Park Overview
Washington Crossing State Park is the site of General George Washington’s historic 1776 Christmas night crossing of the icy Delaware River. For almost ten hours, boats and ferries moved continuously back and forth carrying men, horses and cannon to the Jersey side. By midnight a strong storm had developed, hurling sleet, hail and snow at the rebel army. Landing at Johnson’s Ferry, the Continental Army still faced an arduous nine mile march to Trenton as the storm continued with a vengeance. Reaching Trenton in the early morning of December 26th, the American Army surrounded, defeated and captured over 900 Hessian mercenaries and secured a morale boosting victory of immeasurable proportions.
Visitors Center Museum
The Washington Crossing Visitor Center Museum contains the Swan Historical Foundation’s collection featuring over 500 artifacts from the American Revolution. The museum has two galleries, one focusing on New Jersey’s role in the Revolution and the other discussing “The Ten Crucial Days” surrounding Washington’s Crossing and the Battles of Trenton and Princeton. The NJN produced film “The Ten Crucial Days: The Road to Liberty” can be viewed in the auditorium.
Visitor Center Museum Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed State Holidays except Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor day
Contact Information: Phone: 609-737-0623.
Johnson Ferry House
This circa-1740, gambrel-roof farmhouse and tavern near the Delaware River was built by Garret Johnson on his 490-acre tract. James Slack operated the ferry service in 1776. In addition to using the ferry service, General Washington and other officers probably used the house at the time of the Christmas night crossing of the Delaware. The keeping room, parlor, pantry and bedchambers are furnished with local period pieces and reproductions similar to the furniture used by the Johnson and Slack families from 1740 to 1780. The site also includes an 18th-century kitchen garden. Living history demonstrations are frequently held on weekends.
Johnson Ferry House Hours: Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed Sunday – Wednesday.
Contact Information: 609-737-2515.
For more information visit Johnson Ferry House web page.
Nature Interpretive Center
The Nature Interpretive Center supports the longest running year-round natural history interpretive program in New Jersey’s State Park System. The building houses a collection of live and preserved wildlife specimens, nature dioramas, light board identification games, a computer learning station, nature charts, and books.
Trails leading from the nature interpretive center take visitors through a mature mixed oak-hardwood forest, young woodlands and successional fields. A nature blind offers quiet observation of birds, deer and other mammals. The natural area supports the spring avens, a rare woodland herb of the rose family.
Nature interpretive programs are offered to schools, scouts, home school groups, camps, community groups as well as to families and individuals on a variety of natural history topics.
Nature Center Hours: Variable. Usually open Saturday and Sunday, 10 am - noon and 1 pm - 3 pm. Closed Monday – Friday.
Contact Information: 609-737-0609.
Trails & Recreation
Trail Maps
Download full park trail maps here and here. Download the Rachel Horne Trail Guide here.
Cross-Country Skiing
During the winter months, when weather conditions are favorable, cross-country skiing is permitted on the 13 miles of ungroomed trails.
Hiking
The park has 13 miles of trails for hiking. Walking and jogging are very popular in the park throughout the year.
Horseback Riding
Two and a half miles of trails are available for equestrian use in the Phillips Farm day use area. The Phillips Farm parking area is designated for horse trailers. There are no horse rental facilities in the park.
Mountain Biking
Five miles of trails in the Phillips Farm day use area are available for mountain bike use.
Snowshoeing
The park offers 13 miles of trails that can be used during the winter months for snowshoeing.
Trails
There are 13 miles of moderate trails to enjoy throughout Washington Crossing State Park. These trails are not ADA accessible.
Observatory
Located within the park, on the same road as the Nature Interpretive Center, the John W. H. Simpson Observatory is operated by the Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton, Inc. The Observatory is open Friday nights, April through October from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. To find about attending a Friday night session or for more information about the Association, call 609-737-2575.
Group campsites:
Four group campsites are located in the Phillips Farm area of the park. Each site contains picnic tables, fire rings and a composting toilet. These are designated as primitive campsites with no water or electric utilities available on site. Total combined capacity of all four sites: 115. We highly recommend that group leaders carefully estimate their group size so not to overestimate, as refunds are not possible. Online reservations can be made at www.camping.nj.gov.
Picnicking:
The Park has two picnic areas with tables and grills located at Knox Grove and Sullivan Grove. These facilities are ideal for family and small group picnics. The Knox Grove picnic area also includes playground equipment. Charcoal fires must be confined in metal grills provided onsite or brought in by the picnicker.
The park offers a group picnic area at Greene Grove for larger groups by reservation. It can accommodate 125 people and includes restrooms, a shelter, playfields and playground equipment. Open from April 1st - October 31.
Groups of 20 or more people shall reserve picnic facilities at least five days in advance. Such group use is not permitted on holidays except as authorized by the superintendent. Reservations can be made over the telephone using a credit card or by mail using the group picnic reservation form.
Fishing & Hunting
Fishing
Fishing is permitted in the Delaware River and the Delaware and Raritan Canal subject to New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife laws. Various species of fish are found in the river including bass, shad, catfish and several different types of panfish. The Delaware and Raritan Canal is stocked with trout by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife during the spring months.
Hunting
Bow hunting is permitted in designated areas on a seasonal basis through annual registration in the park’s deer management program and is subject to regulations of the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Rules & Regulations:
All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)
Recreational use of ATVs is not permitted on NJ State Park Service property. This includes state parks, forests, recreation areas, golf courses, marinas, natural areas, historic sites, and preserves. Thank you for your help in protecting New Jersey’s natural and historic resources. [N.J.A.C. 7:2-3.4(d)]
Smoking
State law prohibits the smoking of tobacco and use of electronic smoking (vaping) devices in all state parks, forests, historic sites, recreation areas, golf courses and marinas. [N.J.P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-56)]
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in state parks, forests, recreation areas, golf courses, marinas, natural areas, historic sites, and preserves. [N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.6 ]
Keep Your Park Clean and Green
Protect plants and animals and care for your parks by taking your trash with you. Whatever you carry into the park, plan on carrying it out too. It’s like crowdsourcing trash management! Bring a bag or two for trash, recycling and cleaning up after your pet. There are no trash receptacles in this park. Thank you!
Swimming
No swimming.
Pets
Pets must always be on a leash no longer than six feet in length and under the control of the owner. Please clean up after yourpets.
Tick Protection
Use insect repellent, wear light-colored clothing, tuck pants into socks, stay on trails, check yourself when you get home, shower and wash clothes immediately.
Be Bear Aware
Black bears are found throughout New Jersey. Do not approachor attract bears by making food available. Feeding bears is dangero us and illegal. Never run from a bear! To report an aggressive bear, call 1-877-WARN-DEP (1-877-927-6337) immediately. Please report any damage or nuisance behavior to the park office. Visit the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife at www.njfishandwildlife.com for additional information on bear safety.
Contact Info
Phone Number
609-737-0623
Mailing Address
355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road
Titusville, NJ 08560-1517
Email
WashingtonCrossing@dep.nj.gov
Park Hours
Gate: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Park Office: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Entrance Fee: Free
Directions
GPS Coordinates
40.304933, -74.856894
Trail MapS
Access for Persons with Disabilities
Washington Crossing State Park recreational and historic facilities are partially accessible for persons with disabilities. Please contact the Park Visitor Center at 609-737-0623 for further information regarding disability access needs. Text telephone (TTY) users, call the NJ Relay & CapTel Service at 711 or 1-800-852-7897 for English or 1-866-658-7714 for Spanish.