Michael Castle Trail currently offers a scenic 9-mile route along the north shore of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal in northern Delaware. The trail is named after the former governor and US representative whose efforts in Congress helped initiate the project on behalf of interested local trail users.
The C&D Canal opened in 1829, linking the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware River via a 14-mile route through what were once swampy marshlands. Today, the canal continues to be one of the world’s busiest, as much of the shipping traffic to and from the Port of Baltimore—one of the largest ports in the United States—makes its way through the channel.
A cyclist enjoys the solitude along the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.
Starting at the eastern end of the trail just south of Delaware City, trail users can expect to see ships, and the paved trail accommodates such sightseeing with park benches lining the path. Along the route, the trail passes under three bridges, which serve as reminders of the canal’s bisecting nature. Trail users looking for a more pastoral experience won’t be disappointed, though: Native wildflowers, trees, and creatures of all sizes are also frequent sights.
The only diversion from the canal’s edge is a brief arc around the Summit North Marina. (Note that horses are not permitted on this short section.) Just west of the boat slips, the trail emerges into the southern reaches of Lums Pond State Park, which surrounds the largest freshwater pond in the state. You can fish and boat, but not swim, in its waters, and several trails inside the park cater to hikers, bikers, horseback riders, and snowmobilers.
In the future, the Michael Castle Trail will be extended west from the Summit Bridge near Lums Pond State Park to quaint Chesapeake City, Maryland, near where the C&D Canal empties into the Chesapeake Bay. In the east, construction is under way on an extension to bring the trail into Delaware City, where it will provide easy access to both Fort DuPont State Park and an existing trail along the Branch Canal.
CONTACT: trails.delaware.gov
DIRECTIONS
On the eastern side of the trail, there are two trailheads with parking and restrooms: one in St. Georges under the US 13 bridge, and the other at Biddle Point off Cox Neck Road. To reach the St. Georges trailhead from I-95, take Exit 4 (DE 7/DE 1), and travel south on DE 1/DE 7 for 4.9 miles. Take Exit 156, and merge onto DE 1/US 13. Go 2.2 miles, and take Exit 152. Turn left onto DE 72/US 13, and after 0.3 mile, turn right onto US 13/DE 7. At 1.4 miles, take a slight right onto N. Main St. Continue 0.4 mile until N. Main St. reaches the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and the trail.
To reach the Biddle Point trailhead, which also offers horse trailer parking, follow the directions above to Exit 152. Turn left onto DE 72/US 13, and after 0.3 mile, turn right onto US 13/DE 7. At 1 mile, turn left onto Cox Neck Road. After 1.6 miles, turn right at a sign for the C&D Canal Wildlife Area. Follow the road 0.6 mile to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and the trail.
To reach the Summit Bridge trailhead (just south of Lums Pond State Park), from Middletown, at the intersection of US 301 and DE 299, take US 301 north for 8.5 miles. Turn right onto DE 71, and go 0.8 mile. Turn right onto Old Summit Road, and go 0.4 mile. A small gravel lot will be on your right. Or from Exit 1 or 1A on I-95, merge onto DE 896 (S. College Ave.) south toward Middletown. After 6.1 miles, turn left onto DE 71, and follow the directions above.
Maryland
For history buffs, the community of Chestertown and the Wayne Gilchrest Trail are must-visit destinations.
4 Baltimore & Annapolis Trail
County
Anne Arundel
Endpoints
Jonas Green Park (Annapolis) to Dorsey Road (Glen Burnie)
Mileage
13.3
Type
Rail-Trail
Roughness Index
1
Surface
Asphalt
If you wish to augment your physical workout with some intellectual exercise, look no farther than the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail. The scenic, paved, 13.3-mile community trail is brimming with history lessons and boasts a solar system of information. The trail follows the route of the Annapolis & Baltimore Short Line, which started running freight and passenger service in 1887 and helped shape this suburban region near the nation’s capital. Today, the 112-acre linear park winds through parks, neighborhoods, and natural wooded areas.
The route passes the Marley Station shopping mall, for those looking for some retail therapy to accompany their trek. History buffs might want to stop in at the Earleigh Heights Ranger Station, circa 1889. The trail features several pocket parks along the way—charming, landscaped nooks with picnic tables and an open invitation to rest your feet for a spell. One such setting is Olde Severna Park, near the Park Plaza Shopping Center (intersection of Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard and West McKinsey Road), where local bike shop Pedal Pushers caters to trail riders with rentals—and the local pizza and frozen yogurt shops adjacent appeal to hungry passersby. The B&A takes its beautification seriously. Portions of the route are sponsored by volunteers who fill the flower beds and kiosks along the trail, lending it a colorful, seasonal flair.
Interesting art along the trail provides a good excuse for a short break.
Along the trail, you will find a literal alphabet of historical markers, from A to Z. The A marker, at mile 0.1, is the Winchester Station House at Manresa, near the Annapolis start of the trail. At mile 13.3, you will find the Z marker, identifying the Sawmill Branch, the area’s source of water and power in the early 18th century. To follow along with each marker, pick up a flier at the ranger station.
From the ranger station to Harundale Plaza, you will stroll or bike beside the Planet Walk, a linear museum with informative displays for the sun and each planet. The planets are true to scale and feature storyboards that teach about our solar system. The trail, and its educational opportunities, ends in the small town of Glen Burnie. But you may continue on the BWI Trail loop for an additional 12.5 miles around the Baltimore Washington International Airport.
