Lebanon: Canal Tunnel, Parks, and City History

Lebanon brings together an extraordinary piece of American canal history with parks, trails, and a historic downtown. The Union Canal Tunnel is the oldest surviving water-transport tunnel in the United States. The area also includes sections of the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail, green spaces with a range of activities, and historic buildings in the center. When planning your trip, one practical question is whether to focus more on city history and art or on hiking, biking, and other park activities.

Canal History and Traces of Industry

At Union Canal Tunnel Park, the only remaining five-eighths-mile section of the original canal through Lebanon is preserved. The recreation area covers about 110 acres. The tunnel and the preserved canal section give the site a clear historical focus: it is not just a park, but also an important structure in the history of water transport. Grass- or wood-chip-surfaced trails run along both sides of the canal, and there are also two connections to the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail. Those interested in history and outdoor activity can enjoy both in the same park, without any particular route being prescribed.

Coleman Memorial Park also brings together green space and local history. G. D. Coleman gave the 99-acre park to the City of Lebanon in 1937. Some surviving structures there recall the industrial heritage of the Coleman family. The park is suitable for hiking and exploring local history. Its theme differs from that of Union Canal Tunnel Park: the former focuses on canal history, while the latter recalls the Coleman family and its industrial heritage.

Trails and Outdoor Activities

The Lebanon Valley Rail Trail offers several specific ways to make your stay active. A four-mile section within the City of Lebanon is paved and open to pedestrians, runners, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. The main section starts at the Eighth Street Trailhead and runs 2.2 miles alongside US 422, past the Lebanon Valley Exposition Center & Fairgrounds. The trail is officially designated a National Recreational Trail. The distinction between the figures is important for planning: four miles refers to the paved section within the city; 2.2 miles describes the route of the main section starting at the trailhead.

Stoever’s Dam Park, which covers 163 acres, offers a different range of activities. The park includes a dam for fishing, wildlife habitats, camping facilities, and hiking and biking trails. So, in addition to outdoor exercise, fishing and wildlife observation are also options to consider during a stay in Lebanon. Coleman Memorial Park and Stoever’s Dam Park have different emphases: one combines hiking with local industrial history, while the other offers a broader range of park activities.

Downtown, Art, and Local Produce

Downtown Lebanon can be explored on foot. Historic buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries shape the city’s history; you can also visit various specialty shops along the streets. On the first Friday of each month, the Lebanon Arts Council hosts an ArtWalk. Works by local artists are free to view at numerous locations within walking distance. If art and city history are central to your travel interests, this event offers a distinct cultural attraction within the city.

The farmers market at the Chestnut Street Community Center is also part of the local character. It offers fresh seasonal produce from Landisdale Farm and is open to everyone. Together with the specialty shops and the ArtWalk, the market adds further insight into local life alongside the historic buildings. The ArtWalk takes place on the first Friday of each month; the market focuses on seasonal produce.

When choosing a vacation rental in Lebanon, you can start by considering which of these aspects matters most to your trip: the historic downtown and ArtWalk, traces of the Union Canal and the Coleman family, or activities in parks and on trails.

More Places

Explore the pages for Jonestown, Campbelltown, Annville, Sand Hill, Myerstown, and Palmyra.

For the broader travel overview: Lebanon.