Assawoman Canal Trail

Delaware

1 Reviews

The Assawoman Canal Trail is a crushed stone pathway for cyclists and pedestrians that runs along the west side of its namesake waterway through Ocean View, Delaware. The canal was hand-dug in 1891 and played an integral part in the town's history, and the trail now allows residents and visitors the chance to contemplate the past while enjoying a pleasant stroll or ride.

The trail is managed by the Delaware State Parks system, which offers additional recreational opportunities in the nearby Delaware Seashore State Park, including the Prickly Pear Trail and the Fred Hudson Road Trail.

Parking and Trail Access

Parking and restrooms are available at the southern end of the trail, located on Town Road just north from Atlantic Avenue/State Route 26 in Ocean View. Please note that the state park charges a vehicle entrance fee.

Greenway & Waterway

September 2023 jmcginnis12

Stretching a little over a mile along the west bank of the waterway for which it is named, the Assawoman Canal Trail offers a serene getaway for residents and visitors alike in the Bethany Beach area.
The trail is comprised of a crushed stone pathway suited to biking, walking, wheelchairs and pushing baby strollers that passes through environments that alternate between lush woodlands and grassy meadows. Some of the homes that the trail passes have beautifully landscaped yards (stay on the trail!) and small boats are a common site along the adjacent canal. Although the trail crosses Cedar Ave. at-grade (flashing signals alert motorists when trail users cross), it passes beneath Route 26 next to the canal, ending at Riga Drive.
In addition to providing an experience to enjoy nature and get in shape, the trail also makes it possible for residents of Ocean View and Cedar Neck to access businesses along Route 26 without walking along local roads. Plans eventually call for the trail to be extended further southeast, connecting to South Bethany.
The only things preventing me from giving the trail five stars are the high mosquito population in the warmer months of the year and lack of benches. The dead end at the northwest terminus of the trail also precludes access to Elliott Ave. and Back Bay Tours, limiting its potential to connect to communities there.