Dismal Swamp Canal Trail

8.4 miles (13.5 km)

The Dismal Swamp Canal Trail is a paved multi-use path running south from the north trailhead in Chesapeake, Virginia. It follows the towpath of the historic Dismal Swamp Canal—the oldest hand-dug canal in continuous use in the United States—offering a level, 10-foot-wide asphalt surface that’s ideal for walking, cycling, jogging, horseback riding and even boating via the several boat ramps along the route.
As you walk or ride beside the tea-stained canal waters, you pass under old US 17 bridges and alongside stands of bald cypress, loblolly pine and Atlantic white cedar. The trail weaves through the edge of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and Cavalier Wildlife Management Area, where you can glimpse great blue herons, painted turtles, dragonflies and migratory songbirds. Historic mileposts and stone lock remnants peek out of the underbrush, reminding you of the canal’s 1805 origins and its role in early commerce and the Underground Railroad.
Rest areas with benches, picnic tables and restroom buildings appear approximately every two to three miles, and a canoe/kayak ramp at Ballahack Road provides water access for paddlers. Open year-round from dawn to dusk, the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail combines easy terrain, rich history and abundant wildlife into a uniquely tranquil corridor stretching across state lines.

Dismal Swamp Canal Trail Open Street Map - view and print off detailed map

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