South Branch of the Raritan River
Clinton to Junction of N-S Branches
UTM Coordinates and Topographic Map Sections
(updated October 2005)
Here is a list of Topozone URLs that pinpoint some commonly used accesses on the South Branch of the Raritan. For GPS users this arrangement is very useful, because the URL address itself contains the pertinent UTM coordinates. You can simply transcribe them into your own database…. Using Clinton Mill Pond as an example, the address breaks down as follows:
Z=18 -- UTM zones are 6 degree wide blocks starting at 180 degrees ( Int'l Date line) and going eastward. NJ is entirely in Zone 18.
N=4498360 --is the Northing distance, in meters, from a reference line in the Southern Hemisphere.
E=507462 -- is the Easting distance, also in meters, from the western boundary of the UTM zone.
S=25 -- is the size of the quadrangle that this location will be marked on and sent to your computer. 25 means 1:24,000, which is the resolution of the usual quad topo map. It can also be in less detailed formats that cover a wider range, such as 1:50,000, 1:100,000, or 1:200,000. These are useful for showing travel routes….
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Clinton Millpond
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4498360&e=507462&s=25
This is where we gather for the summer meetings and ice cream frolics.
Former Krauszer's Access
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4498020&e=507487&s=25
No longer used since parking area was fenced off.
Leigh Avenue Cul-de-Sac access
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4497888&e=507594&s=25
Sometimes still used but has a difficult shlep from the cul-de-sac to the river and parking is limited. Park by the school, about _ mile away.
Treatment Plant putin
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4497236&e=507393&s=25
This is newly utilized putin, just above the treatment plant. It is usually easy to put boats in the water,
with plenty of parking. It also lets us skip that gravelly bit just below I-78.
Lake and Strainer Hazard
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4496550&e=507533&s=25
Not an access point, but the head end of a large pond suitable for instruction. Be cautious on the last bit of river before you hit the lake. The current makes a sharp rightward sweep straight into the bank and there’s a tree trunk in exactly the wrong spot.
Hamden Fishing Access
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4495083&e=507931&s=25
This is a steeply sloped access with limited parking, a favorite spot for fishermen.
Caution: Be sure to park completely off the road in the graveled area. Otherwise you will almost certainly be ticketed.
Pumping Station Portage
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4494758&e=508195&s=25
At low water levels, this is NJ's shortest portage -- 10 inches.
Otherwise if you see water pouring over that little dam, shlep through the fields on the marked trail.
Old Hamden Road Access
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4494596&e=508252&s=25
Sometimes used for a short trip. Homeowner across the way not thrilled with overuse.
The bridge here is destroyed and likely will never be rebuilt.
There is an old staff gage here, but it is now above the water.
(Fall 2004 -- Hunterdon County Parks has installed a footbridge here as part of their river trail).
Camp Carr
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4493955&e=508033&s=25
In wintertime (when the camp is closed) a resting stop and access --
parking area eastward about 120 yards. Scenic Bluffs on river right. .
Sunnyside Lunch Stop
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4491768&e=509666&s=25
In Sunnyside Park, a short distance below a bridge. Charcoal grilles and picnic tables here plus an easy parking spot for boats makes this a popular stop.
HCPS has planted trees here as a memorial to local 9/11 victims
Stanton Station Access
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4491081&e=511169&s=25
Just below the bridge on River Right. An internet accessible gage is located here which gives the best general indication of paddleable levels for this stretch of river. Gauge reading should be over 2.5 ft for a good run.
Runnable at 2.4 but scratchy. It’s a small, very muddy and steep access, often used by a canoe livery. Parking for about 8 cars.
Rowlands Mill Fishing Access
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4490238&e=512164&s=25
As seen from Rte 31, space for many cars to park. Seen from the river, it’s a very steep drag up a 20 ft bank.
Used in colder weather as a contingency takeout.
NOTE accessible from Rte 31 Southbound Only.
Packer's Island Broken Dam site
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4488800&e=512359&s=25
Not an access, but once was a nice little playspot. Over the years, erosion and riverbed shifts have slowly changed this place. It is just upstream of the Rte. 31 bridge and will likely be a messy spot for a few years while construction of a new bridge takes place.
Lipton Tea Ball
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4487301&e=513574&s=25
It's now a misnomer, since Lipton closed the plant and sold it. Still, the water tower is a notable landmark. It’s sometimes a muddy bank to step out on, and always a steep 12 foot bank to scramble up but there’s plenty of parking. On occasion we have used the Darts Mill Campground site on river right at the bridge (parking $5 or so), but it is not always available.
Holcombe's Mill Dam
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4485830&e=513941&s=25
A dam across the river. Can be portaged down its face at the lower edge right of center where the
wall has a shallow slope. If sufficient water present, can be run on extreme right. Some paddlers have also run it in the left center chute but it's rocky.
Red Rock Lake Access on South Branch
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4485381&e=514614&s=25
Not often used since it is mainly a fishing access, but it has good parking. Quiet pool of water.
Access at Rockafellow’s Mill Dam
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4485325&e=515209&s=25
Good access to the river downstream of here, but with limited roadside parking.
Just below the dam, it is a popular fishing site. From above dam portage on river left.
Three Bridges Access
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4484908&e=516697&s=25
This is a County Park access about a mile below Rte 202. Good parking along the wide shoulders of the road, and a wide beach to launch from. A popular fishing access site, and an area often used during the week by school groups.
Broken Dam at Neshanic Station
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4483974&e=523118&s=25
It’s the last hazard on the South Branch; a broken dam, easily visible. Stop at the broad beach on river left just above it for a leg stretch, scout, or lunch. Portage on river left if you wish to, otherwise usually runnable. It is possible to take out on river right just before the White steel bridge, but recently Hillsborough Twp has posted it as "No Parking", perhaps because of the flea market weekend activity in Neshanic Station…
During the week it seems OK to ignore the signs -- fishermen also do so with impunity.
Former takeout at Opie Road in Hillsboro
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4485924&e=524957&s=25
We used this in the past, but there is now a farmstand where we used to park. In emergencies, take out downstream river right of bridge, but it’s steep and there’s very limited parking.
Takeout at Junction of N & S Branches of the Raritan River
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4489348&e=526344&s=25
Known historically as "Tucca-Rama-Hacking", it was not just a joining of rivers but a place of meeting for native american bands trekking between the Delaware and the Jersey Shore… Actually you are now on the last piece of the North Branch of the Raritan. There is a dirt road access to the river to pick up your boat on the west side of the river just before the bridge. There is good parking across the road for many cars.