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Constructed in the 1820s and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal was once an important transportation route for getting plantation goods to market. Now, hikers can travel along a mixture of rural roads and unpaved trails along the historic towpath, providing immersion into the area's economic and natural history - keep your eyes out for tortoises and gators that call the waterway home.
The canal itself is 16.5 miles, and the Chatham County Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department is working with the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal Society to transform the canal area into a multi-purpose linear park. The trail winds through some of coastal Georgia's common habitats, including sandhills, swamp, and pine forests. Boardwalks traverse wetland areas but high tides can sometimes cause flooding.
About the Route
5.3 miles of the towpath are open to foot traffic, from Lock 6 on the Ogeechee River to I-16 as follows: 0.5 mile at the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal Museum & Nature Center (between Locks 6 and 5). Past Fort Argyle Road, the towpath is paved and called Bush Road, which runs about 3 miles. This road is moderately trafficked and has no shoulder, so is best suited to bikers. Lock 4 is located about 1 mile down this road.
At Little Neck Road, the towpath turns to a 0.5-mile dirt trail to Half Moon Lake (the Canal's water source), which is spanned by a bridge and boardwalk to the Half Moon Lake Dam for about 1.5 miles. Beyond here there is a 0.5-mile paved road (Canal Bank Road) to Quacco Road. Across Quacco Road another 1.5 miles takes the route towards its northern endpoint at I-16. North of Quacco Rd., the trail conditionsThe trail is not accessible from I-16, and trail users who reach this point might need to turn around to the south. Beyond the two subdivisions is a swampy area that may be difficult to access.
At the route's southern terminus (near Lock 5), there is a small museum and nature center for a small entry fee to learn more about the canal's history and the local ecological history of the area. The nature center currently requires a $5 fee for adults. A loop trail south of the museum provides a nice option for those looking for a shorter hike or those who don't wish to traverse the paved roads that comprise most of the towpath to the north - the museum area trail offers some lovely views of both the canal and the Ogeechee River, with interpretive signage guiding your journey.
The Savannah Ogeechee Canal Trail runs between the Savannah Ogeechee Canal Museum, 681 Fort Argyle Rd., where parking is available, and US-16 (Savannah).
Please see TrailLink Map for detailed directions.
I went to the Museum first to park and hopefully ride my bike but the Museum care taker informed me that the portion to lock 5 and 6 at the museum was not suitable for riding. She also told me I didn't want to ride down Bush Road as it's quite busy with no shoulders but I could drive my car down it and ride from the Tow Path portion past Little Neck Road. I went to L Scott Stell park and parked there, had a look around and did not find any trail access in the park and when I road down to Little neck Road it looked like it was just a drive way across the road but it actually the continuation of Bush Road (the son of the caretaker at the museum told me this. I decided to drive my car over to the dirt road and parked at the Bush Road parking kept up by the Museum and Nature center also. The bridge here and wooden path over the water is in good repair but the bridge stanchions are a little close together and I had to walk my bike through them as they were narrower than my handle bars. I follow the trail along to the Canal Bank Road and across Quacco Road to discover that I could only go about a half mile more for a total of 1.7 miles (3.4 out and back from the Bush Road parking). The canal after Quacco road is mostly just a ditch without water and the the tow path has a lot of construction fencing and debris along it as houses are being built and land developed. It appeared impossible to me to take it to I-16 now as is previously mentioned. I have submitted an update to the description to Trail Link and I'll post photos of what I found. This might be a nice hike, I doubt the portion after Quacco Road will be accessible at all much longer, but it's a pretty short bike ride especially as it doesn't really continue as a canal when you come out of the tow path at Canal Bank Road where there is much construction also with piping lining the sides of the road to have new sewers and such installed like to service new housing going in the area.
My husband and I spent the first day of the new year here enjoying being in nature. Beautiful views and we saw a lot of wild birds.
Used to come here as a kid. Still the same great place. It can be a little busy sometimes, but there’s enough space. $5 entry for adults.
The path starts off with numerous tree roots. Big ones you can see but lots more under the leaves. Very bumpy ride. Better for hiking.
$3 fee per adult. Easy walk along the old canal to the Ogeechee River and back. A hiking trail goes off to the left after you pass the restrooms. Bring bug spray in the summer.
"This is a very senic trail, but one time during a rainy season I went too far and the traill got small and muddy."
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