In Holley, a walk on the wild side

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – I’ve heard about how the canal used to go near the Public Square in Holley and how remnants of the original canal remain. On Tuesday, after seeing the Tugboat Urger in Holley, I went for a walk on Holley’s trail system to see if I could find any signs of the original canal.

I didn’t find any stone walls or old artifacts from the original canal. But I did see a blue heron perched in a tree.

This branch hangs out over the canal in Holley, just west of the Bennetts Corners Road canal bridge. Holley has a trail system that goes from its canal park into the woods by the waterfalls and to the Public Square.

Get too close to the heron, and it will take off in flight.

The canal allows many close encounters with wildlife, from deer, ducks, birds, fish, turtles and more.

Looking down from the path on the south side of the canal there is what I think is a waste weir, where water is drained from the canal.

I think this water feeds Sandy Creek which cuts through the woods. I was looking for old canal remnants, but came up empty.

This is a good size culvert you don’t normally see in a wooded area.

Here is another look at the culvert with the zoom lens.

Follow the trail by Sandy Creek and you discover the top of the Holley Waterfalls.

You have options on the Holley walking trail – left or right?

I headed back to the path by the canal and met my friend, the heron. It had moved down a little closer to the canal bridge.

Once again, you get too close and it takes off flying.

If anyone wants to show me where the canal walls are from the original canal, send me an email and we can work out a time to go see it. (tom@orleanshub.com)