Canal Loop Trail (Land Between the Lakes)

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, USDA Forest Service (North Welcome Station, near Grand Rivers)

The Canal Loop circles the north end of Land Between the Lakes, starting at the North Welcome Station with Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, and the canal all in view along the way. LBL’s trail map describes an 11-mile loop with four yellow-blazed connectors that add about 3 more miles, and “many scenic overlooks” of both lakes and the canal.

It’s best known as a mountain-bike trail, but LBL lists it among the trails open to overnight backpacking, which makes it a compact loop for a first overnight with the lakes in view.

The hike

The Canal Loop starts at the North Welcome Station, according to the LBL map, with a second trailhead on the Kentucky Lake Scenic Drive. The main loop is marked with blue diamonds and the four connectors with yellow, according to Kentucky Tourism. The connectors are short: LBL lists A and B at 0.5 mile each, C at 0.6, and D at 0.8, so you can cut the loop into smaller pieces or make a figure eight.

Kentucky Tourism, writing from a rider’s perspective, describes “fast, flowy singletrack” on the Lake Barkley side with “easy climbs,” a harder stretch, and a descent from a radio tower that it calls “a particular highlight,” with water views nearly the whole way. It recommends going counterclockwise. LBL rates the trail moderate to difficult and warns that it “receives a very high amount of use on weekends” from hikers and bikers, so expect to step aside often.

Friends of Land Between the Lakes calls the Canal Loop “one of our most popular mountain biking trails,” with “spectacular lake views” and “a variety of challenging terrain,” and gives its full length, with connectors, as up to 14 miles.

The loop connects to the North/South Trail, marked with white diamonds, which runs about 31 miles south from the North Welcome Station to Golden Pond. Combining the two makes a longer trip from the same trailhead.

Tips

Bring water or filter lake water. LBL lists potable water only at the North Welcome Station and Hillman Ferry Campground; springs may not flow in July, August, and September.
Avoid busy weekends if you can; the LBL map warns of heavy use.
Protect against ticks from March through October, as LBL’s map advises, and watch for poison ivy.
Register your plans. LBL’s map recommends it, since cell service is unreliable.
Leash dogs, per Kentucky Tourism.
Check alerts. LBL posts trail and road closures at landbetweenthelakes.us.

Camping

Overnight backpacking is allowed on the Canal Loop, according to LBL. Each camper 18 and older needs a Basic/Backcountry Camping Permit under LBL’s current rules, sold online and at LBL visitor centers and welcome stations. Camp at least 50 feet from the marked trail, bury human waste 200 feet from it, and pack out all trash. LBL’s rules limit stays to 21 nights in any 30 days, bar camping within 200 yards of major roads and public facilities, and require campfires in fire rings. Hillman Ferry Campground and other developed campgrounds are nearby.

Inside Intel: We didn’t find camper accounts recommending a particular spot on the Canal Loop. LBL’s map points to the loop’s lake and canal overlooks as its highlights; look for a site that meets the 50-foot rule near one of them.

Trail facts

Distance: 11-mile loop, plus about 3 miles of connectors
Route type: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Campsites: Dispersed, 50 feet from the trail
Water: North Welcome Station and Hillman Ferry Campground; lake water (treat)
Permits: Basic/Backcountry Camping Permit (each person 18 and older)
Blazes: Blue diamonds (loop), yellow (connectors)
Trailheads: North Welcome Station; Kentucky Lake Scenic Drive
Shared use: Mountain bikes
Last verified: October 7, 2026

The Lowdown

Lake views from the Canal Loop:

The Canal Loop runs with water views nearly the whole way, with dispersed camping 50 feet off the trail. Is the Arc'teryx Beta SL overrated? We compared it with two cheaper shells.

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Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.