There are several hiking trails to choose from in the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center area. South of the Dismal Swamp State Park entrance is a  three mile paved trail which also runs parallel to the canal. The State Park features a half-mile boardwalk looping through the forest, and several other hiking (and biking) trails which were used in the past as logging roads into the swamp. Keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife: bobcats, bears, snakes, deer, birds, nutria, fox, butterflies, 'possums, raccoons and otters.  Local flora and fauna provide a year-round treat as well.

Dismal Swamp State Park Trails

• Canal Road (about 2 miles) a great place to observe signs of animals.  This trail parallels the historic canal where you may see beautiful boats.
• Cross Canal/ Bull Boulevard Ditch (2.25 miles) a quiet grassy road where cypress trees grow and bear sign, wood ducks and otters can be found.
• Corapeake Ditch (4.8 miles) located just south of the NC/VA border. At the junction of Corapeake and Laurel, hikers can observe the effects of wildfire that burned the pond pine habitat in 2003. Pocosin vegetation is abundant here including bays and gallberries.
• Forest Line Ditch (2.3 miles) a gravel road where Atlantic white cedar trees dot the shoulder.  Black bear and otter are commonly seen here on the park's western boundary.
• Kim Saunders Ditch (5.4 miles) a grassy dirt road connecting to Canal Road, takes the hiker through the heart of the state park.  Many black bears, turkey and butterflies are seen here. Birders will enjoy this spot for the many warblers they can observe.
• Swamp Boardwalk: Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the accessible boardwalk as it takes you into the Dismal. Hear the sounds of frogs and birds without getting your feet wet.
• Supple-Jack Trail: Beginning at the visitor center, this loop trail winds through dense vegetation and connects to Canal Road. Keep your eyes peeled for the remains of moonshine stills. Heavily wooded areas provided excellent cover that prevented detection of these illegal operations. When the stills were discovered, they were destroyed by law enforcement.

The Dismal Swamp State Park offers a wide array of recreational opportunities such as butterfly watching, birding, hiking, canoeing and kayaking.

The boardwalk located behind the visitor center is an excellent place to get a taste of the birds that make the Dismal Swamp their home. Canal Road, which runs parallel to the Dismal Swamp Canal, is another good location.

If you are more adventurous, travel down the Kim Saunders Trail (approximately 5 miles in length) to one of the few remaining Atlantic White Cedar stands left in the east. Over 100 species of birds have been identified by park staff in the last year.

For a list of the birds one might see along the canal, and in the area, visit dismalswampwelcomecenter.com/birding/ or download a copy of the Bird List:

The Dismal Swamp Canal is the oldest continually operating, hand-dug waterway in the United States.  It is part of the Intracoastal Waterway connecting the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia with the Albemarle Sound in North Carolina.  The Welcome Center is located at mile marker 28.

The Welcome Center is 17 miles south of the Deep Creek lock and five miles north of the South Mills lock.  Since the canal is a no-wake zone it typically takes boaters three hours to reach the Welcome Center from Deep Creek and one hour to reach South Mills, making total transit of the Canal four hours.

Both locks operate four times a day, 7-days a week, 365 days a year at: 8:30 am, 11:00 am, 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm.  To access the Army Corp of Engineers map click here.  The pedestrian bridge at the state park will open as your vessel approaches or by sounding your horn.  The bridge is left in the open position when the park is closed. The Center provides a 150' face dock and allows tie-up on a first-come, first-served basis.  Boats are allowed to stay overnight and restrooms are open 24 hrs a day. North Carolina Coastal Boating Guides and information are free and available at the Center. The canal has a controlled depth of 6 foot.  For the latest updates on water levels click here.

The Dismal Swamp State Park rents canoes and kayaks for your enjoyment of the canal in North Carolina. Access is provided for canoes and kayaks beside the State Park bridge. If you have your own boat then you may consider traveling the three mile Feeder Ditch to Lake Drummond which is located seven miles north of the Welcome Center, near Ballahack Road, Chesapeake, VA.  Lake Drummond offers primitive camping, restrooms (seasonal non-potable water) and picnic shelters. Boat access is also available on Route 343 at Sawyer's Creek in Camden County, NC.

For detailed boating information on the Dismal Swamp Canal visit https://dismalswampwelcomecenter.com/boating/

For the current 5-day nautical weather forecast, click here.

The trail-head begins on the southern end of the Dismal Swamp State Park Parking lot. Asphalt tops the 10-foot wide trail making it ideal for families.

The trail winds through a wooded area between the historic waterway and the highway, ending at NC Highway 343. A 5-foot wide extension provides access for the trail to the Village of South Mills via NC 343 and Mullen Road, ending at the drawbridge over the canal.  Total length of the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail is 3 miles. Trail mileage is posted along the wooded trail at 0.25 mile increments.

The trail is recognized as part of the NC Birding Trail, the East Coast Greenway and the National Recreation Trail.

The trail is open 365 days a year from dawn to dusk. Restrooms and water are located at the Welcome Center and the State Park. Trash should be placed in receptacles provided. Pets must be leashed and owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets.

The Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center provides a friendly face and tourism information to the traveling public. This North Carolina Department of Transportation Visitor Center is managed by Camden County. Staff assist both highway and waterway travelers with a variety of services, including directions, maps, tourism suggestions and boating information.

The Welcome Center/Rest Area is located at 2356 Highway 17 N. in South Mills, NC and at Milepost 28 on the historic Dismal Swamp Canal, an alternate route on the ICW.  Amenities on the property include: 150' face dock, 24-hour rest room facilities, vending machines, dog park, visitor lounge with wi-fi and covered picnic tables. The Dismal Swamp State Park is located adjacent to the Rest Area.

Websites:

Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center - www.dismalswampwelcomecenter.com

Camden Tourism - www.visitcamdencountync.com

North Carolina Tourism - www.visitnc.com

 "Voted one of the most beautiful Rest Areas in America" - Architectural Digest 2018

A Camden County View of Paddle for the Border 2016