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Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor U.S. Department of the Interior

Erie Canalway Map & Guide Pittsford, Frank Forte

The State System—which includes the Erie, Champlain, Cayuga-Seneca, and Oswego —is the centerpiece of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Experience the enduring legacy of this National Historic Landmark by boat, bike, car, or on foot. Discover New York’s

Dubbed the “Mother of ” the canal fueled the growth of industries, opened the nation to settlement, and made New York the . (, Syracuse, 1905, courtesy Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Publishing Extraordinary Canals Company Collection.)

pened in 1825, New York’s canals are a waterway link from the to the through the heart of . Through wars and peacetime, prosperity and This guide presents exciting Orecession, flood and drought, this exceptional waterway has provided a living connection things to do, places to go, to a proud past and a vibrant future. Built with leadership, ingenuity, determination, and hard work, and exceptional activities to the canals continue to remind us of the qualities that make our state and nation great. They offer us enjoy. Welcome! inspiration to weather storms and time-tested knowledge that we will prevail.

Come to New York’s canals this year. Touch the building stones CONTENTS laid by immigrants and farmers 200 years ago. See century-old locks, lift Canals and COVID-19 bridges, and movable dams constructed during the canal’s 20th century Enjoy Boats and Boating Please refer to current guidelines and enlargement and still in use today. Walk, run, or cycle on the where on the Canals ...... 2-3 recommendations from the State of New mules once trod. Imagine the strength and stamina of people who traversed Erie Canalway Map...... 4 York and the Centers for Disease Control and the towpath long ago for work and the promise of America. Hit the Trail...... 6 Prevention to safely enjoy all the Canalway Corridor has to offer. Before you travel, check There are many ways to enjoy the waterway. More than Canalway Challenge...... 7 to see whether visitor centers, sites of 500 miles of canals and connected lakes and , 365 miles of Canalway Votes for Women...... 8 interest, tours, and services are open. Though Trail, and hundreds of communities are here to explore. Boating, they may not be going about “business as paddling and cycling present outstanding ways to experience the canals up usual,” many businesses, restaurants, and close. Choose from hundreds of museums, historic sites, state parks, and sites are doing their best to carry on with attractions along the way. And be sure to sample local flavor at craft breweries, creative new approaches. Please show your wineries, farmers markets, and eateries. You’ll quickly discover that they are Erie Canalway Map & Guide support and patronage when possible. within easy reach of most canal waterfronts. 2020 Enjoy Boats and Boating on the Canals The Fastest Way to Slow Down 13, Mohawk Valley Welcome Center, Frank Forte

Lock E2, Waterford, Call of the Loon Lock E2, Waterford, • Always wear a properly sized • Use designated launch sites to life jacket get your boat on the water • Stay a safe distance from • Boat sober dams, buoys and barriers • Be cautious near hydroelectric • Respect all signs and plants where currents and water warning signals levels can change quickly • Let someone know about • Leave no trace: carry out what your plans, including route, you carry in destination, and timing • Before heading out, check the weather forecast and the NYS Canal Corporation “Notices & Alerts” website for current information about conditions: canals.ny.gov Paddling Boat Tours and brookfi eldrenewable.com The NYS Canalway Water Trail welcomes Vacation Rentals kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards You can get on the water for a scenic ride Rome with more than 140 public access points or enjoy a lunch or dinner cruise on one of and lots of amenities and places of interest. the many tour boats along the canals. Paddlers navigate century old locks; pass Specialty cruises, sailing adventures, and stunning stone aqueducts used to carry wine tours are offered on lake and boats over rivers and streams in the 1800s; sections of the waterway. Multi-day paddle alongside tugboats and cruisers; cruises are available if you are looking for and experience narrow canal channels and a longer trip. wider river segments. You’ll find rental Vacation rentals provide an idyllic way outfitters and tour operators at numerous to experience the canal at a relaxed pace. locations. You’ll get lessons in steering, docking, and

