However, the tough budget environment in Washington, and environmental concerns have kept the proposal from going ahead. Though the ins and outs are complicated, the Garrison Diversion makes a reasonable walking route on public lands. However, this means that large parts of the McClusky Canal are located in cuts, some of them quite deep, where the view is limited, and often uncomfortable on hot days, especially so since shade on hot days is hard to find. The trail is not otherwise marked along the McCluskey and New Rockford Canals, but route finding is not a problem, so route descriptions will be limited here. Access limitation signs and other canal related signage exists at road crossings.
Camping is permitted anywhere along the canal lands, but there are no prepared campsites.
Camps should be set up off of the access road. There are public campgrounds at Turtle Lake and McCluskey, and two in the Lonetree Wildlife Management area. Limited services are available at several small towns along the way. For the first part of the McClusky, generally speaking the north side of the canal is the preferred side, and is the side where alternate routes will be marked around the cuts. The route leaves the intake structure in such a cut, but often manages to be at or above grade, too.