sandy Hook. Great ride.

I'll be there this weekend, weather permitting. Nice!

The New Brunswick trailhead at Landing Lane is nearly impassible at the moment, it's currently blocked by a large tree, fallen after Superstorm Sandy. The path itself looks to be in good shape, from what I can see. The breakwater/rock waterfall thing there looks to be no worse off than usual. Will report back when conditions change.

Yeah, just wondering about that. Is there a way to find out the status of the entire towpath/park?

I'm also wondering if there's some sort of trick to navigating the spillway at Landing Lane. I usually go to the left side, but I've noticed that several of the rocks are loose. I keep picturing myself falling into the canal, with my bike landing on top of me. :D Suggestions?

Yeah, just wondering about that. Is there a way to find out the status of the entire towpath/park?

A friend of mine got on the towpath at the Bound Brook trailhead heading towards New Brunswick, but had to turn back. So I think we just have to wait and see.


I'm also wondering if there's some sort of trick to navigating the spillway at Landing Lane. I usually go to the left side, but I've noticed that several of the rocks are loose. I keep picturing myself falling into the canal, with my bike landing on top of me. :D Suggestions?

I've always just gone very, very slowly and carefully. Although my friend from Bound Brook once tried to ride across it. (He stopped halfway across and walked the rest)