The first Saturday of every June is designated National Trails Day (NTD) in the United States. On this day, more than a million hikers, bikers, runners, equestrians, and other trail enthusiasts participate in thousands of events nationwide to celebrate America’s trails. National Trails Day aims to promote public awareness and appreciation of the country's trails while encouraging cooperation among diverse trail users, including hikers, bicyclists, equestrians, walkers, and runners. The Annual D&R Canal Tow Path “Train”ing Run is a special celebration of the Delaware & Raritan Canal Towpath, a section of the East Coast Greenway, that we use every Saturday of the year. 

As in previous years, a few dedicated runners will gather in Johnson Park before 4 AM to be driven to Trenton for a 34.6-mile run back to Johnson Park. This run will take some participants over 7 hours, and along the way, nearly 200 other runners will join them. If you've never started this event in Trenton, you really should try it. Despite the towpath being overgrown with weeds in some areas, there is a peacefulness about it.

If you can make it the 14 miles to Rocky Hill, you'll meet the runners who “only” want to run 20.5 miles. If you can’t make it to Rocky Hill, we'll pick you up and transport you back to Johnson Park. Regardless of your pace or distance, the key is participation. Bus service is provided to all points on the towpath (see “train stops” below). This non-competitive event encourages camaraderie and fun, whether you challenge yourself with a long run or prefer a shorter distance from DeMott Lane. Participation is what truly matters.

RVRR makes a per mile donation to the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey for every mile we run or walk. The more you run or walk, the bigger the donation!! Our Frequent “Train”ing Program rewards runners who complete milestones of 100, 200, 300 miles, and so on, with a commemorative mug. Those who conquer the full 34.6 miles from Trenton receive a special memento to celebrate their achievement. 

Post-run, join us for a fabulous picnic with a variety of hot and cold food, and ice-cold drinks. If you have friends, neighbors, or coworkers interested in RVRR, this is the perfect time for them to join. Whether they run a 12-minute pace or walk-run a 15-minute pace, we’ll get them out on the trail. If running isn't for them, we welcome volunteers to support the runners along the towpath. The towpath is a valuable resource with a rich history, and our goal is to leave it cleaner than we found it. 

See you June 7, 2025!  

For more info Contact Ray D & R Canal links: D & R Canal Page Directions – Johnson Park in Piscataway. To get to the park, take River Road north, into Piscataway, from Highland Park. At the 3rd traffic light, make a left. Alternatively, take Easton Avenue from Somerset going south or New Brunswick going north; Landing Lane intersects Easton Avenue at Franklin Blvd. At crosswalk, make right turn to Grove 4 If you wish to take Route 18 north, go over the bridge over the Raritan River, exit onto River Road and turn right; turn left at the next traffic light onto Landing Lane, and make the first left into Johnson Park . We meet in Grove 4 in Johnson Park.