WALK THROUGH HISTORY

Some trails and roads in Canal Park were once the towpath traversed by mules and horses pulling canal boats. Those and other trails running through the Park are part of historic Delphi’s 10 mile trail system, perfect for hiking, biking, bird-watching and even cross-country skiing.

Access many trails at Canal Park, open 365 days a year from dawn until dusk, free of charge. Several sites along the way are on the National Register, including the Canal Construction Camp site, Lock #33 and the adjacent lockkeeper's home site, and the 1857 Harley and Hubbard Lime Kiln site.

Walk or bike through history on the Underhill Towpath Trail (.9 mi), Founders Towpath Trail (.5 mi), Draper North End Trail (.5 mi) in Canal Park. Outside the Park Annex, other trails take you through additional canal-related territory, like the VanScoy Towpath Trail (1 mi), Obear Millrace Trail (.6 mi), and the Campbell Ridge Trail (1 mi).

Download a map of historic Delphi's Trail System. Don't want to walk? Noble Bikes rents many types of bicycles at Canal Park.


Trails In Canal Park


Underhill Towpath Trail - .9 mile
(Trail 4 on the Delphi Trails Map)
The Underhill Towpath Trail runs from the Highway 421 crossing to North Washington Street and into Canal Park and the heart of Canal Village, where hikers will see historic log cabins, a blacksmith shop and a smokehouse. Also of interest are the refurbished Federal style 1844 Reed Case House and the Wabash & Erie Interpretive Center and Conference Center near the banks of the canal.

Founders Towpath Trail - .5 mile
(Trail 5 on the Delphi Trails Map)
From North Washington Street this trail takes the hiker along the west side of the beautiful, rewatered section of the canal, past the restored 1873 Iron bridge and ends at Founders Point where the 'tumble' brings a million gallons of fresh clear water from the Delphi Limestone Company's diversion pumps. The tranquil setting for the rest area at the point will allow the hiker time to reflect on how this 150 year old waterway might have looked during its heyday.

Draper North End Trail - .5 mile
(Trail 6 on the Delphi Trails Map)
This trail leads from Founders Point to the Riley City Trail. An easy walk from Founders Point takes the hiker past the old Lime Kilns of the 1850s, where locally quarried limestone was 'burned' to produce plaster and whitewash. Commercially, these lime products were some of the best quality in the country and were transported as far away as New York City (via canal). Highlights also include the restored 1873 Paint Creek iron bridge. The trail then passes the widewater canal boat turnaround and loading area in Canal Park Annex before joining the Riley City Trail.


Canal-related Trails Outside of Canal Park

VanScoy Towpath Trail - 1.0 mile
(Trail 2 on the Delphi Trails Map)
From Sunset Point to Highway 421, the VanScoy Trail contains some of the most beautiful towpath, especially the section nearest the Wabash River. This trail also passes by the sites of the 1838-39 Irish Canal Construction Camp, Canal Lock #33, and two prosperous paper mills that operated in the mid 1800s. The extreme south end of the trail is "Sunset Point" where Deer Creek meets the Wabash River. A rest area provides the hiker a serene view of the waterways at a point where the Deer Creek Dam provided a lake for the canal boats to cross the creek without an aqueduct.

Obear Millrace Trail - .6 mile
(Trail 3 on the Delphi Trails Map)
After leaving the VanScoy Trail, this trail overlooks the Wabash River and then traces the millrace up to the paper mill sites where it rejoins the VanScoy Trail. The mills received their power from the surplus canal water which exited to the river after powering the mill wheels.

Campbell Ridge Trail - 1 mile loop
(Trail 12 on the Delphi Trails Map)
From the small parking area along State Road 25 just south of Delphi's Trailhead Park, hike up the slope to find the mystifying bluff overlooking the confluence of Deer Creek and the Wabash River. During the canal operational years of 1840-1874 the dam provided a “slack water” crossing for boats. The demise of the last boat to reach this site was due to the boat crashing into the rotting wooden spillway, which collapsed the dam. Boat, cargo, driver, and mules were all dashed into the river and drowned. A guard lock was located at the far end of the loop.