Have you ever wanted to explore a crumbling, ivy-covered ruin? Here’s your chance! Venture into this South Carolina state park, where you can actually check out the overgrown remnants of a 200-year-old abandoned canal.

These ruins are hidden in the woods, but you can legally, easily and safely explore them.

Stretching out beside the Catawba River, this old canal is truly a unique exploration spot.
Flickr/Ken Fager
The canal was built in the early 1800s to bypass the rapids of the Catawba. Tragically, it was built using slave labor.
Flickr/Ken Fager
After the railroad came to the area, the canal was abandoned. Today, the crumbling ruins of the old stone canal are still embedded in the earth.
Flickr/Ken Fager
Visitors can climb over the worn stones and walk where thousands of gallons of water once flowed.
Flickr/Ken Fager
Even the old Lockkeeper's House is still standing.
Wikimedia Commons
The park is also home to the largest known stand of the rocky shoals spider lily, a rare flower that blooms between May and June.
Wikimedia Commons

In addition to exploring the canal ruins, the Landsford Canal State Park is a great place for picnicking, hiking, animal watching and generally soaking up the beauty of nature. You can fish in the Catawba River, and even canoe and kayak down the park’s special paddling trail.

The Landsford Canal can be found at 2051 Park Drive, Catawba, South Carolina. Admission is $2 per adult, and visitors under 15 are free. The park is open from sunrise to sundown.

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