Lock 28A, Lyons ca. 1921, courtesy locking before heading out, so you can hen the opened in 1825, its selling point was feel confident on the water even if you’re not an experienced boater. Rental boats speed: the canal dramatically cut travel time for cargo are well-equipped with sleeping quarters, and people and opened a whole new way to reach a galley, and deck space for relaxing; many W come with bikes so you can enjoy the America’s interior. Today, the canal offers just the opposite: a chance Canalway Trail too. to slow down and explore all the fascinating places along its shores. You’ll discover scenic vistas, abundant wildlife, and unique commu- Tours, Rentals, and Boater Information Longer Voyages Canal Amenity Centers nities where you’ll find amenities and numerous sites of interest. Find a list of boat tours and vacation rentals The NYS Canal System links the Hudson Numerous communities along the at eriecanalway/explore/boating. River with , Lake , waterway have Canal Amenity Centers Watch the Boats Go By Launch Your Own Boat Please check schedules and availability and , allowing boaters to travel that welcome people arriving by land or After more than 200 years of continuous There are more than 80 public boat ramps with tour operators as tours may be from the Atlantic Ocean to the upper Great water. These centers provide visitor service, New York’s Canals are still working along the NYS Canal System where you can impacted in 2020 due to COVID-19 Lakes. The Canal System is part of the information, restrooms, and showers. waterways that connect the Atlantic launch your own boat for a few hours or a restrictions. Additional boater resources Great Loop, a 5,000 to 7,500-mile boating Additional services like electric hookups, Ocean with the Great Lakes across upstate multi-day trip. The Erie Canal connects with and maps include: route, and the Triangle Loop, a shorter pump-outs, Wi-Fi, laundry, and camping Tugs with and huge motorships New York. Tugboats, barges, pleasure Oneida, Onondaga, Cross, Cayuga and • nycanalmap.org loop that traverses the Erie and Oswego vary by location. were once the main vessels on the boats, canoes, and kayaks all use the Seneca Lakes where you can enjoy other • canals.ny.gov canals, , and Canadian water- canals. While there are fewer commercial canals. Visit one of the NYS Canal System’s water sports, beaches, and sailing. Marinas • eriecanalway.org ways before looping back through Lake shipments today, the canal continues to 57 locks to see their massive gates and and public docks provide services and over- The New York • greatloop.org Champlain and the . provide an economical and practical way mechanical gears, and watch boats pass night accommodations. Many communities State Canalway to ship large cargoes, such as electrical through. Many locks have picnic areas and offer showers, laundry facilities, hook-ups, Water Trail turbines, industrial equipment, and fishing below the locks is popular. and other boater amenities right in the Guidebook and center of town. crushed stone. Map Set are The NYS Canal System is comprised of the Erie, Champlain, Cayuga-Seneca, and indispensable Oswego canals encompassing more than 500 miles of interconnected canals, resources for rivers, and lakes . The waterway is typically open to navigation from mid-May paddlers. A NATIONAL TREASURE—Built between 1817 and 1825, the original Erie Canal traversed 363 miles from Albany to through October . Safety concerns and construction delays and closures—many Request a copy Buffalo . It was the longest artificial waterway and the greatest public works project in North America . necessitated by the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic—may impact of the mile-by- The canal put New York on the map as the Empire State—the leader in population, industry, and economic strength . canal operations in 2020 . Please check the Canal Corporation’s Notices to Mariners mile guide at for up-to-date information on conditions and closures It transformed New York into the nation’s principal seaport and opened the interior of North America to settlement . [email protected] or visit The New York State Canal System is operated by the New York State Canal The canal was enlarged several times to accommodate larger boats and increasing traffic . The version we use today eriecanalway.org/watertrail. Corporation, a subsidiary of the . For current information, was completed in 1918 and remains fully navigable . In 2016 it was designated a National Historic Landmark for its a full calendar of events, and up-to-date Notices to Mariners, visit canals.ny.gov. exceptional national significance and historical integrity .

