In Lebanon, canal heritage, historic city streets and outdoor trails offer distinct ways to explore. The Union Canal Tunnel tells the story of water transportation; buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries shape the historic character of Downtown Lebanon. Parks and the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail complement the cultural focus with trails featuring different surfaces and uses.
Canal Heritage and Trails
The Union Canal Tunnel in Lebanon is the oldest surviving water transportation tunnel in the United States. Union Canal Tunnel Park preserves the only remaining five-eighths-mile section of the original canal through Lebanon. The park includes a recreational area of about 110 acres. Together, the tunnel and preserved canal section represent two closely related aspects of local canal history.
Trails with grass or wood-chip surfaces run along both sides of the canal. Two connections lead to the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail. The trail is officially designated a National Recreational Trail. A four-mile section within the city of Lebanon is paved and open to pedestrians, runners, mountain bikers and horseback riders. Compared with the grass- or wood-chip-surfaced trails alongside the canal, the paved surface is a practical difference to consider when planning. Routes and trail conditions can change; check the latest information before setting out.
The main section of the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail begins in Lebanon at the Eighth Street Trailhead. From there, it runs 2.2 miles along US 422, past the Lebanon Valley Exposition Center & Fairgrounds. This route information adds to the description of the paved section.
Parks with Different Features
Stoever’s Dam Park covers 163 acres. Its features include a dam for fishing, wildlife habitats, camping facilities, and hiking and biking trails. Individual facilities may change, so check the latest park information before your visit. This lets you take the listed activities into account when planning without assuming that specific facilities will always be available.
Coleman Memorial Park covers 99 acres. G. D. Coleman gave it to the City of Lebanon in 1937. The park also preserves several surviving structures from the Coleman family’s industrial heritage and is a place for hiking and exploring Lebanon’s local history. Compared with Stoever’s Dam Park, the historic structures and connection to the city’s history are particularly prominent here; Stoever’s Dam Park’s description features fishing, camping and a variety of trails.
Historic Streets, Art and Local Produce
Downtown Lebanon includes historic buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. You can explore the streets on foot, experience the history of the city center and visit a variety of specialty shops. This urban focus differs from the parks: historic buildings and shops define the streetscape here, while the park descriptions highlight trails, natural habitats or preserved industrial history.
On the first Friday of every month, the Lebanon Arts Council hosts an ArtWalk in the city. Works by local artists are free to view at numerous locations within walking distance. If the ArtWalk fits your plans, check the event date in advance. The farmers market at the Chestnut Street Community Center offers fresh seasonal produce from Landisdale Farm and is open to everyone. The seasonal selection of produce is a useful point of reference for your market visit.
With its tunnel and canal section, historic downtown buildings, parks and monthly ArtWalk, Lebanon offers several clearly distinct themes to consider when planning your trip. You can focus on city and industrial history, include trails and park offerings, or plan an art visit for the first Friday of the month.
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