Slack Water Tide Centerton Bridge, NJ Main Stream, Rancocas Creek

RANCOCAS CREEK

Slack Water TideCenterton Bridge, NJ

Main Stream , Rancocas Creek

Eco - Tour Water TrailPaddle Guide

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Rancocas Creek

Rancocas Paddle Guide

“Let Us Begin this Descriptive Tour of the Rancocas Creek, as both Shores will be under our

eyes at once” 1893

NJ’s Blueway’s Paddling Trails Model

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Water Trails Are Greenways w/ Specific Access Points

and other recreation opportunities.

Goal: Build a broad understanding of paddle

trails and economic benefit to the community to which

a paddle trail passes.

Understanding

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Map of Rancocas CreekCaptain J. Wald - 1776

Mt. Holly

1776 Site of McIlvaine Farm

Site of Present Day – Westampton’s - Nature Center

Rancocas Paddle Guide

Riverside

Understanding

Pine St.Mt. Holly, NJ

RT. 38Mt. Holly, NJ RT. 38

Mt. Holly, NJ

Iron Works ParkMt. Holly, NJ

Pine St.Mt. Holly, NJ

To Rt. 38

Off-Load Areas

Rancocas Paddle Guide

North Branch Sailing Shallop1700’s

Jug-Handle

Rt. 206Vincentown

Diner

Rancocas Creek

Rancocas Creek

Rancocas Creek

Iron Works ParkMt. Holly, NJ

1) Paddling Trail is a Greenway that serves to

attract visitors and acts as destination for

environmental, cultural and historical attractions.

Put-In Location

Put-In Location

Destinations

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Iron Works ParkMt. Holly, NJ

Put-In Parking

General Parking

Exposed at Low Tide

Mt. HollyLeaving Kayak Launch on High Tide

Mt. Holly has a 4 to 6 Foot Tide

Launch

DownstreamTimbucto

WestamptonState Park

Nature CenterCounty Parks

Open River Tidal Paddle Take-OutRancocas Paddle Guide

Destinations

7Mt. Holly, Shallow Drafting River Sailing Scow

Late 1800’s

Mt. Holly’s Rancocas Creek Maritime History

1870’s Boat Hook from the Tug Minerva

Courtesy of Mt. Holly Library

Rancocas Paddle Guide

2) Paddle Trail Brings New Visitor Spending That

Benefits Local Economies

Destinations

Mt. HollyIron Works Park

Start of Paddle Trail

Timbuctoo Point

Tidal Marsh

Grist Mill Revolutionary War Site

Rancocas State Park

Nature Center

Confluence of North and South Branch

Long Bridge County Park

WESTAMPTON, NJ

Rancocas Village

Destinations

<<< Trail

Woodland ViewsRancocas State Park

Rancocas Creek EntryRancocas State Park

State Park Beaver Lodge

Long Bridge County Park Landing

Rancocas Paddle Guide

Destinations

Atlantic Coastal Plain Fresh & Oligohaline

Tidal Marshes

Westampton’s Historic Timbuctoo,

Marsh Ecology

Marsh Environment and Eco-Systems

Courtesy of Nature Center

Wall Mural

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Rancocas Paddle Guide

Destinations

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High Tide

Nature Center Landing

Trail Marker #19

Rancocas Paddle Guide

Which One Doesn’t Belong ?

Destinations

North Branch Rancocas Creek

Ecology

Old Grist Mill Revolutionary War Site

Tidal Marsh

Rancocas Paddle Guide12

Cedar Swamp Run

Creek Side Nature Center Landing

Destinations

13Rancocas Paddle Guide

Cedar Swamp Run Westampton

3) Paddling Trail Fosters “Regional Destination

Tourism”, “Stewardship” & Creates

“Expanded Visitor Appeal”

Appeal

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Early FallBeech Beach

Rancocas State ParkRancocas Paddle Guide

Appeal

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Investment in a Regional Paddle Trail and Supporting Visitor Services

Confluence Sand-Bar

“Lost” on a Lazy Day

Rancocas Paddle Guide

4) Paddle Trails Catalyze Partnerships, Collaboration and

Cooperation

Collaboration

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Confluence of the South and North Branch Rancocas Creek

