[IndianaTrails] CANAL UPDATE--Come to Delphi to hike and bike

[Dan McCain]

DELPHI HISTORIC TRAILS AND CANAL SITES WELCOME BICYCLES

 

When you come to Delphi in northwest central Indiana you can come with your bicycles and even your pets.  The Delphi Historic Trails system now has 10 miles of groomed trails.  They are mostly crushed limestone, packed, wide and they lead to some of the most interesting things.  A few follow streets to connect parks.  Trails have been constructed over a sixteen-year period primarily by volunteers using local products like the fine "screenings" provided by the stone quarry and lots of scenery thanks to the 1850s Wabash & Erie Canal, the Wabash River, Deer Creek and Mother Nature.

 

Places to start are located conveniently at Trailhead Park along Deer Creek one mile southwest of Delphi on Indiana 25.  Another good place to begin a scenic ride is at Canal Park, 11 blocks north of the Court House stoplight on Washington Street.  Parking and walking or bicycling along the historic towpath of the mid 19th century Wabash & Erie Canal is both relaxing and interesting.  



There are three National Register Sites to visit nearby-the Canal Construction Camp site; Lock #33 and adjacent lockkeeper's home site; and the 1857 Harley and Hubbard Lime Kiln site.  A State Register Site contains the 1873 Paint Creek Bowstring Arch Bridge over the canal.  Also two tunnels now connect points of interest between north and south.  Many interesting trails and loops in the southern system radiate out from Trailhead Park alongside Indiana 25.

 

The northern half of the 2.5-mile section of the Canal looks much like the man-made waterway appeared in its heyday of the 1850s.  Groundwater pumped from the limestone quarry nearby is diverted into the canal to keep it brim full.  Three million gallons of clear water daily comes to the "tumble" at Founders Point.  Flow through the full length finally releases the surplus water back into Deer Creek at majestic Sunset Point -- trail's end.

 

A recent section added for biking is Campbell Ridge Trail with its entrance off of Indiana 25 two tenths of a mile south of Trailhead Park.  A parking lot is available to leave your car and the upper half of this trail is bicycle accessible.  The payoff for the visitor is to look at the old canal era dam site from high atop a bluff.  This structure set at the mouth of Deer Creek where it joins the Wabash River.  Lower unmarked hiking paths go down from the bluff to follow the towpath to a "guard lock" site.  



Legend has it that the last boat to use this Deer Creek crossing in 1874 destroyed the dam.  As the mules were pulling the boat up to the spillway bridge they fell through the rotting footboards.  Since they lost their forward momentum the captain could not steer the craft away from the current and crashed into the spillway.  The boat, cargo, mules and all were dashed into the Wabash and drowned-thus the end of the canal!



The very newest trail is called the Monon High Bridge Trail.  It goes east of Delphi two miles from City Park and then follows a section of the scenic old Monon line.  The trail is groomed to within a quarter mile of the fabled High Bridge over Deer Creek.  The trails group has not yet obtained the CSX land at the awe inspiring high bridge itself but people often go out for the spectacular views of the deep pristine valley with its high shear slate bluffs.

 

When you come to Delphi you must allow time to visit the new Canal Interpretive Center in Canal Park, a dozen blocks north of the Court House traffic light.  This interactive transportation museum is a marvel with a dozen galleries and set in an old 1850s building built in 2003.  Open hours during the travel season are Thursday, Friday and Sunday 1-4 pm and a full day Saturday 10-4.  Winter hours are 10-4 on Saturday and 1-4 on Sunday.

A refitted pontoon "Canal Boat" docks in Canal Park and takes on passengers on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and again at 2 p.m. on Sunday every weekend throughout the warm tourists seasons.  Nearby are the canal village, towpath and connections to all the trails.  For a trails map and much more information look at   www.wabashanderiecanal.org

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY is Saturday, June 3rd.  Come celebrate in Canal Park at 11 am.
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