Driving to Discovery Center
Parking is Free
From I-20 exit 200
Turn left onto Riverwatch Parkway & head toward downtown/medical district (approx 5 miles). As you travel past the old textile mills and see sign "Downtown & Medical District," move to right lane and exit right onto the flyover. Continue in right lane. At 2nd light (intersection of Greene & 15th St.), proceed straight ahead onto Greene Street. Enterprise Mill is immediately ahead. Look for the brown signs. Turn right into Enterprise Mill parking at first or second driveway. Canal Discovery Center is middle door of main building.
From Downtown Hotels
Take either Reynolds or Broad westbound to St. Sebastian Way. Turn left. Proceed to Greene. Right on Greene. Proceed past Enterprise Mill, turn left into parking at west entrance.
Driving to Trailheads
Free parking is available at each of these locations:
Headgates At Savannah Rapids Park
3300 Evans-to-Lock Road in Evans (Columbia County)
From I-20 take Exit 200-Riverwatch Parkway. Right on Riverwatch approximately 1 mile to light at Stevens Creek Road. Right on Stevens Creek. 2 miles to 4-way stop on Evans-to-Lock Road. Turn Right. Road ends at park entrance (0.8 mi.).
Click here to take a virtual tour of the Headgate area
Trails accessible from here:
- Towpath and towpath loop trail
- Old Fishcamp path
Water Pump Station (via Eisenhower Drive)
From Washington Road, take Eisenhower Drive to its end. Park in gravel lot near overpass. Walk under highway overpass (Use caution! This is an active railroad right-of-way.) Narrow metal bridge along waterpipe crosses to the towpath and pumping station. Motor vehicles cannot cross here.
Note: Private vehicle access to Pump Station via Goodrich/Canal Levee Dirt Road permanently closed effective July 1, 2011.
Trails accessible from here:
- Towpath
- Mountain Bike Singletrack
Lake Olmstead (1 Milledge Road)
From downtown, take upper Broad Street west to intersection with Milledge Road (Lake Olmstead Park). Turn right and take road until it ends at parking lot (junctions with Lakeview Drive). Walk or cycle across bridge.
Trails accessible from here:
- Towpath
- River Levee Trail
- MIll Village Trail
- Lake Olmstead Trail
Old Turning Basin at 13th Street
End of the canal’s first level. 13th Street at Walton Way. Parking available near Walton Rehabilitation Outpatient Clinic. Trail accessible from here
- Mill Village Trail (lower towpath)
Mill Village Trailhead at (109 Eve Street)
Take upper Broad Street west to Eve Street. Turn right. Parking lot at intersection of Grace and Eve Streets. Trails accessible from here
- Mill Village Trail
- Towpath
Water Access
Canoers and kayakers can access the canal's first level from a number of low points along the banks. A canoe launch dock is located below the Petersburg Boat Dock at the Headgate. Use caution near mill intake gates and when approaching the Lake Olmstead bulkhead. Petersburg tour boats have right of way. Gas/diesel powered boats are not allowed on the canal.
A stairway leads from the towpath near the Headgates to a launch dock at the Savannah River. It is located across from the green pedestrian bridge.
WARNINGS
River rocks are slick and Savannah River current is deceptively violent and subject to sudden increases due to releases from upstream dams.
The Canal's second and third levels in the downtown area have man-made obstructions, may contain debris and have unpredictable water flows. These areas are hazardous to boaters.
