Six Mile Run (New Jersey)

Six Mile Run
Six Mile Run
	Six Mile Run near its mouth in the Millstone River
	Map of area with Six Mile Run highlighted
Location
Country	United States
Physical characteristics
Source
• coordinates	40°27′35″N 74°29′11″W / 40.45972°N 74.48639°W
• elevation	39 ft (12 m)
Mouth
• coordinates	40°28′21″N 74°34′20″W / 40.47250°N 74.57222°W
Basin features
Progression	Millstone River, Raritan River, Atlantic Ocean
Tributaries
• left	Steep Hill Brook, Middlebush Brook
• right	Cross Brook, Nine Mile Run

Six Mile Run is a tributary of the Millstone River that drains a large area in central Franklin Township in Somerset County and as well western portions of North Brunswick and South Brunswick Townships in Middlesex County, New Jersey in the United States.

Name

Six Mile Run derives its name (along with other area streams including Mile Run, Three Mile Run, Nine Mile Run, and Ten Mile Run) from the distance early surveyors estimated it was from the point where the historic King's Highway (now Rt. 27) left the Raritan River at New Brunswick to the point the roadway crossed the stream. The estimates were not very accurate but the stream names have remained in use ever since.

Course

Six Mile Run starts near Corporate Road in North Brunswick 40°27′35″N 74°29′11″W / 40.45972°N 74.48639°W / 40.45972; -74.48639. It crosses Cozzens Lane, then flows through a residential development. It joins up with the drainage from a lake then crosses Rt. 27. It then joins with the Nine Mile Run, a major tributary, and crosses South Middlebush Rd. It then crosses Canal Road and drains into the Millstone River 40°28′21″N 74°34′20″W / 40.47250°N 74.57222°W / 40.47250; -74.57222.

Accessibility

Six Mile Run is easily accessible in several places, including Cozzens Lane and the residential development. It also can be accessed at Route 27, South Middlebush Road, and Canal Road, as well as the D&R Canal Trail. It can be also accessed by trails in the Six Mile Run Reservoir Site.

Terrain

Six Mile Run is generally between rocky and muddy terrain. Near Cozzens Lane, the streambed is rocky with a muddy covering. It is quite deep in many places. Farther downstream in the residential development, the stream becomes more rocky and fast flowing. It then becomes rocky and deep near Route 27, and remains like that for most of its downstream course. It widens considerably when it joins the Nine Mile Run. Near its mouth, it has a mixture of pebbles and sand for its streambed. Many large fish are found in the deep pools near the Delaware and Raritan Canal.

Tributaries

The Six Mile Run has a large unnamed tributary that flows northward, crossing Skillmans Lane, Bennets Lane, and Veronica Avenue.

Sister Tributaries

Gallery

Six Mile Run crossing Cozzens Lane
Six Mile Run running through a residential development
Six Mile Run at Route 27
Six Mile Run at South Middlebush Road
Six Mile Run at South Middlebush Road, other side
Six Mile Run at Canal Road, near its mouth to the Millstone River
Six Mile Run after the D&R Canal and before the Millstone River, viewed from the canal towpath