
The Bordentown Bluffs Trail is located along a natural wooded bluff overlooking Crosswicks Creek and the Abbott Marshlands. It is part of the D&R Canal State Park.
The bluffs are a prime location for sighting red-tailed hawks and eagles. The New Jersey Audubon Society classifies the Abbott Marshlands as a Very Important Bird and Birding Area. Along the trail look for the evergreen leaves of mountain laurel and rhododendron. Scenic overlooks can be found at several locations with views of Crosswicks Creek and tidal freshwater wetlands.
The path along the bluff edge was surely first walked by Native Americans. Other parts of the trail are remnants of carriage roads. This area was once part of Joseph Bonaparte’s 2,000-acre Point Breeze estate. Bonaparte, the exiled King of Spain and Naples, was the elder brother of the French emperor Napoleon. He lived in a mansion near here from 1816 to 1839.
Hints for Walking the Trail
The unpaved trail is of low to moderate difficulty with one steep but short section. Plan at least an hour for the 1.5-mile roundtrip. There are two spurs to marsh overlooks.