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3 Michael Castle Trail

County

New Castle

Endpoints

Delaware City Branch Canal (south of Delaware City) to Summit Bridge (US 301/DE 896/DE 71) (Bear)

Mileage

8.7

Type

Greenway/Non-Rail-Trail

Roughness Index

1

Surface

Asphalt

The 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.