Biking on Roanoke Canal Trail

• Date Biked: April 17, 2020
• Posted length: Approximately 7.8 miles
• Total miles Tracked: 18 miles 
• Type of Trail: Canal towpath (comprised of dirt, rocks, roots and sweetgumballs)
• Conveniences: Parking lots
• Best Features: Amazing maps, Educational signage about trees and wildflowers (I'm looking at you wild buttercups and sneezeweed!)
• Worst Features: questionable road crossings, in need of maintenance, very narrow in spots
• Wildlife spotted: Bunny, goose
• Vegetation: Hardwood forests, overgrown briers, wildflowers
• Associated Website: https://roanokecanal.com/roanoke-canal-trail.html
• Primary Author: James

When I told Cheryl I was interested in biking the Roanoke Canal Trail she assumed, naturally enough, that I was talking about a trail in Roanoke, Virginia. Nope! This is in the other Roanoke, Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, situated on the Roanoke River near some, um, rapids. And it's because of those rapids that a system of canals needed to be built two-hundred years ago. Today, the towpath of the canal has been turned into what's billed as "North Carolina's longest museum," seven miles of nature and history that makes for a pleasant afternoon of riding and exploration. 

The first thing we explored on reaching Roanoke Rapids was lunch. We love local diners and the 2nd Street Lunch did not disappoint. It was takeout only due to statewide restrictions, but when we got there the parking lot was packed, a good sign. We ordered smoked sausage dogs and they were pretty amazing. We don't single out a lot of the places we eat on these journeys, but you owe it to yourself to give this place a try. Now, on to the actual ride:

We parked at the actual canal museum building. There are other trail heads, but this would be the place we'd recommend. Alas, the museum was closed, again due to state restrictions. We can't confirm it, but I'm certain in more normal times this would provide bathrooms and water fountains, and even closed there were still outdoor exhibits, including canal boats and a mural dedicated to the role the canal played as part of the Underground Railroad. There's also clear signage and maps. Good maps are oddly lacking on a lot of the trails we ride, but Roanoke Rapids has gone the extra mile by marking all the historic sites you'll come across as you ride on the map. The trail also lives up to it's "longest museum" designation with dozens of signs identifying local vegetation. We've biked better trails, but this one places near the top for being informative about the history and nature you're encountering. 

The trail also gets high marks for variety. No two miles are alike. Sometimes you're biking narrow paths through forests, other times you're passing through wide open fields, and, while most of it is flat, there are a few surprisingly steep hills. The surface can get really rough in some spots. This definitely isn't a good trail for a road bike. Also, there are plenty of places where two way bike traffic is nearly impossible. Be prepared to steer into weeds to let people pass. 

Though, as long as you're in the weeds, you may as well enjoy them. There were plenty of wildflowers, and the plaques we mentioned identify them all, from the pokeweed to the sneezeweed. It's really a "stop and smell the flowers" kind of ride. We even smelled the sneezeweed, and are a little disappointed we didn't sneeze afterwards. 

Obviously not a gate designed by a biker.

The vines actually grabbed her hard enough to throw her from her bike! Seriously, be careful 

But, it's not all flowers! There are also thorny vines! So be careful if you value your clothing or your skin, since they will grab you. We weren't sure if the Covid lock down and closure of the museum might be to blame for all the briers sticking out onto the trail. Perhaps in more normal times it's better maintained. 

As long as we're griping about things, the trail also has at least one entry with a gate far too narrow to ride a bike through, or even walk a bike through without some handlebar maneuvering. There's also a road crossing with no ramp onto the road, just a drop off a steep curve. These little details are especially frustrating because so much of the rest of the trail seems to have some real thought and attention put into it. 

Viaduct

The eastern end of the trail takes you to Weldon. Here's where the lock down really hurt, because there was a brew pub at the trail's end in an historic mill that looks like it would be a great destination. Weldon also a lot of history as a railroad town, and the downtown has some quirky architecture. The town seems to have put some effort into making itself an appealing destination for trail riders, and is one of the main reasons we'll definitely return. 

A final thought: One surprise of the Roanoke Canal is that we only rarely caught glimpses of the actual Roanoke River. But, it does seem like a potentially interesting destination for kayaking as well as biking, and the trail length would also make it a good walking destination. Leave a car in Weldon, park at the lake in Roanoke Rapids, and walk to the full length of just under seven miles. It's a great destination for bikes, boots, and boats!