This is hike #29 ("The Delaware River Valley-Stockton to Bull's Island") in
Hiking New Jersey: A Guide to 50 of the Garden State's Greatest
Hiking Adventures (1st edition). This hike includes the entire Hike #34 ("D & R Canal, Bull's Island to Prallsville") in
50 Hikes in New Jersey (3rd edition).
This was our second consecutive hike along the Delaware River. We're loving the beauty of the river, the serenity of the canal, the rich history, and the old world charm in the small towns along these parts of the Delaware River. Today we first walked the rail bed of the historic Belvidere-Delaware Railroad (the Bel-Del) west from Stockton to Bull's Island, keeping the D & R's feeder canal below on our left. After crossing over the Delaware on the Lumbertville-Raven Rock pedestrian bridge we arrived in Lumbertville, Pennsylvania with its charming hotel, homes and shops. From here we took the tow path of the Delaware Canal (not to be mistaken with the D & R canal) east to the imposing Centre Bridge, crossing the Delaware River back into Stockton, New Jersey. It should be noted that at least half the path on the PA side, from Lumbertville to Virginia Forest Recreation Area, is quite unkempt. Huge tractors have passed through this area lately, leaving huge tracks which aren't the easiest to walk on. They even knocked down one informative sign for the Delaware Canal behind the hotel. Arriving at Virginia Forest Recreation Area, where the path become very well-groomed, we spied a sign facing away from us. Passing it we turned to read that the 2.3-mile section of trail we just traversed was CLOSED because of flood damage. Indeed? Well there wasn't a sign at the other end! Our favorite stretch was the part between Virginia Forest and the Centre Bridge where the trail passed directly behind charming houses and at one point an absolutely gorgeous Italian-style villa. It was here where I got a great shot of a heron in a tree. Total distance hiked was over 8 miles in about 4.5 hours. We had lunch at Virginia Forest on a park bench overlooking the Delaware River.
|
Bel-Del railroad sign |
The rail bed for the Bel-Del |
Near the trail head |
Actual location of the rails |
The D & R canal |
Spillway at Wickecheoke Creek |
Delaware River looking west |
[Photo by Laura] |
|
Building at Prallsville |
Prallsville Mill complex |
Prallsville grist mill |
|
Rail bed bridge |
Sappy trunk |
Millstone at grist mill |
View from the bridge |
View of Prallsville from trail |
Baby fawn |
D & R canal |
Lochatong Creek bridge |
Creek spillway into river |
Peaceful feeder canal |
Lochatong Creek bridge |
On the bridge |
View to spillway |
View of canal, river and PA beyond |
Old RR mile post |
Cutting the grass on the rail bed |
Canal at Bull's Island |
|
Wild flowers on Bull's Island |
Lumbertville-Raven Rock pedestrian bridge |
On the bridge |
Huge flag flying |
Delaware Canal |
|
View of tow path looking east |
Black Bass Hotel |
Lumbertville |
Pedestrian bridge from PA |
|
Lock 12 of Delaware Canal |
Dated 1912 |
The lock |
Turning something or other |
Dried up lock |
Wooden doors of lock |
|
Broken doors on other end |
|
Abutment of pedestrian bridge |
Unkempt path behind hotel |
Tractor damage |
Delaware River from PA |
Concrete steps to river |
|
More gears |
Cuttalossa Inn in Lumberton |
Lumberton Granite Company |
Auto bridge over Delaware Canal |
|
Delaware River |
Wild flowers |
Lochatong Creek bridge from PA side |
Kids on the NJ side |
|
Grasshoppers abounded in this area |
Path wild flowers |
Here the path is well kept |
At Virginia Forest |
Virginia Forest visitor's center |
Private residence |
Another lock? |
Tiny frog |
Gorgeous view over Delaware Canal |
Beautiful stone house |
Private residences on the tow path! |
The bridge to get to those houses |
Gorgeous Italian-style villa |
Statues at the villa |
Delaware Canal behind villa |
Tow path and river |
Another magnificent villa |
Gorgeous gardens across the canal |
Beautiful heron in a tree |
Approaching Centre bridge |
Under the Centre bridge |
Centre Bridge |
Centre Bridge Inn canal tour boats |
|
Centre Bridge Inn (est. 1705) |
Crossing back into NJ |
Delaware River looking west |
D & R sign in Stockton |
The historic Stockton Inn |
Photographs and content copyright © Dan Balogh Web design by Dan Balogh |