Morris Canal Trail

From here you can go south to along JFK towards Newark which follows original canal bed. Crossing Bellville Ave. (now follow on west side) under trestle (a sign says the train trestle was originally made to go over canal. Further on at Liberty and Spruce there is a plaque dedicated to the Morris Canal. Past this the Canal crosses the GSP, so make a left on Montgomery and right on Hickory (wrong way on one way st) veer left and then take walkway to JFK Pkwy going against traffic, make left on Montgomery St. Before Walnut there is a sign about Morris Canal. Make a right on Walnut and take foot bridge to Newark Ave. make left. Here is a sign that there used to be swimming hole here at this point in the canal. Then enter path along stream to Wright's Field. Follow full length of park by stream and exit by parking lot entrance/exit.

From here make a left onto Brighton Av, left on Harrison St and a right on Mill St. Here is a sign about Morris Canal (may be last one until Morris Canal Park). Keep going and make a right on Maple Ave. which dead ends, but there is a right of way along former canal which leads again to Brighton Ave. where you make a left. Make a right on Wallace St and then left back on Brighton Ave. Make a left onto Sanford Ave. Follow this by hospital you can make out where canal used to be. Take sidewalk where it turns into one-way street. Make left onto Clara Maass Dr, then right onto S Franklin. After trestle the Light Rail is actually in the former canal bed along Branch Brook Park.

Follow Light Rail, through Newark... (or follow Lenape Trail through park and once leaving turn right an go east on Lackawanna Ave., continue east on Orange St. and turn left on 1st.) After Franklin St, S Franklin Ave. becomes N 6th St. Make left on Davenport Ave. and right on N 5th St. Make left on Berkeley Ave. and follow to end on make right onto 3rd St. At 2nd Ave. W make right and at 4th St make left. At 3rd Ave. W make right and at N. 5th St make left. At Park Ave. make left and 4th St make right and bear left onto 1st St. At Orange St (and I 280) continue on 1st St.

Make left onto exit ramp and at Sussex Ave. make left. At Duryea St. (there is a neat park here with cool exercise equipment on left) make right. At Central Ave. make left. Left at Newark St and right at New St. At Lock St make right and continue straight to Raymond Blvd. (in the bed of the old Canal). This leads to Lincoln Hwy US-1 Truck. Most of this has side walks you can use (except the beginning and end).

From US-1 Truck go south on 440 but get on the east side. Left on Clendenny Ave. and right on Bennett St. Go straight over divider onto Virgina Ave. and over another divider onto Bennett St. Right on Clark Ave. and left on Water St. From Water St. get on 440 for a block and then back on Water St. then back on 440. This leads to a sidewalk by a strip mall. and then back on 440 crossing Dandforth Ave. Here in back of Fun Chineese Buffet a dirt path (in parallel to Sullivan Dr.) which leads to McGovern Park near corner of Sycamore Rd and Briarwood Rd. Take Sycamore Rd south to left on 63rd St. At John F Kennedy Blvd make right. go under I 78. (Stopped here).

Cross John F. Kennedy Blvd and take path by wall through Mercer County Park exiting at Ruby Brown Terrace. Make a right onto Avenue C and left through parking lot (parallel to 55 St.) behind bowling alley and then a left onto Garfield Ave. (The canal makes a sharp bend known as "Fiddler's Elbow"). Make a right onto Gates Ave. and left onto Princeton Ave. Make left on Cator Av. and right back on Garfield Ave. (I am guessing but I think the canal would have been just past the cemetery on the east side. Make right onto Grand St. Make right on Monmouth St. at end make left. You now would be in canal. Follow to Jersey Ave. where the is a sign for the canal.

Cross Jersey Ave and enter parking lot (a.k.a. Regent St.). At Marian Blvd. go right to cross light rail and follow path along light rail line to Van Vorst St. Follow straight along light rail on Essex St. At the end next to Golman Sachs Tower there a beautiful artwork, a monument to the canal. Follow to Hudson river to see the front of the Colgate Clock. Notice Liberty Park to the south. Go back along Essex St. and make a left on Washington St. To the left is the Morris Canal Park which used to be a basin for the canal (there are also a few historical signs of the canal here). To the right is a bicycle path along the harbor leading back to Van Vorst St.

