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Canoeing & Kayaking

  
Lake Carnegie, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
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Our Route Summary

  • Submitted by: Ron at Paint Island Canoe & Kayak, Bordentown, NJ 08505 609-324-8200 Riverpaddle@aol.com
  • Date Submitted: 7/2001
  • Location: Princeton, New Jersey
  • Class: typically flatwater lake
  • Distance Paddled: Paddle as much as you want on the 4 miles long lake.
  • Water Level: typically not affected too much by low water drought conditions elsewhere
  • Water: fresh
  • Wildlife: geese and other birds
  • Special Regulations: crew teams have the right of way, no swimming, no gas powered private boats, no fishing from bridges, no littering.

Entry/Exit - Route 27 (Lincoln Highway)

  • Directions: Take Route 27 about 1/4 mile southwest of where it crosses the northern end of the lake and river. Enter the parking area on the southeast side of the road (the lake side). The floating dock is near the south end of the parking area.
  • Fee: none
  • Description: floating dock
  • Parking: adjacent unpaved
  • Facilities: none
  • Handicap Access: none

Entry/Exit - Faculty Road

  • Directions: Take Faculty Road northeast of Washington Road about 200 yards. Enter the small parking area on the southeast side (the lake side)
  • Fee: none
  • Description: gravel ramp
  • Parking: adjacent paved
  • Facilities: none
  • Handicap Access: gravel ramp

Entry/Exit - Alexander Road

  • Directions: From Route 1, take Alexander Road west about 0.7 mile to the park entrance on the south side between the Lake Carnegie bridge and the Delaware and Raritan Canal Bridge just north of Canal Road. A put in to the Delaware and Raritan Canal is on the southeast side of this park.
  • Fee: none
  • Description: boarded bank at the bottom of steep steps. This is a very difficult entry and exit for a canoe or kayak
  • Parking: unpaved nearby
  • Facilities: restroom, and picnic area, playground, trail along canal
  • Handicap Access: none

What We Saw

Princeton crew has a tradition of rowing excellence reflected in it's multi-million dollar boathouse shown above. Lake Carnegie is further evidence of the historical commitment to Princeton rowing teams as it was made and donated to the university long ago specifically to provide an excellent rowing site.

From the narrow channel at the south end of the lake shown at right at Alexander Road, the lake widens to the long, but not too wide proportions that are nearly ideal for competitive rowing.
The lake is a relaxing place to paddle or fish.

We walked to the Princeton crew boathouse just south of Washington Road from the Faculty Road entry/exit..

The narrow channel leading south of Alexander Road is supposed to lead to a nature area, but we didn't get a chance to paddle that area.

Paddlers should stay well out of the path of rowing shells on that lake as these long, sleek boats move fast and do not turn easily.