, The Trail (DSCT), opened in at 111,200 acres, is a forested wetland ecosystem that straddles spring 2006. DSCT is a section of the former State Rt. 17, located in Enjoy. . .and learn the state line separating southeastern and northeastern Chesapeake, Virginia at the intersection of Dominion Blvd . and Old . , 3,100 acres, is found at the Rt. 17. Running south for 8.3 miles, adjacent to the Dismal Swamp while you center of the swamp and is one of only two naturally occurring Canal, it is a multi-purpose linear nature trail traversing some of the lakes in the state of Virginia. The refuge is a favorite with most uniquely historical and ecologically significant habitats in the sportsmen for hunting white-tailed deer and black bear in late . autumn. A featured site on the Virginia Birding and Wildlife The Dismal Swamp Canal Trail is an historic, environmental Trail, birding reaches a peak in April and May, as neo-tropical and outdoor-recreation delight. The canal marks the east border of Paddle for the Border migratory birds move into and through the refuge. The The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Chesapeake. Washington Ditch and Jericho Lane entrances are gateways to The area is home to myriad species of wildlife; parts of the Refuge miles of refuge trails open for hiking and biking. The Feeder were assessed by ’s survey company; the Swamp Ditch is a water trail connecting Lake Drummond east to the is nationally recognized as a stop on the “”; the Sponsored by Dismal Swamp Canal. All trails are open daily, sunrise to sunset. GDS Refuge is also a stop for thousands of migratory birds in the fall and spring. The DSCT, which runs along the canal, is linear and Great Dismal Swamp Occasionally temporary trail closings may occur for habitat National Wildlife Refuge management activities. Please visit our website for flat—perfect for families of all ages to bike or walk and horse owners announcements. to ride. Ballahack Rd. boat ramp provides easy access to launch your boat, canoe or kayak and is the site of the annual PADDLE FOR Contact information: THE BORDER. Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Look for more information and downloadable brochures on www.ncsparks.gov www.fws.gov/northeast/greatdismalswamp our website, cityofchesapeake.net/parks “Trails.” www.fws.gov/northeast/greatdismalswamp Refuge Headquarters at 3100 Desert Road, Suffolk, Virginia 23434 Dismal Swamp Canal (757) 986-3705 The North Carolina offers numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation and environmental education. Over 16 miles of hiking and mountain The Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center biking trails lead you through the majestic swamp or get up close Opened in April 1989, it is the first Welcome Center built and personal on the boardwalk trail. Plans for a butterfly garden are www.DismalSwamp.com www.cityofchesapeake.net/parks off an interstate in North Carolina, and the only such facility in in the works. The park is open every day from 8 AM - 6 PM except the country greeting visitors by both a major highway and historic for Christmas. waterway. Over 60,000 travelers visit the Center each year by The Dismal Swamp State Park Visitor Center located just over highway, while nearly 2,000 boaters transit the waterway the pedestrian bridge, offers an exhibit hall discussing the natural annually. and cultural history of the park, an auditorium, classroom and Maps and publications are available for assistance in reception area. Education programs are offered to school groups Dismal Swamp Canal - The Dismal planning trips or vacations to the state. Selected videotapes are and other organizations as well as the general public. The Visitor Swamp Canal (DSC) is a body of water that also available on NC destinations. A knowledgeable staff is ready Center is open 8-4:30 M-F and 9:30-4:30 Sat. & Sun. For more connects southeastern Virginia to northeastern and willing to be of assistance. information visit www.ncparks.net or call 252-771-6593. The Welcome Center is located in Camden County on US North Carolina and today is part of the inland Highway 17, approximately 18 miles north of Elizabeth City, NC, body of water known as the Intra-Coastal and 3 miles south of the NC/VA line. Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Hours are November - May, Tuesday thru Saturday 9-5 and The Underground Railroad refers to the effort of enslaved Waterway. Although originally built for June - October, Daily 9-5. African Americans to gain their freedom by escaping bondage. commercial reasons, today the canal is primarily In 2003, the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, For information, call 877-771-8333 or visit www. used by recreational boaters as a way to travel DismalSwamp.com. the Dismal Swamp Canal, and the Dismal Swamp Welcome Center were named as official sites in the ’s National along the east coast (Maine to Florida) while Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. These sites have been avoiding the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean. documented as "stations" of the Underground Railroad, or as places The Dismal Swamp Trail is approximately 10 miles that provided refuge and assistance to fugitives. Although no The history of the DSC dates back to 1787, when round trip if you continue into the village of South Mills, NC. structures remain, as yet unknown numbers of freedom seekers lived the Virginia General Assembly passed the The main trail head begins on the southern end of the Dismal within the Great Dismal Swamp, using the thick cover of forest as necessary legislation to build the canal. Even Swamp Canal Welcome Center off US 17. Asphalt tops the 10 ft. refuge. wide trail, making it user-friendly and ideal for families and For more information, please visit http://home.nps.gov/ugrr though the legislation was in place in 1787, it handicapped individuals. It closely follows and overlooks the took until 1805 to complete the work. Over its Dismal Swamp Canal. It is part of the NC Birding Trail and the Additional Information @ these websites: Program. The East Coast Greenway was history, notable Americans, such as George formed after an initial conception as an off-road route connecting Books Washington, have recognized the DSC’s www.chesapeake.lib.va.us enthusiasts to trails that will eventually link from Maine to importance to both the region and the country. Florida. Species List and Refuge Bird List You will find many options which include hiking, biking www.fws.gov/northeast/greatdismalswamp/habitat.htm Today, the DSC can boast of the oldest maritime birding, photography and a canoe and kayak launching area to locking system of its type still in use, as well as Natural Resource History enhance your eco-tourism opportunities. For more information its significant contributions to America’s past. call 877-771-8333 or visit www.DismalSwamp.com http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/disw/ecology.php Click on “Checklist,” choose a park and click on Dismal Swamp, then choose a group.

