Dashboards and Saddlebags the Destination Magazine™ Issue 032 November 2013 | Page 22

#25

Why the Dismal Swamp is misnamed
T

he Great Dismal Swamp sounds downright…dismal. But what the
name hides is one of the great natural areas left in the eastern United
States and an area filled with history, mystery and adventure. The 22-mile
Dismal Swamp Canal, completed in 1805, runs north/south through the
eastern edge of the swamp and is the oldest man-made waterway having
sustained continuous operations. Today, it is an alternate route on the
Intracoastal Waterway used by boaters going between Chesapeake Bay and
the Albemarle Sound. Despite its impressive size and age, the Great Dismal
Swamp remains a mystery to most people, but at one point it drew George
Washington, Robert Frost and many other notables to it. The swamp also
played an integral part in the cultural history of the region with its dense
forests providing refuge to runaway slaves. As a result, the Great Dismal
Swamp was the first National Wildlife Refuge to be officially designated as a
link in the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The Dismal Swamp
Welcome Center in Camden is the only visitor center in the continental
U.S. greeting visitors by both a major
highway and an historic waterway.
The center offers information on the
history and mystery of the swamp as
well as walking, hiking and biking
Project 543 tells the story of
trails. It also provides access to the
unique spots across North
Carolina we hope will become
Dismal Swamp State Park. For the
some of your favorite places.
adventurer, there are 18 miles of
Why 543? Because that’s the
hiking and mountain biking trails
number of miles from Manteo,
in the park, or visitors can enjoy a
on the coast, to Murphy, in the
leisurely paddle down the Dismal
mountains, and is traditionally
considered to be the width of
Swamp Canal in a canoe or kayak.
our state. The entries in this
The welcome center offers free bike
project are in no particular
rentals and features an annual Paddle
order, and we’ll add to them
For the Border event that draws
each week. Check in often to
hundreds of visitors for a day of fun
find inspiration for your next
trip, or start planning today at
on the canal. There’s nothing dismal
VisitNC.com.
about that.

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Dashboards and Saddlebags The Destination Magazine™