Take a Hike… on the Delaware River Canal Paths

One of the best areas to put on your trail sneakers and get in a long walk or a quick jog is the New Hope and Lambertville area. Both sides of the Delaware River offer long trails along the canal paths that go on seemingly endlessly, and it’s only about 15 minutes from Doylestown.

In truth, you’ve about a 60-mile loop of choices with several entrances to the trails on both sides of the river, both official and unofficial.

You can park in New Hope and walk the Pennsylvania side, or it’s also fun to walk across the bridge to Lambertville and stroll on New Jersey’s paths. Just bring plenty of quarters, as that’s all New Hope’s meters take, at one per 20 minutes of time.

The Pennsylvania side is a bit more rugged and narrow, featuring a more natural trail that should probably be avoided for several days after a rain, especially if you have a dog with you.

Going south from the New Hope shopping district, it stays next to the canal for most of the trek to a stone bridge about 30–40 minutes away at a brisk pace, and you can continue beyond if you choose. An added ‘bonus’ is an opportunity to visit where Jessica Savitch met her untimely end a few hundred yards north of the old Chez Odette’s in 1983.

Heading north from New Hope near the antique trains, the path again hugs the canal, which here is dry and filled with plants and the occasional deer. You’re treated to great views of a calm Delaware River and get to see neat houses of all ages and architectural designs nestled in the woods.

The New Jersey side, maintained by the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, is a bit more of proper path, with much of the trail north and south of Lambertville covered in small stones and clearly cared for. The trail is twice as wide as the Pennsylvania side in most places, and an added nicety is distance markers every half-mile for those without an app like RunKeeper or WalkTracker on their smartphones.

Heading south, you’ll soon cross an old lock and be on a nice wide path with a few great views of the rapids past the Delaware River dam. You’ll have water to your left in the canal, and there are even a few benches along the way.

If you go north from Lambertville, some nice houses and the canal on your left provide a relaxing view, and you’ll also see some rusty railroad remnants along the way. You’ll switch to the other side of the canal near passing under the 202 toll bridge, where the trail becomes much wider. The return makes it clearer there are actually paths on both sides of the canal, and staying to the right takes you past an old abandoned rail car.

So next time you need to stretch your legs, take a 15 minute ride from Doylestown and explore one of four fun footpaths waiting for you.