Great Places

Michael N. Castle Trail at the C&D Canal

39°33'15.81"N  75°37'3.96"W

Biddle Point Trailhead, quarter-mile east of 795 Cox Neck Road, across from Southern Elementary
New Castle, DE 19720

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The Michael N. Castle Trail is a paved, multi-use pathway on the north shore of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal. This will soon span 15 miles, from Delaware City, Delaware to Chesapeake City, Maryland.

There are many places to access this trail, but newcomers are wise to use approved trailheads. These include, from east to west:

● The Branch Canal Trail in Delaware City
● Biddle Point, just south of Delaware City
● St. Georges, just east of Route 1

We recommend Biddle Point. This offers bike racks, a fishing pier (pictured), maps, picnic tables, restrooms, and parking for both cars and horse trailers. Visitors may not park at Grain H2O, despite there being a switchback uphill to this restaurant.

The Wilmington Trail Club's annual Hike Across Delaware is an excellent opportunity to see the entire Michael N. Castle Trail at the C&D Canal. This occurs every November during peak fall colors.

The trail's namesake, Michael N. Castle, is a former lawyer and legislator who represented the people of Delaware for almost 50 years, on and off. The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary even presented him with its lifetime achievement award in 2011. Thus, it is fitting that the state would name a trail for him that connects two of America's largest estuaries: the Chesapeake and Delaware bays.

Photo by Shaun Bailey

Click on the marker to view address and get directions