June 14 Bean Shoals Canal

In the 1820s, a scheme to navigate the Yadkin River resulted in a partial canal built to bypass the Bean Shoals. The plan was to dam the river with a low dam to flood a series of ledges. Then build a canal below the dam to get by another series of river ledges. Money was spent and a partial canal was built. One of three proposed locks may have also been built. The canal was never finished and project abandoned in 1825. Decades later a railroad was built along the river. It appears the railroad filled in the canal and used it as its rail bed. Although these photos do not show it, an active railroad is right above the old canal walls.

From an access point in Pilot Mountain State Park, you can walk about a half mile along the intermittent ruins.This time of year, there is some poison ivy and other overgrowth. I spotted many spiderworts in the area.  

It looks like the river is about 100 yards wide here. You are looking at only one of three channels of the river. It is the widest and it can be forded. I walked across where there is a designated trail ford. It is about crotch deep at it deepest point. I was able to remain upright but it is easy to get off balance in the flowing water.