New York State Canalway Trail facts for kids
The New York State Canalway Trail is a fantastic network of paths in New York State. These trails run right next to old or current sections of the Erie, Oswego, Cayuga-Seneca, and Champlain canals. Imagine biking or walking along historic waterways!
When all the trails are finished, they will stretch for about 524 miles (843 km). The longest part is the Erie Canalway Trail, which is about 365 miles (587 km) long. The Erie and Champlain Canalway Trails are also part of an even bigger path system called the Empire State Trail.
Many groups are working together to complete this amazing trail system. These include Parks & Trails New York, the New York State Canal Corporation, and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. They want to make sure everyone can enjoy these trails.
Contents
A Bit of History: Canals and Towpaths
Long ago, before trains were common, New York had many canals. These canals were like water highways, used to move goods and people across the state. But as railroads and highways became popular, canals were used less for shipping.
In 1995, a plan was made to turn the canals into a "linear park" – a long, narrow park with trails connecting towns along the way. This plan encouraged fun activities like biking, hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, canoeing, and fishing.
The original canals had special paths next to them called towpaths. Mules would walk on these towpaths, pulling barges (flat-bottomed boats) through the water. Many of today's Canalway Trails follow these very old towpaths!
Some parts of the trails are next to canals that are still used today, mostly by people enjoying boat rides. Other towpath trails pass by old, ruined locks and other canal structures. Many towns along the canal have worked hard to create parks, improve the towpaths, and even fix up old canal buildings like locks and aqueducts.
The Erie Canalway Trail is Complete!
As of 2021, the Erie Canalway Trail is 100% finished! This means you can travel its entire length. As part of the Empire State Trail project, any missing parts of the trail were completed by the end of 2020. This included both paths that are off-road and sections that share the road.
Exploring Erie Canalway Sections
Here are some of the cool sections of the Erie Canalway Trail, listed from west to east:
| Section Name | Start and End Points | Length | Surface | What's Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie Canal Heritage Trail | Buffalo to Newark | 114 miles (183 km) | Paved, stone dust | A long and varied section for many adventures. |
| Old Erie Canal | Port Byron to Camillus | 28 miles (45 km) | Stone dust | Includes the Camillus Erie Canal Park and a restored aqueduct at Nine Mile Creek. |
| Old Erie Canal State Historic Park | Dewitt to Rome | 36 miles (58 km) | Paved, stone dust | A great place to learn about canal history. |
| Rome to Utica Section | Rome to Utica | 30 miles (48 km) | Paved, stone dust | Connects two historic cities. |
| Mohawk Hudson Bike/Hike Trail | Little Falls to Albany | 86 miles (138 km) | Asphalt | This is the eastern end of the Erie Canalway and connects to the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail. |
Other Exciting Trails
Besides the Erie Canalway, there are other important trails in the system:
| Section Name | Start and End Points | Length | Surface | What's Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Champlain Canal Trail | Waterford | 3 miles (5 km) | Stone dust, soil | Starts where the old Champlain Canal met the Erie Canal. |
| Glens Falls Feeder Canal Trail | Glens Falls | 9 miles (14 km) | A scenic trail near Glens Falls. |