From starting point one can also go north from footbridge along John F. Kennedy Drive (in the bed of the canal). At James St. there is a sign saying that the bridge was once a "cross over" tow bridge. Go straight (E. Passaic Ave. (formerly Canal St)). The next cross street is Baldwin St. here marks the beginning of an incline. Go straight on E. Passaic crossing Hoover Ave. (more or less the top of the incline). You will soon pass by Old Canal Inn, Cross Garden State Pkwy, Centre St. Make a left on Pitch St., a dead end but there is a foot bridge over Pkwy. At other side there seems too be a right of way path along Pkwy., a few blocks down a ditch will appear... the remains of the canal. Keeping straight you will come upon Oak Tree Ln., follow out to make a right Broughton Ave. A right on Watchung for a block on north side one will see a sign for the canal. Here we loose the canal for a ways. Turn around and go west on Watchung Ave.

Go west on Watchung Ave., and make right at dog statue on Broad St. At light make left onto what is still Broad St. Passing ShopRite, make right onto Foster St and Left onto Merket Dr. Make slight right back onto Broad St. (On route 3 there is a sign for canal though not really pedestrian accessible). Past Route 3 there will be a quaint Morris Canal restoration with lots of ducks. Continuing on to Van Hooton Ave. there is another sign that the canal went this way. Continue under 46 to join up with Grove St where there is another sign. Continue straight to Belgrade Ave. where there is another sign that the former canal is now under 19. Continue under 19 now called Marshall St. At and before intersection of Valley Road are two dead end streets called Canal St. There is a sign here as well as a sign for the "footbridge" steps to the Canal St. from Marshall St. Soon come to I-80 go under and make left at Slater St. and then right on Mill St., then left on Grand St. going under 19 again. The former canal is under I-80 and its making its swing around Garret Mountain.

Continuing on Grand St. to New St. (Here there is an interesting detour on right (a short bike path) to Upper Raceway Park and Great Falls.) On south side of Grand St. by New St. there is a sign for the canal. Go up New St. just before bridge across I-80 there is a dirt path along former canal. Continue on Barnes St. after leaving path. of the canal. At corner of Barnes and Carlisle there is a sign that The canal was above embankment. Turn right on Carlisle Ave. and make left onto Ramsey St. (one way, wrong way). At corner of Ramsey St. and Danforth Ave. (by church) there is another sign that the canal was in-line with the shrubbery. Make a right on Danforth Ave. and left onto Nagle St. Make a left onto Glover Ave. At end of dead street there is a sign that the canal passed through here. Going down Greenway Ln. (another dead-end street) it looks like the canal crossed midway down the street.

From Greenway Ln. make a left onto Squirelwood Ave. and veer right across parking lot to W. 32 St. and make right onto Marcellus Ave. Coming out on W. 35 St, make left onto Providence Ave. At corner W.36 St, is sign that the canal passed through here on left also there is a footbridge across I-80. Make right on 36 St. and left on Newby Ave. Then follow McBride Ave. under 80 making left onto Brophy Ln. In library parking lot there is a sign that the canal was above the embankment. From library make right onto Brophy Ln. Near top of hill is are two signs that the canal passed through here. Take the remains of a tow path. This drops you off at a First Aid Squad and Rose Pl. Continuing on Mt Pleasant Ave. for one block to Neeser Ln. where a groomed tow path starts. At bridge there is an American Legion, a sign says that sand was loaded at this site. Continuing on the tow path, this lets out on a playground where there are more Canal signs. Getting back on Mt. Pleasant Ave. take left onto Browertown Road. At Mill Pond Rd. there is a sign that there was Peter Bold's Mill and a boat basin at this site. Continuing a short way up Mill Pond Rd. there is a small waterfall and pond (with a short path). Continue on Browertown Rd. and go under Route 46.

