252-537-9873
NC 11276

The Roanoke Canal Trail and its contributing resources tell the history of transportation on the Roanoke River from the early 1800s to today.

Segments of the canal that remain intact today include portions of the 39 foot wide channel, its 10 foot wide tow path, the original aqueduct and one of the stone culverts. In 1976, the canal, the tow path, and the canal structures were added to the National Register of Historic Places. The towpath and bottom of the canal provide pedestrian access between the communities of Roanoke Rapids and Weldon, North Carolina.

The Roanoke Canal Commission, Inc. was chartered in 1984 to “promote, develop and maintain the natural beauty and historic area that is part of the old Roanoke Navigation Canal in Halifax County, North Carolina.” The Commission has remained intact over the years and oversees the management of the Canal Trail through a variety of partnerships.

Visitors using the Canal Trail can experience engineering feats and explore life along the Roanoke Valley as it was in the early 1800s. The canal and the supporting structures are a living legacy to the early years of transportation, the engineering profession, and a developing way of life along the Roanoke River.