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Erie Canalway National Rochester to Syracuse (90 miles) The Champlain Canal The canal is the centerpiece of vibrant cities and small Waterford to Whitehall (63 miles)

towns along this stretch of the Erie Canal, where you’ll Boat, paddle, or cycle a region steeped in Lake Heritage Corridor find varied terrain on water and land. American history along the picturesque Champlain and Champlain Canal. esignated by Congress in 2000, the National Heritage Corridor extends along Rochester, Ira Srole New York’s canals from one end of the state to the other. As you travel, you The Erie Canalway Dwill discover distinct regional differences that will keep you coming back to National Heritage Corridor experience all that the Canalway Corridor has to offer. in New York State Oswego

Buffalo to Rochester (90 miles) The TO MONTREAL Find charming towns connected by water Three Rivers to Oswego (23 miles) 12 and trail along the longest section of the Short but sweet! The canalized flows 81 Erie Canal that still follows much of its north to Lake Ontario and is a popular place for sport 30 8 original path. fishing, boating, and paddling. Whitehall CHAMPLAIN CANAL

Oswego Lock C4, Frank Forte

149 Fort Ann 3 Minetto Glens 13 18 LAKE ONTARIO OSWEGO CANAL Falls ERIE CANAL 19 Fulton Middleport Holley 8 481 104 Sylvan Fort Edward 63 259 Brewerton Beach 46 Middleport Albion Phoenix 49 Rome 104 365 87 48 12 Medina 31A 34 Oneida 4 Brockport Lake Rochester Baldwinsville 46 31 Lockport 98 Spencerport Great 21 31 Niagara 414 Oriskany Sacandaga TO TORONTO Cross Lake Schuylerville Falls 490 North Fairport Lake HP ERIE CANAL Saratoga Springs Macedon Weedsport Liverpool al S Oneida Niagara Tonawanda Clyde Old Erie Can Utica 29 32 Newark Onondaga 5 5S 29 Falls WESTERN ERIE CANAL STATE HERITAGE CORRIDOR Pittsford 31 Lake Little Falls 9 Jordan Canastota Herkimer VT 190 78 Y Lyons Frankfort N 90 NEW YORK STATE THRUWA Palmyra 40 ia g 5 Batavia Port Camillus 173 Fayetteville Chittenango Ilion 90 M a r Tonawanda 14 o 67 a Byron Fonda Stillwater Ri 390 Montezuma 92 St. Johnsville h ve 5 a r r w e 63 167 i Amsterdam 77 Syracuse k r e CAYUGA–SENECA CANAL Auburn 28 5 Mechanicville 20 iv 5 Canandaigua Cayuga 20 80 Fort Plain 30A R e 30 Buffalo e Rexford North s e Geneva Waterloo n 20 e Seneca Falls G 89 MOHAWK VALLEY STATE HERITAGE C O RRIDOR LAKE ERIE Schenectady Waterford 0 40 Kilometers S 90 e Cohoes

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Canandaigua a 20 Vischer 0 40 Miles e y Lake c Troy a u g Aurora 13 10 L a Erie Canalway National a Canals operating k L 34 today Heritage Corridor e a Cooperstown 90 k k e e e Albany Canal lock; Dresden r 19th-century canals C details: www.canals.ny.gov/maps ie r a 14 h 414 o h Cortland 28 c S

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90 Keuka Oneonta Lake 81 Ithaca

Watkins Glen 13 NEW YORK 86 Montour Falls 87 MA Old Erie Canal State Park

Plan Your Trip The Cayuga-Seneca Syracuse to Little Falls (90 miles) Little Falls to Albany (90 miles) Canal Montezuma to Travel the route of today’s canal through lively The Erie Canal merges with the scenic Use the online New York State Canals Map to find Geneva, Cayuga and Seneca summerBinghamton communities along or through a region rich in a wealth of information on places of interest, visitor Lakes (92 miles) follow the historic route of the 1800s Erie Canal history and culture. centers, boat rentals and tours, and paddling access through the Old Erie Canal State Historic Park. sites. You can filter by features such as municipal Famed for its wineries, wildlife, The Canalway Trail runs through the park and centers, public restrooms, camping, and picnic and beautiful , this facilities. Directions and a distance calculator make it region also includes Seneca Falls, paddlers are welcome to explore the shallow easy to plan trips by bike, kayak, boat, or car. the birthplace of the women’s waters of the old Erie.