Continue on Browertown Rd. make a left on Stewart Av. There is a dirt path to the left that runs for a block and ends up at stream. Going right is a paved bicycle path which leads to Lower Notch Rd. Cross Long Hill Rd. and there is a big sign for the Morris Canal. Follow path crossing end of De Young Dr. and then crossing a gas line path. Path ends at Cedar Grove Rd. with another big sign for canal. Go left, then right on Francisco Ave. and then a quick right onto Wilmore Rd. Take to Peckman Preserve on right where bicycle path starts up again. This ends at Main St with 2 stones from a river crossing and a time capsule from 1968. Make a right on Main St. and left on Van Ness Av. Make left after American Legion parking lot on dirt path (aqueduct). Leads to corner of Maple St. and Patterson Ave. where there is another sign that the canal crossed here. Crossing Patterson Ave. and enter Morris Canal La. (parking lot). At end of trail you can see waterfall. The canal crossed where the current water pipes are.

Go back and exit trail by going up the steps and make right on Main St. At Union Av make right across Passaic River. Just after crossing second bridge make a left down a dirt path (right by Morris Canal sign). Follow this unpaved section of Morris Canal path. Cross Fern River Ave. and Willis Ave to 46. Here must turn around and exit path by making left on Willis Ave. and a left on Riverview Dr. Cross 46 and go under I-80. Make a left on West End Rd. Going to end of street, the aqueduct or former canal is fenced in so have to back up to make a left on Maltese Dr. Make a right on Taft Rd. and a left on Jackson Rd (changes name when crosses stream to Hanes Dr). Make a left on Edison Dr., canal crossing is after train track and just before light. Making a left onto trail it dead ends at stream. Coming back cross Edison Dr. and enter North Cove Park. Cross Taylor Dr and Pal Dr to renter dirt path. Coming out on emergency road and Booton Turnpike. Staying on path go straight under Route 23. Just before 2 railroad tracks there is a path to right, this is the start of the feeder canal.

From fork, take path along feeder canal. Go over train track. At Meadow Rd. take path around fence. At Ryerson Ave. there is a sign that the feeder canal crossed here and there was a Dupont Factory here during WWI. Cross Stylon Rd. and then Haul Rd. and continue on path just before second gate (after Haul Rd.) there is a path to right to Morris Ave. which turns into Linwood Av. Making a left on Newark Pompton Turnpike. Before bridge there will be signs that the Morris Canal crossed here. Turn around and make a left onto Black Oak Ridge Rd. (Here you can take Sandra Ln. to left but it will drop out back on Oak Ridge Rd). Take to Rt. 23. Follow 23 (opposing traffic past Dunkin Donuts.) to just before bridge there is a dirt path leading down. To the left is private but to the right is the old canal path through Riverside Park. Follow this to Jackson Ave. on north side there is a sign saying it was part of the Feeder Canal (water from Greenwood Lake) where there was a dam, a lock and a lock tender's house just north of sign. Not sure if any more of the feeder canal is accessible or possible to follow.

From fork go across two train tracks, coming out on from a Sushi restaurant parking lot make right on Booton Turnpike (back a block or so is a sign that the feeder canal started here and ran 6 miles) and then cross Pompton River into Morris County. Here there is Lincoln (Aqueduct) Park that Morris canal crossed here north of here. Continuing on at Branch Pl (may also be known as Spring Grove Ln) there is a a sign for Lock 14E on south of road. From here canal is on left side of road. Crossing Main St and continuing on Beaver Brook Rd (here there is a sign that the canal passed here and again at Windsor Dr.). At the Community Blood services the canal runs between parking lot and housing complex. Turn around and take Windsor Dr. at bend in road there is a dirt path leading to Utne Ct. then make right on Main St. At Plane Ct. there is a sign that Plane 10E was here. Soon after this you can see the canal crosses road at Bonnie Ln. At Barney Ln there is a plaque about the Morris canal on south side. Go straight onto Whitehall Rd. Go straight again onto Canal Rd. There is a gate where this becomes Turner Ln.

