Walking the Abbott Marshlands

Sponsored by D&R Greenway Land Trust

• Location: New Jersey
• Travel Type: Walking
• Tour Duration: 2 hours
• Language:

Welcome to the Abbott Marshlands, Central New Jersey's premier destination for 13,000 years. Once home to Native Americans, colonists, and royalty, it is a site steeped in history and etched with the lore of those who came before us – a land where wildlife and people flourish side by side.

D&R Greenway Land Trust is proud to present this walking tour of the Abbott Marshlands' scenic waterways. The Abbott Marshlands are 3,000 acres of open space and bodies of water tucked between the Delaware River, Trenton, Hamilton Township, and Bordentown Township.

The Atlantic Ocean tidal freshwater marshes found along Crosswicks Creek and Watson's Creek are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, rivaling tropical rainforests in the amount of plant production each year. This marsh hosts an abundance of plant and animal life, as well as a rich history of human inhabitance.

On the paddling and walking tours, you will pass by the historic D&R Canal, the site of Joseph Bonaparte's Point Breeze Estate, and bluffs that have sustained human life for 13,000 years. You will hear about the archeology, one of the most important excavations in New Jersey. As you hike, listen for the train at Crosswicks Creek and learn the history of this railroad inspired by the American Revolution and General George Washington.

The diverse habitats of the Abbott Marshlands are critical environments where you can encounter more than 730 species of plants, 234 species of birds, and many fishes, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and insect species. Keep your eyes peeled for sunning turtles, swooping bald eagles, nest sites, and swaying stems of wild rice.

The marsh has an immense tidal range of 9 feet, so make sure to check the tide charts before heading out on your journey!

Tour Sponsors
D&R Greenway's mission is to preserve and care for land and inspire a conservation ethic, now and for the future. D&R Greenway has worked tirelessly with state and local partners since the 1990s to preserve nearly 200 acres of naturally and culturally critical land in the Abbott Marshlands.

This tour was made possible by funding from the William Penn Foundation and is narrated by local experts Linda Mead, Kelly Rypkema, Mike MacEwan, and Gregory Lattanzi.

Find More Tours Near You
If you enjoy this tour, check out TravelStorys and D&R Greenway’s other New Jersey tours:

• Paddling the Abbott Marshlands
• St. Michael's Farm Preserve
• Healing Trails
• Women in Conservation

To find more tours wherever your travels may take you visit TravelStorys.com. Every place has a story.