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New York City Hit the Trail Did you know? Take the Canalway Challenge Pittsford, Keith Boas John Copp race history and track miles along New York’s canals with 365 miles the Canalway Challenge. Part fitness challenge, part journey The multi-use trail is 80-percent off road and extends east-west Tof discovery, the Canalway Challenge is an invitation to along the Erie Canal from discover all you can do along New York’s canals and Canalway Trail. Buffalo to Albany for 365 miles. Participation is free and registration is open to individuals, teams, and organizations. Simply register online and choose a mileage goal of 15, 90, 180, or 360 miles (End-to- End/Buffalo to Albany); then walk, run, cycle, or paddle on the Canalway Trail and NYS 77 miles Canal System to achieve it. You can complete the Canalway Challenge in one big trip or An additional 77 miles of off- and many small ones. on-road trail segments extend north-south from Waterford to Hot on the Trail Whitehall, including the 9-mile As you log miles, take up the quest for what’s Hot on the Trail by seeking out great food off-road Trail. and beverages, historic sites, parks, and communities. You can earn a chance to win prizes for visiting a variety of sites while also achieving recognition for your mileage ...... • status. Canalway Challengers share experiences, recommendations, and support in a Trail conditions vary from dedicated Facebook group and on other social media. stone dust to paved. Visit the website to hear inspiring stories of people who have completed the Challenge Hybrid tires are recommended and sign up today to hit the ground running—or cycling, walking, or paddling! for stone dust segments. • canalwaychallenge.org ...... • • Facebook.com/groups/canalwaychallenge

750 miles Every Journey Begins By the end of 2020, New York State with a Single Step will link the Canalway Trail with routes from through The Canalway Challenge is open to people the Hudson River Valley to of all ages and abilities. If you’re not used Lake Champlain to the to regular exercise or you have a disability, 750-mile . start with the 1st Mile Challenge. That’s Take the Memories right: get up, get moving, and see if you With You! can work up to doing one mile.

Spencerport Cycling Club, courtesy Ogden Historical Society There are numerous places along the he Canalway Trail offers opportunities for fun and safe canals and Canalway Trail that are Visit the online canal store to find shirts, hats, mugs, and totes cycling, walking, and hiking for all ages and abilities. accessible and several that offer adaptive bikes and kayaks. Once you complete your to show your love for canals, sport You can spend a leisurely afternoon cycling with family 1st Mile, challenge yourself by signing up your Canalway Challenge mileage, T for more through the Canalway Chal- or gear up for paddling on the or friends. Teach your kids to ride a bike. Get out for an evening lenge. Learn more at: eriecanalway. NYS Canalway Water Trail. All net stroll or morning training run. Or set your sights on a multi-day org/1st-Mile proceeds support Erie Canalway trip of a lifetime. programs.

The trail’s route alongside the historic lock, park, historic site, or ice cream stand. Erie and Champlain canals makes cycling In New York State, all children under the here truly unique. This living waterway age of 14 are required to wear certified adds distinctive flavor in the form of canal bicycle safety helmets. Be a good role structures like locks and lift bridges, model and wear yours, too. working tugs and other vessels, friendly vacationers in boats of all stripes, and Cycling along the canal isn’t new. As bicycles became more affordable in the Cycling Resources and Tours canal communities and historic sites that Enter the Erie Canalway late-1880s, hundreds of cycling clubs formed across the . In larger Whether you want to cycle on your own are intriguing and fun cycling destinations. cities like Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse and small towns like Spencerport or with an organized ride, you’ll find Photo Contest (above), clubs promoted cycling for sport, social activity, and transportation. comprehensive guidebooks, maps and Cycling with Kids online resources to help you find trailheads, Women’s liberation activists, like Susan B. Anthony, promoted cycling as a way Entering the contest is a snap: find an entry form The Canalway Trail is fantastic for sites of interest, best bet trips, kid friendly for women to gain greater freedom of movement and self-reliance. and tips on our website: families. Flat sections are easy for kids to rides, and amenities. We recommend Stefanie Obkirchner Fort Hunter, eriecanalway.org/get-involved/photo-contest manage and you can practice good bike consulting maps in advance of your trip. etiquette and safety when passing, Cycle the Erie Canal in July is an annual Deadline for entries: August 28, 2020 stopping, and turning. Plan shorter rides 8-day bike tour from Buffalo to Albany initially and lengthen them as your child’s organized by Parks & Trails New York. Note: Winning images will be published in the Be mindful! Follow current New York State interest and stamina grow. Choose a Several private companies offer supported 2021 Erie Canalway calendar; images must be bicycle guidelines for social distancing while enjoying parks destination to give kids a point to shoot rides throughout the season. Find cycling horizontal format . and trails. coronavirus.health.ny.gov for as they ride and a sense of accomplish- resources at: ment when they reach it. Your destination • cycletheeriecanal.com shop.eriecanalway.org may be the next lift bridge or town, a • eriecanalway.org

