It’s a Big Deal

Explore the nation's only industrial power canal still in use for its original purpose. Visit the Augusta Canal Discovery Center at Enterprise Mill to hear the stories of the people who built the canal in 1845 to harness the water and power of the Savannah River, and learn about the progress, problems and promise of its history.

 

Hike or bike on the towpath edging the historic canal, which takes you past natural and urban landscapes, giving glimpses of wildlife, offering beautiful scenery, and surrounding you with nature and history. Fish from the canal banks, paddle a canoe or kayak in the gently moving waters, take one of several daily guided boat tours aboard a replica canal cargo boat, or kick back and relax on an evening Music Cruise.

Hikers, cyclists and runners regularly head for the Augusta Canal’s wide, level towpath, once used by mules to pull canal boats to the Canal headgates. Additional trails into wooded and urban areas add variety to the outdoor experience.

Explore the trails

Canoers and kayakers can paddle the entire first level of the Canal, from the Headgates to the old turning basin at 13th Street. Due to the current (about 6 knots), most paddlers choose to put in at the upper end and paddle with the current.

Explore the canal

The undeveloped land between the canal and the Savannah River has formed a wetland, creating an urban wildlife refuge that is home to a remarkable variety of fish and wildlife. Animals you may spot along the banks and in the waters include deer, fox, beavers, raccoons, alligators, turtles, ducks, crawfish, muskrats, and frogs, to name a few.

Explore flora and fauna