Go under gate, eventually this leads to Macculoch Dr. Midway there is a plaque for a Morris Canal restoration. Make right at Changebridge Rd. (name derived from where mules changed from one side of canal to the other). Here there is a sign that Morris Canal passed through. make left on Main Rd. On south side by 287 entrance there is a sign that the canal crossed here. Go under 287, by Valhalla Rd there is a sign that the canal crossed here (so canal is now on south side of Main Rd.). The canal again crosses Main Rd. Here there are two signs for the Plane 9E (Plane 8E to west). Main Rd turns right and and by top of plane the canal again crosses Main Rd. (so now on south side of Main Rd. again). The canal than follows Emery Ln. on right side and then to be lost in I 287. Getting back on Main Rd., make left on Vreeland Ave. and go under 287.

Make left at South Terrace and right on Beam Dr. and left on Marc Blvd. Will quickly see an empty lot on right. From lot make right onto Jinella Ct and right at Vreeland Ave. and left on Lathrop Ave. Before 202 and Washington St., there is a sign for Lock 13E with boat basin and Clark's Coal Yard. Make right on Washington St. crossing 287 again. Go straight on Main St crossing another bridge for train. Make left on Plane St. This is Plane 7E. Go through parking lot and park. This comes out at intersection of Main St. and N Main St and W Main St. (Also from the bottom of Plane St. there is an entrance to Grace Lord Park with some structures (wine cellars?, no idea) under plane and also there is a foot bridge over river).

Cross W Main St. and there is a sign for Lock 12E. Go down steps and follow river next to Booton Senior Center is a preserved tow path section, midway through there is a small monument on the street side. Follow N Main St. After a few houses the path starts up again at Griffith Park. Go down steep hill to get to far side of canal for tow path. This comes out next to a fireplace and driveway follow out. Across street there is a sign that the Lock 11E part of the tow path. An unmarked street leads to spot where you can see the stones that were part of Lock 11E. Past here you can see an abutment which was part of the mule bridge across river. Make right on Powerville Rd and just before Old Denville Rd there is a sign about abutment and Locks 9E and 10E. Make left onto Old Denville Rd. First unmarked street for summer camp, part of canal was at end of this street. At second unmarked street there are wooden train and garden store past this, just before stop sign, one can follow tow path to left to Tourne Park. One can keep going until it dead ends coming make a right onto planks to cross canal. Go straight and exit park via Tourne Park Fishing Trail. County Park.

Right turn onto what is now called Old Booton Rd. Make right onto Bush Rd. At Towpath Rd. there is a sign about Morris Canal. The Towpath Rd deadends. Back on Bush Rd, which becomes River Rd. Make at left onto Diamond Spring Rd. At Mary Ave. there is a sign about canal. About Peer's store, aqueduct across river, and Lock 8E. Mary Ave. deadends. Continue on Diamond Spring Rd., make right on Morris Ave. If you go a short ways up Cedar Lake Rd. there is a sign that the canal passed here. Later canal crosses Morris Ave. there is a dirt road leading to church, exit on far side of church back onto Morris Ave. Make a left onto Savage Rd. where there is a sign, right onto Katherine St where the canal goes under I-80. Make right on George St., right on Harriman Ave. and left back on Morris Ave. Continue to end and make left on Green Pond Rd. to cross I-80.

[stopped here Exit 37] Will try Stickle (off of Hibernia Ave. and Elm St.) to pick up canal again (Vanderhoof Ave. did not work out). Stickle Ave. to Cobb St. to Garden Ave. to Union St. to Church St. to Haisley Ave? Follow Church St., left on Wall St. and then left on W. Main St. From here it seems hard to tell for miles until Hugh Force Park in Wharton and then later Route 46 (close to I 80) Morris Canal Park.