Canal Trail

The Canal Trail is an easy walking trail running the length between the two parking areas of Landsford Canal State Park along the Catawba River.

The attraction of this trail is that it passes several sites of historical interest within the park, including an historical cabin and the remains of the canal, along with passing the rocky shoals spider lilies which bloom seasonally from their growth inside the waterway.

Along the hike, a small wooden overlook platform offers views of the spider lilies. The highlight of this hike are the portions along the top, and through the center of the old canal ruins. Interpretive signs along the way describe the function and visible pieces of the waterway system.

The trail is generally flat, running over grassy and wooded dirt paths. At 1.5 miles point-to-point, visitors can shuttle a vehicle between the two parking areas, or can turnaround and retrace their route upon reacing the opposite parking area. Out and back hikers might consider following the park's Nature Trail in one direction, which traces the shoreline between the viewing platform and the northern parking area.

The northern parking area tends to offer the most amenities for visitors such as historical sites, bathrooms, water and benches. The southern parking area offers a boat ramp for river access.

The Canal Trail lies inside Landsford Canal State Park, and is subject to all park entry fees and open hours. Complete details can be seen on the park's website.