Built as a working waterway, the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area connects Augusta’s industrial history with trails and heritage sites along the canal. You can walk or bike the towpath, visit the Discovery Center, or book a boat tour, with tour and access details worth checking before you set out.
- Where: Augusta, Georgia.
- Trail: The first level is 11.5 miles long; its towpath is promoted for walking, biking and running.
- Heritage stops: The area includes the Discovery Center, Savannah Rapids Park and Visitor Information Center, the Fall Line and Headgates, and boat tours.
- Boat tours: They depart from the Canal Discovery Center at Enterprise Mill, weather permitting.
Understanding the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area
The Augusta Canal National Heritage Area tells the story of a working canal built to support power, water supply and transportation. Construction began in 1845, and mills began using the canal in the late 1840s.
The National Park Service describes the Augusta Canal as the only fully intact American industrial canal in continuous operation. Along with the waterway, the heritage area includes the Fall Line and Headgates, the Augusta Canal Discovery Center, Savannah Rapids Park and Visitor Information Center, boat tours and hike trails.
The Discovery Center is housed in Enterprise Mill, a former textile mill, and features exhibits about the canal’s history. It offers a starting point for connecting the canal’s industrial past with the landscape outside.
Walking and cycling along the canal
The canal’s first level extends 11.5 miles, and its towpath is promoted for walking, biking and running. The Augusta Canal Authority describes the towpath as wide and level; additional trails extend into wooded and urban areas.
That combination gives you a choice between following the waterway and taking trails that reach beyond the towpath. The authority’s information does not establish the surface or conditions of each individual section, so check the official site before you go if those details matter to your plans.
For another outdoor trail outing in Augusta, Phinizy Swamp Nature Park in Augusta offers a different setting.
Boat tours and heritage experiences
Augusta Canal boat tours depart from the Canal Discovery Center at Enterprise Mill, at 1450 Greene Street, weather permitting. The boats are open-air Petersburg boats; each has a maximum licensed capacity of 49 passengers, though the authority recommends no more than 36 for comfort.
The Augusta Canal Authority gives Tuesday through Saturday as tour days, with hours varying, and recommends calling 706-823-0440 ext. 502 for availability and reservations. Adult tickets cost $14; tickets for seniors aged 60 and over, military members or students cost $12. Tour tickets include free admission to the Discovery Center.
The Discovery Center is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Explore Georgia gives admission as $6 and notes free parking, on-site parking, public restrooms and a gift shop. Tour prices and schedules can change.
Choosing an access point and planning the visit
Choose your starting point around the activity you have in mind: the Discovery Center at Enterprise Mill for a boat tour and exhibits, or Savannah Rapids Park for the headgates and access to the canal area.
The Discovery Center address is 1450 Greene Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901; GPS users are advised to use Blome Lane. From Budget Inn Express, Augusta city centre is about 8 minutes by car; you can pair city-centre time with the Augusta Riverwalk, another riverside stop in the city.
Savannah Rapids Park is at 3300 Evans-to-Locks Road, Martinez, Georgia 30907. The park is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with free admission and free parking.
Paddlers can travel along the first level from the Headgates to the old turning basin at 13th Street. The authority reports a current of about 6 knots and says most paddlers put in upstream and travel with it; take that flow into account when considering this route. A one-day downtown Augusta route is another way to plan time in the city.
Current conditions, rules and accessibility
Boat tours depend on weather and heat conditions, and access to the boat itself is not fully wheelchair accessible. The authority says tours are canceled when the heat index equals or exceeds 105°F and advises calling 706-823-0440 ext. 502 to check tour status.
Visitors can drive to the dock, but a four-step stairway with double handrails leads from the dock to the boat deck. For trail sections, the authority’s information does not specify opening hours or access restrictions for each individual area; confirm the details that apply to your route before setting out.
FAQs
Can you walk or bike along the Augusta Canal?
Yes. The first level’s towpath is promoted for walking, biking and running, and the authority describes it as wide and level.
Where do Augusta Canal boat tours depart?
Tours depart from the Canal Discovery Center at Enterprise Mill, 1450 Greene Street, Augusta, weather permitting. GPS users are advised to use Blome Lane.
Is the boat tour wheelchair accessible?
Boat access is not fully wheelchair accessible. A four-step stairway with double handrails connects the dock to the boat deck.