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Trail Status Key

  • Complete, open and improved
  • Obstruction within trail section, see description
  • Planned Future linkage and trail development
  • Unimproved open, travel at your own risk

Towns

Things to Do

Trail Section: New Hope – Washington Crossing (Upper)

Status: Obstruction within trail section, see description

Distance: 2.1

UPDATE 3/5/2024 TOWPATH AND BRIDGE CLOSURE (MM 24) The towpath and bridge over the inlet gate at the southern end of the River House at Odette’s (MM 24) is CLOSED to all pedestrian traffic starting March 5, 2024 until further notice due to storm damage. The purpose of this closure is for PUBLIC SAFETY. Trail users should obey posted signage and NOT attempt to get by the closure.

UPDATE 10/23/2023 BRIDGE ADVISORY (MILE 23.8) Upper Union Mills Bridge in New Hope will incur short-term closures due to construction. The Towpath will remain OPEN, but trail users should use caution and be aware of short-term closures. This advisory is posted until further notice.

UPDATE 10/12/2023: Water in the Delaware Canal will be drawn down beginning on October 13, 2023 from New Hope through Bristol to perform debris removal and other work associated with the 7/15 storm event. Work will take place at multiple locations and rolling trail closures can be expected. When work is complete, water will be reintroduced. Please contact the Delaware Canal State Park for more information at 610-982-5560 or [email protected]

In order to continue towards Bristol (south) on the D&L Trail from downtown New Hope, continue past the historic locktender’s house, dismount bicycles, and go straight to descend the stairs toward Main Street (Route 32). At the bottom of the stairs cross Main Street (Route 32) and head south along the sidewalk away from the downtown for about 300 feet. Enter the alley to the left and continue south. Continue south parallel to the canal along the towpath turn left across the canal bridge and continue south along the D&L Trail. In the Wilkes-Barre (northbound) direction from the end of the canal you turn left across the bridge and then turn right and head north through the alley to Main St. (Route 32). Safely cross the street and continue north on the sidewalk until you veer left and go up the stairs to the lock tenders house and back on the towpath.

This section of the D&L Trail connects the town of New Hope with Washington Crossing Historic Park (Upper Park).  New Hope offers restaurants, shopping and B&B accommodations. Further south at the next trailhead, users can visit the upper part of Washington Crossing Historic Park including Thompson-Neely Homestead and Bowman’s Hill Tower. Near Bowman’s Hill Tower is Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, a non-profit that showcases a diverse collection of native plants on 100 acres of fenced forest with 2.5 miles of hiking trails. This section is part of over 50 miles of the D&L Trail designated as National Recreation Trail within Delaware Canal State Park from Easton to Bristol near Philadelphia. For more information specific to the D&L Trail along the Delaware Canal please refer to the Delaware Canal State Park and Friends of the Delaware Canal websites.

Download a PDF map of this section

Things to Do

1

Bowman’s Hill Tower

Rising 125 feet in the air atop Bowman’s Hill and offering a 14-mile view on a clear day, Bowman’s Hill Tower is a favorite stop for locals and tourists alike. The Tower is located near the corner of Rt. 32... More

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2

Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve

Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve showcases an extraordinary diversity of plants native to Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley region. The Preserve focuses exclusively on native plants, as distinguished from botanical gardens that may include natives in their collections. The Preserve cares... More

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3

Bucks County Children’s Museum

The Bucks County Children’s Museum is a fun, interactive and educational environment for children, parents and schools with exhibits that reflects Bucks County’s unique history and culture. It is guided by three core principles, which are: Curiosity and imagination are the... More

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4

Delaware Canal State Park

The Delaware Canal is the only remaining continuously intact canal of the great towpath canal building era of the early and mid-19th century. Mule- drawn canal boat rides and the Lock Tender’s House Visitor Center are at New Hope. Paralleling... More

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5

Fonthill Castle

The concrete castle boasts 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces and more than 200 windows of varying sizes and shapes. The interior walls, floors and ceilings are elaborately adorned with an incredible array of Mercer’s original handcrafted tiles. Mercer incorporated his own... More

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6

Friends of the Delaware Canal – Locktender’s House

The Friends of the Delaware Canal is an independent, non-profit organization working to restore, preserve, and improve the Delaware Canal and its surroundings. Their primary goals are to ensure that the Canal is fully watered and the towpath trail is... More

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7

Honey Hollow Environmental Education Center

Bucks County Audubon Society (BCAS) operates the Honey Hollow Environmental Education Center on 110 acres in Solebury Township, Bucks County. Environmental Education programs are offered for children, adults and families, and special programs are available for school and other groups. Workshops,... More

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8

Parry Mansion & New Hope Historical Society

Since its founding in 1958, the New Hope Historical Society has made a significant progress preserving historical and cultural aspects of New Hope. Efforts that began with the Parry Barn and the Parry Mansion Museum continue to go forward. The... More

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9

Washington Crossing Historic Park

At Washington Crossing Historic Park, George Washington led his ragged troops cross the ice-choked Delaware River and assaulted the unsuspecting Hessians at Trenton. His victory bolstered sagging morale, changing the course of the American Revolution. The site of the crossing... More

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