165 miles of nature history preservation recreation and
education
From its origins
as a means to transport anthracite coal from the mines of Luzerne and Carbon
County to the markets in the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia, the D&L Trail
is now a multi-use trail originating from the mountains of northeast
Pennsylvania through the rivers and communities of the Lehigh Valley and Bucks
County.
A Trail that Connects
People to Unique Environmental and Community Experiences
Visiting The National Canal Museum, cruising aboard the Josiah White II, walking and riding your bike on
the canal towpaths are among the ways to explore the Lehigh Valley and the
60-mile long National Historic Landmark located within Delaware Canal State
Park in Bucks and Northampton counties.
Conversations on the Canal are dinner cruises that focus on the major ethnic groups in the D&L
Corridor and why they came to America. Learn about the Ulster Scots,
the first immigrants from the island known in Gaelic as
Éire, who became known as Scots-Irish in North America. An estimated
200,000 Ulster Scots left for the American colonies during the 1700s thanks to
Pennsylvania’s tradition of religious tolerance. Between 1815 and 1834, a
second wave of nearly 400 thousand immigrants also came here.
A Vision for the Delaware Canal the idea to construct a pedestrian bridge across the Lehigh River at
Jim Thorpe was first conceived in the D&L’s 1992 Management Action
Plan. After countless steps from concept to design to funding and
then re-funding, the bridge is the critical connector linking 40 miles of
trail located north of Jim Thorpe to the Lehigh Valley. Just south of Jim Thorpe, two separate but integral projects will
make the connection between Carbon County and Lehigh County smooth and
safe. They include plans for a retaining wall and improved towpath trail
between Jim Thorpe and Weissport in Lehigh Canal
Park.
Wineries and Breweries the Lehigh Valley is home to a Wine Trail
and an Ale Trail. Selected bars and pubs have upwards of 60% of their taps
consistently dedicated to craft beers. The local products can also be tasted
while cruising the canal.