E

S N Welcome Center Welcome Center W Dismal Swamp Canal Swamp Dismal Canal N 36.50665, W 76.35583 W N 36.50665, 28 27.5

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Arbuckles Landing Landing Arbuckles 76.38472 W N 36.59271, Rolling Bridge 76.38282 W N 36.60115, N 36.60403, W 76.38186 W N 36.60403,

Great DismalBoat Swamp Ramp on the Dismal SwampTrailat Ballahack Road

21¾ 21¾

Dismal Swamp State Park Swamp State Dismal N 36.50557, W 76.35547 W 76.35547 N 36.50557, 21 25 20½ 20½

23 22¼

N 36.51530, W 76.36024 W N 36.51530,

r No Name Ditch

e

d 3.5 miles

e Superintendent House House Superintendent e The Angle Angle The F N 36.61452, W 76.37910 W N 36.61452, Angle Siding Siding Angle N 36.54650, W 76.37518 W N 36.54650, N 36.61050, W 76.38050 Northwest LockRemains Hamburg Ditch (Cross Canal) (White Oak Marsh Canal) f N 36.57504, W 76.38911 W N 36.57504, N 36.58710, W 76.38609 W N 36.58710, Mile Marker Parking Restrooms Restrooms Campground Campground Boat Access Boat Key Key State Line 76.37694 W N 36.55076, f U

-

DISMAL SWAMP CANAL

N 36.59991, W 76.38293 N 36.50665, W 76.35583 ) - N 36.54650, W 76.37518 a highway and historic major

N 36.50557, W 76.35547 N 36.61452, W 76.37910 N 36.60403, W 76.38186 y, NCy, VA and Norfolk, via the Dismal N 36.60115, W 76.38282

The landlord lives in the Tar Heel State. -

serves as a canoe/kayak put in. There st 40 years when he had a gas station and when he had a gas st 40 years highway and approx. 2,000 by waterway. waterway. by 2,000 and approx. highway 600 square foot Environmental foot Environmental 600 square Education farmers get their equipment, supplies get and equipment, their farmers number of seconds allowed to the latter for bridge is moved (rolled) by hitching a farm by hitching a farm is bridge (rolled) moved

ng but the natural limit of sight hides from of sight hides from limit ng but the natural N 36.59271, W 76.38472 to 1822. It was hand dug by German labor, labor, German It was hand dug by to 1822. N 36.55076, W 76.37694 in the 1826 to 1829 enlargement era. It was 1829 enlargement in the 1826 to the only canal side structure left from the st side, then pushing and pulling it back e has caused many shoaling problems in the e has caused shoaling problems many Washington, Persimmon, Sycamore, Corapeake Corapeake Sycamore, Persimmon, Washington, e factory on the Southern Branch of the of Branch on the Southern e factory orage on sheds remain the west side. ental US greeting visitors by

at the end of Ballahack Road. way to “avoid problems in the Northwest River drainage.” drainage.” River in the Northwest to “avoid problems way

N 36.58710, W 76.38609 N 36.57504, W 76.38911

From May 1860 Harpers Magazine: May Magazine: 1860 Harpers From

Points of Interest Along the Dismal Swamp Canal N36.51530, W76.36024 - 25 of MP north just Line State - Angle The - side) (east Bridge Rolling off just Landing Duke’s Great Dismal SwampRamp Boat on Dismal Swamp the Trail at Ballahack N 36.61050, W 76.38050 Angle Siding - - Siding Angle Located at the it now ofmouth the feeder ditch “Bailey Bridge,” era WWII Using a surplus Probably named Alva after Duke within the la named Probably Superintendent’s House (east side) Here are the remainsbuilt of a stone lock 5, Recreation’s & NC Division of Parks The Center. center/Visitor The only facility in the contin this canal dates back long, About 10 miles It was used to carry Hamburg. thus the name that purpose, for and imported recruited between Gates Count commerce and other crops Canal. Swamp of South Martha the drainage Carrying this discharg Ditches, Saunders and Kim canal main in the past. 1829 to the late from was located here House) Lake Drummond The Hotel (Halfway 1850s. His guests were entertained in the Old The Dominion. place is a famous matrimonial Nothi is superb. lookout The rendezvous. each other pursuer and pursed. The precise be by of Hymen easily may sentinel. learned the manacles donning Intentionally surveyed this carried the canal. trains The crossing Cedar had a bridge Works railroad Richmond to th out of the swamp products timber st or repair Some River. Elizabeth Some evidence remains. here. buildings houses and other several were of 1896-1899. improvement the great during removed For collecting tolls on both canals, this is Dismal Swamp Canal era. Company’s by 60,000 over by Used annually water way. The 4.5 DISMALmile SWMAP CANAL TRAIL is used by hikers, bikers, birders and photographers. Dover The Farm. to and from across crops tractor or other equipment to it on the we forth.

grocery store nearby. It is

banks water the along of edge in (both sides) Remains Lock Northwest ¼ ¾ Arbuckles Landing (east side) - ½

Road (east side) MP 21 - just before MP 28 Dismal Swamp State Park (west side) - Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center (east side MP 27½ Hamburg Ditch (Cross Canal)Marsh White Canal (west Oak side) MP 25 No Name Ditch just southof MP 25 (westside) - MP 23 MP 22 MP 21 MP 21 MP 21 - of just south Bridge Rolling MP20