The physical properties of the edge states of the open two-leg generalized spin ladder are investigated by means of the bosonization approach. Depending on interchain couplings, two different types of Haldane gapped phases are obtained, one with spin 1/2 edge states, the other one without edge states. We determine the magnetization and dimerization profiles for both phases. Further applications to the spin-1 chain are discussed. Finally, we address the case of interchain interactions breaking SU(2) spin symmetry.