Union Canal Walking Trail

To further demonstrate its commitment to the environment and the community, the Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority has constructed a walking trail on the landfill property. This trail is about 1.50 miles encompassing forest, farmland and three original locks of the historic Union Canal. The Union Canal operated in the 1800's as a waterway transportation through the Lebanon Valley.               

Walking Trail Project        

The walking trail project initially began with the planting of trees along the Union Canal by the Lebanon City Schools Class of 1998 and was expanded upon by various volunteer groups including neighbors Austin and Russell Heller and groups of local eighth-graders. Now after more than 20 years since its introduction, the GLRA Union Canal Trail and the three locks have undergone an expansion and restoration! Today the trail can be walked in either direction from the large parking lot adjacent to the intersection of Emma Road and Russell Road and includes many new features.

  1. 1 GLRA Union Canal Walking Trail Map
  2. 2 Newly Added Steps along the Walking Trail
  3. 3 Rustic Fencing added as part of the Walking Trail Restoration Project
  4. 4 One of the three locks on the GLRA Union Canal Walking Trail as part of the 2025 Restoration Project
  5. 5 History of the Union Canal
  6. 6 Union Canal Locks #9, #10 and #11
  7. 7 1000010446
  8. 8 1000011222
  9. 9 One of the three locks on the GLRA Union Canal Walking Trail as part of the 2025 Restoration Project
Union Canal Walking Trail Information & More

There is a large green trail sign with an encased map and various informational brochures and flyers located at the large parking lot adjacent to the intersection of Emma Road and Russell Road.

The Union Canal Walking Trail contains three historical locks that are part of the Union canal that was proposed by William Penn in 1690. The Union Canal and tunnel is the oldest existing hand built and engineered transportation tunnel in the United States. The State Legislature granted permission to raise $400,000 by lottery in 1795. Work on the Union Canal and tunnel began May 1825 and was completed in June 1827, at a total cost of $30,404.29. The Union Canal was called the Golden Link because it was a critical link in early transportation.

Download your own copy of the Union Canal Walking Trail Map or a copy of a Historic Union Canal Coloring Book.  If you would like to learn more about the Union Canal or the walking trail, please reach out to either GLRA or the Lebanon County Historical Society.

Union Canal Walking Trail Features

The trail itself is composed of two loops. The first loop starts from the parking area, at the corner of Russel Road and Emma Road, and travels along the original trail route for a quarter mile. Here the first loop branches to the West and winds through a meadow of native grasses and wildflowers before turning South to wrap back to the parking lot. While on this loop, make sure to stop at the gazebo so you can try to spy some of the resident birds and raptors who call GLRA home.

The second loop starts similarly but branches to the East at the quarter mile mark. Here you descend a staircase to the base of the first canal lock and follow a trail to the North-West skirting along the stream edge. While walking this loop, you will pass Lock Numbers 9W, 10W, and 11W. Make sure to look for the original wooden planks that lined the locks and the iron spikes that held the locks’ gates.

Besides taking a stroll, we invite you to pack a lunch to enjoy at one of two picnic tables or take a rest and enjoy the view on a bench along the Locks. The trail is ideal for those both young and old who wish to enjoy nature’s gifts with a bit of history.

The GLRA Union Canal Walking Trail is open to the public dawn to dusk seven days a week.