Raritan, S. Branch,

Hoffman's Bridge to unnamed bridge at Readingsburg (Ken Lockwood Gorge)

Bony day

Bony day
Photo of Denny Kortze by Stephen Strange @ 6.7'

Gauge Information

River Description

Stephen Strange contributes:
The South Branch of the Raritan River's "Ken Lockwood Gorge Wildlife Management Area" is one of the classic class III runs in NJ (if there is such a thing). There is a gravel road which runs along the river from Hoffman's Crossing to the Cokesbury Rd. Bridge on river left. The gorge has about 3 miles of class III mixed boulder garden and ledge rapids.
It's a perfect training run for intermediate boaters.
I always put in at the gravel parking spot at the begining of the Wildlife management area, not Hoffman's bridge, but either is an option.
There are also two take-out options. There is a fishing club which owns a lot of land around the lower half of the gorge; there is even a sign strung at about head height on a cable about .5 mi above the lower bridge. To avoid a conflict, I always take out either at the end of the second island where there is narrow gravel shoulder along the road, or down at the USGS gauge about .25 mi downstream of the Cokesbury Rd. bridge. If you take out at the island, you're not missing much in the way of rapids.
One last thing: the gravel road can become very icy in the winter and there is no rail, so be careful. Run your shuttle up Hoffman's Crossing, across Mt. Grove and down Cokesbury Rd., if there is a question.

Updates:

Ran it on Sunday 10/9/2005. 8'2" on the station gauge, a nice level. No major strainers to report, except the usual river-wide before the first island. (Take this on the right, but then eddy left behind the big rock, and then run the chute on the left side of the island for the most excitement. This is easy to scout, too; just pull out when you see the strainer, and walk down the road.) The drop on the right side of the second island is clear. This one is tough to scout, so look for log piles on the right and center about two miles into the run, just after passing a curve to the left (train-wreck bend) with a sign board on the bank. Run between the log piles around the right side of the island. Great level for side surfing the lower ledges. Some small side strainers here and there, but mostly clear. Have fun! Eric T.

Looked at it on Saturday 10/15/2005 with 7'3" on the guage. It looked like a bony ride from the Cokesbury Bridge, so we didn't paddle it. I would say pass on it at this level and below.

04/03/2009: Hopefully we'll get some good days in the Lockwood Gorge this season. Thanks, Mike, for the strainer work and update (see comments section).