6 Erie Canalway Map & Guide Erie Canalway Map & Guide 7 Courtesy Library of Congress Votes for

The Erie Canalway National Women Heritage Corridor preserves our extraordinary canal heritage, promotes the Corridor as a 2020 marks the world-class tourism destination, 100th anniversary of and fosters vibrant communities the 19th amendment connected by more than 500 miles of historic waterway. We achieve ratifying women’s our mission in partnership with voting rights. But the the National Park Service, New York call for women’s rights began State agencies, non-profit organiza- “When Anthony Met tions, local residents, and more much earlier and traces a Stanton” by sculptor than 200 communities across the significant part of its history to Ted Aub in Seneca Falls full expanse of upstate New York.

New York’s canals. Courtesy Schneider Family P.O. Box 219 In 1848, people convened the first Waterford, New York 12188 Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Touch History in Seneca Falls 518-237-7000 Falls, demanding full and equal rights [email protected] between women and men. They drafted Visit the place that touched off eriecanalway.org the Declaration of Sentiments, denounc- the movement for women’s ing inequities in property rights, educa- rights and learn more about tion, employment, religion, marriage and the canal’s role in spreading From cooks to cabin maids to captains, family, and suffrage. The Declaration was ideas and information at the Women’s women have long played vital roles on signed by 100 women and men, and the Rights National Historical Park, the canal. Many boats were family- Many thanks! U.S. women’s rights movement was born. National Women’s Hall of Fame, and owned, and women raised children and The Erie Canalway Map & Guide, It took another 72 years before women Seneca Museum of Waterways and managed household chores aboard their NYS Canalway Water Trail, and could cast their first ballots. The 19th Industry in Seneca Falls. Round out your floating homes. Today, women work as Canalway Challenge are made Amendment to the Constitution was finally trip by paddling or cruising on the tug captains, canal engineers, and in possible with generous support passed by Congress on June 4, 1919 and Cayuga-Seneca Canal and visiting the other leadership roles in organizations from these sponsors: ratified on August 18, 1920. region’s award-winning wineries. and business associated with the canals.

Support provided by Market NY through I LOVE NY, New York State’s Division of Tourism, 2020 Canal Festivals & Events as a part of the State’s Regional Economic Development Council initiative.

Please find a list of events for 2020-21 online at eriecanalway.org and canals.ny.gov . Check with event ® I LOVE NEW YORK is a registered trademark organizers for up-to-date information, as many events have been postponed, rescheduled, or cancelled as a and service mark of the New York State Department of Economic Development; used result of the COVID-19 pandemic . with permission.

When you explore the Erie, Champlain, Cayuga-Seneca, or Oswego Canals, you’re traveling in the wake of genera- canals.ny.gov tions of families, canal workers, and world travelers who have plied these waters and walked its towpath since the Erie Canal opened in 1825. Some of our brookfieldrenewable.com more famed literary visitors include Charles Dickens, , , and .

Tour Boat Wm B Kirk, courtesy , Syracuse Tour Travelers sent postcards home by the thousands to share their journeys. Share your experience on social media with stewartsshops.com #eriecanalway, and #NYSCanals, connect with us @eriecanalway, or send an old-fashioned postcard home.

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