South Branch of the Rancocas Creek

Access to Hainesport and Lumberton

North Branch of the Rancocas Creek

Access to Mt. Holly and Westampton

Centerton Bridge

Rancocas Paddle Guide

Support

Open Tidal Water Paddling

Collaboration

171717-23

Safety Issues for Tidal Paddlers

• Be Alert for Other Boats and Ships, especially on the Delaware River.• The Lower Rancocas is home to fast moving jet-skis and rapid fast boats. Stay Clear of

Such Vessels. Paddle in the near-shore tidal zone.• Ships, Boats and Tugs Generate large and at time dangerous wakes. • Be aware of the changing tide. The tide reverses its flow direction four times a day.• Kayakers on the Tidal Delaware Should be Experienced. Open canoes without flotation

are not recommended.• Do not paddle or boat alone. Stay visible to other boaters. Be alert for things behind

you.• Watch for floating debris, Especially after up-river and local rain storms.• Much of the river is urbanized. Piers and river traffic present obstacles.• Be prepared for changes in climate, wind forces, tidal currents, and other natural

hazards whose risks are mitigated by your action and preparation.• Stay clear of river oriented security risk areas. Be able to communicate w/ others while

paddling. Rancocas Paddle Guide

SupportCollaboration

DOWNSTREAM OF CENTERTON BRIDGE OPEN TIDAL WATER PADDLING

Centerton Bridge

Bridgeboro Narrows

Confluence

Rancocas Paddle Guide

Support

Open Tidal Water Paddling

Collaboration

Confluence

Section 1: Centerton Bridge

Section 2: Willingboro

Mill Creek

Park

Open Tidal Water PaddleHAS

Increased Hazards and Risks

Rancocas Paddle Guide

Support

Open Tidal Water Paddling

Collaboration

Burlington County’s “Blueway “ Paddling Trail

Mill CreekEcology

Creek Side Agriculture

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SupportCollaboration

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Willingboro

1930State of NJ Aerial Survey

Westampton/Rancocas/Willingboro

Rancocas

Westampton

Burlington

Charleston Mill Creek

Willingboro

Rancocas Creek

Westampton

State Park

SupportCollaboration

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Route 130

Section 3:Bridgeboro Narrows

Warning

Rapid, Fast Tidal – Currents

Mill Creek Park

Open Tidal Water Paddling

Rancocas Paddle Guide

SupportCollaboration

Details of Bridgeboro Narrows

Rt. 130

Willingboro

Bridgeboro

BridgeboroBridge

RAPID, FAST CURRENTS

Above , Under and Past Bridge

Open Tidal Water Paddling

Rancocas Paddle Guide

Fenton Island

SupportCollaboration

24Rancocas Paddle Guide

Down CreekLanding Basin

5) Paddling Trail Encourages Local Entrepreneurship

Take-Out Lightning Jack’s Marina, Riverside NJ

4 Hours from Mt. Holly’s Iron Work’s Park Put-In Location

Commerce

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Section 4:

Lower Section of the Rancocas Creek

Take-Out Location

State HighwayRoute 130

Willingboro

Recommended Take-Out

Lightning Jack’s Marina

Open Tidal Water Paddling

Page 25

Hawk Island

Rancocas Paddle Guide

Bridgeboro Road

Laycock

Street<<< O

ne Mile >>>

Amico Island Burlington County

Park

Bridgeboro

Commerce

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Lightning Jack’s Marina

Laycock Street

Lightning Jack’s Driveway

Daily and Season Pass Ramp Fee’s

Waterfront RestaurantRepair and Storage Facilities

On-Site Parking

Lightning Jack’s

Amico Island Burlington County

Park

Office

Restaurant

Ramp

Delawar

e Rive

r

Rancocas Paddle Guide

Commerce

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Amico Island Burlington County

Park

Lightning Jack’s

Pennsylvania

New Jersey

Delaware River

Emergency Landing Only

Rancocas Paddle Guide

Low Tide-Mud Flat

Commerce

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Paddle

Paddle

Paddle

2 to 3 Hours R/TPaddle Time

Paddle

No Creek Access

No Waterfront

Access

Lightning Jacks >>>>

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From the North Overlook

Rancocas Creek on the Delaware River Convergence

Burlington County’s, Amico Island Park

Pennsylvania

Hawk IslandNJ

Ranco

cas

CreekDelaware River

Riversi

de, NJ

6) Paddle Trail Connects, Engages and Cultivates a Community Sense of Pride and Well-Being

Amico Island ParkDelaware River

Cinnaminson, NJ

Rancocas Creek

“Blueway”

Trail

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Rancocas Paddle Guide