Comet staff report

Delphi Historic Trails system now has 10 miles of groomed trails. Bicycles and even pets are welcome on the trails.

The paths are crushed limestone, packed, wide, and they lead to some interesting sites.

A few follow streets to connect parks. The trails have been constructed over a 16year period, primarily by volunteers, using local products like the fine "screenings" provided by the nearby stone quarry. Nature provides scenic interest along the trails, such as the 1850s Wabash & Erie Canal, the Wabash River, Deer Creek, and the natural environment.

Places to start are located conveniently at Trailhead Park along Deer Creek, one mile southwest of Delphi on Indiana 25. Another good place to begin a scenic ride is at Canal Park on Washington Street.

"Parking and walking, or bicycling along the historic towpath of the mid 19th century canal is both relaxing and interesting," said Dan McCain, trails co-chairman.

There are three National Register Sites to visit nearby the Canal Construction Camp

site; Lock #33 and adjacent lockkeeper's home site; and the 1857 Harley and Hubbard Lime Kiln site. Two tunnels now connect these points of interest with the trails and loops in the southern system radiating out from Trailhead Park alongside Indiana 25.

The northern half of the 2.5mile section of the canal looks much like the manmade waterway appeared in its heyday of the 1850s. Groundwater pumped from the limestone quarry nearby is diverted into the canal to keep it brim full. Three million gallons of clear water daily comes to the "tumble" at Founders Point. Flow through the full length finally releases the surplus water back into Deer Creek at majestic Sunset Point trail's end.

A recent section added for biking is Campbell Ridge Trail with its entrance off of Indiana 25, two tenths of a mile south of Trailhead Park. A parking lot is available to leave vehicles, and the upper half of this trail is bicycle accessible. The payoff for the visitor is to look at the old canal era dam site from high atop a bluff. This structure is set at the mouth of Deer Creek where it joins the

Wabash River. Lower unmarked hiking paths go down from the bluff to follow the towpath to a "guard lock" site.

The very newest trail is called the Monon High Bridge Trail. It goes east of Delphi two miles from City Park and then follows a section of the scenic old Monon line. The trail is groomed to within a quarter mile of the fabled High Bridge over Deer Creek. The trails group has not yet obtained the CSX land at the high bridge itself, but people often go out for the spectacular views of the deep pristine valley with its high shear slate bluffs.

Legend has it that the last boat to use this Deer Creek crossing in 1874 destroyed the dam. As the mules were pulling the boat up to the spillway bridge, they fell through the rotting footboards. Since they lost their forward momentum, the captain could not steer the craft away from the current and crashed into the spillway. The boat, cargo, mules and all were dashed into the Wabash and drowned thus the end of the canal!

For a trails map and more information, look at www.wabashanderiecanal.org