National Park Service Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor U.S. Department of the Interior Erie Canalway Map & Guide 2012 Fairport, Keith Boas Explore. Learn. Discover. Getting Here The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 cleared the way for goods, people, The New York State Thruway (I-90) and Amtrak parallel the Erie Canal and ideas to flow from New York City to the Great Lakes and beyond. from Albany to Buffalo. Northway I-87 Travelers marveled at the canal’s locks and low bridges, and encountered provides access to the Champlain colorful characters, lively adventures, and hometown hospitality all Canal from Albany to Whitehall. But to see the best parts of the Erie Canalway, along the way. you’ll want to get off the Interstates. You can too. Discover for yourself what you can’t read in a history book: State and county roads thread through the hamlets, villages, and cities that New York’s legendary canals—where exceptional scenery, history, culture, grew along the waterways and provide and adventure await. Here are a few of the things you’ll want to explore: the best access to canal towns and sites. Try these routes: What’s Inside Today’s Canals Canal Communities • NY Rte 31 in western New York Get On Board! . 2 Rent a canal boat for a few hours or a Stroll through villages, towns, and cities • NY Rte 5 and 5S in the weeklong vacation, step on board a tour whose canal waterfronts still open onto Walk! Cycle! Jog! Mohawk Valley boat, or explore in your own cruiser, historic Main Streets with one-of-a-kind The Erie Canalway Trail • NY Rte 48 and County Rte 57 along kayak or canoe. shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions. is waiting for you . 3 the Oswego Canal Original Towpath-Era Canals Festivals and Events • NY Rte 4 along the Champlain Canal Erie Canalway Map . 4 and Engineering Marvels Join hundreds of thousands of residents …and a host of smaller roads Regional Flavor . 6 Find historic structures from the 1800s, and visitors who celebrate their canal in between. as well as locks, lift bridges, and guard heritage each year with great food, music, Join the Fun at gates still in use today. and family fun activities. Festival and Events . 7 Erie Canalway Trail Nature & Scenic Beauty 2012 Photo Contest . 7 Enjoy unparalleled cycling and hiking Capture the moment! The canals of New Try a Taste of History . 7 along the 365-mile Erie Canalway Trail, York State traverse some of New York’s which follows both active and bypassed most picturesque countryside and nature It’s Our “Park” . 8 sections of the Erie Canal—much of it preserves—perfect for birdwatching, Take the Kids! . 8 along the canal’s former towpath. photography, painting, or just enjoying a quiet refuge. Get On Board! COMPANY/ TELEPHONE/ LOCATION WEBSITE CANOE/KAYAK RENTAL AND HOURLY TOURS DAILY SELF-SKIPPERED BOAT CHARTER OVERNIGHT/MULTI- CRUISE DAY CHARTER W/CAPTAIN/CREW Erie Canal: Mohawk-Hudson Region The Boat House, 518-393-5711 Schenectady www.boathousecanoeskayaks.com • Erie Canal Cruises, 315-717-0350 Herkimer www.eriecanalcruises.com • • Erie-Champlain Canal Boat 518-577-6363; 518-432-6094 Company, Waterford www.eccboating.com • • Erie Canal: Central Region Camillus Erie Canal Park, 315-488-3409 Camillus www.eriecanalcamillus.com • Discovery Marine Services, 315-317-3694 Baldwinsville www.discoverymarineservices.com • Mid-Lakes Navigation Co., 315-685-8500; 800-545-4318 Baldwinsville, Skaneateles www.midlakesnav.com • • Erie Canal: Western Region Amherst Marine Center, 716-691-6707 Amherst www.amherstmarinecenter.com • Steve Baldwin / Studio Astute. Inset: Lock 25, Paul McPherson Colonial Belle–Erie Canal 585-223-9470 Cruises, Fairport www.colonialbelle.com • • The New York State Canal System Corn Hill Navigation, 585-662-5748 forms the spine of the Erie Rochester, Pittsford www.samandmary.org • • Canalway National Heritage Erie Canal Boat Company, 585-748-2628 Corridor. More than 500 miles of Fairport www.eriecanalboatcompany.com • interconnected canals, rivers, and Genesee Waterways 585-328-3960 lakes are typically open to naviga- Center, Rochester www.geneseewaterways.org • tion from May 1 to November 15. Lock 32 Whitewater 585-586-4330; 585-328-3960 Kayaking Park, Pittsford www.geneseewaterways.org • You’ll see tour boats, cruisers, kayaks, and crew teams, alongside the New York State Lockport Locks and Erie 800-378-0352; 716-433-6155 Canal Corporation’s blue and yellow work boats and other historic vessels. There Canal Cruises, Lockport www.lockportlocks.com • • are numerous choices for hourly tours, overnight excursions, and do-it-yourself Low Bridge Charters, 585-944-1764 exploration. Consult our chart to find boat rentals and tours. You can also load up Fairport www.lowbridgecharters.com • your own kayak or canoe to explore the waterway. Find the latest information about Mid-Lakes Navigation: 315-986-3011 access points and amenities using the Interactive NYS Canalway Water Trail Map: Macedon Landing, Macedon www.midlakesnav.com • • • www.canals.ny.gov/exvac/watertrail.html Cayuga-Seneca Canal If you like boats, but prefer to enjoy them from shore, stop by one of the many canal Canal Side Experiences, 315-651-4443 Waterloo www.canalside.net • • • harbors, visitor centers, or parks on the water. Many of the NYS Canal System’s 57 locks include waterfront parks for picnicking, fishing, playing, or just sitting on the Captain Bill’s, 607-535-4541 Watkins Glen www.senecaharborstation.com • • bank and watching boats. Cruise-USA, 228-424-3768 Union Springs www.cruise-usa.com • The NYS Canal System is owned and operated by the New York State Canal Erie Canal Cruise Lines, 800-962-1771 Corporation, a subsidiary of the New York State Thruway Authority . Purchase Seneca Falls www.canalcruises.com • a copy of the official Cruising Guide to the New York State Canal System for Finger Lakes Boat Rental, 315-364-8663 a complete list of services for boaters and information about navigating the Aurora www.fingerlakesboatrental.com • canal . Current information on fees for boating through the locks and up-to-date Finger Lakes Boat Tours, 585-703-0031 notices to mariners may be found at www.canals.ny.gov or by calling Geneva http://www.fingerlakesboattours.com • • 1-800-4-CANAL-4 (1-800-422-6254) . Finger Lakes Water 315-789-5520 Adventures, Waterloo www.fingerlakeswateradventures.com • • Force Seven Charters, Inc., 585-330-7440 Seneca Lake, Waterloo www.forcesevencharters.com • • • Fuzzy Guppies, 315-539-8848 In the Wake of Irene and Lee: Use Caution Waterloo www.fuzzyguppies.com • Liberty Boat Tours, 315-246-7608 ; 315-789-5520 (Geneva) While Tropical Storms Irene and Lee caused massive flooding and Seneca Falls, Geneva www.libertyboattours.com • • unprecedented damage along the Mohawk River section of the Erie Tiohero Tours, 607-697-0166 Canal in 2011, the canal will be open, weather permitting, for a full navigational season. Ithaca www.tioherotours • • The New York State Canal Corporation recommends caution when boating between Champlain Canal Locks 6 and 14 in the eastern Erie Canal. Shoreside restoration, as well as continuing Carillon Cruises, 802-897-5331 • • repairs to locks and other structures will be ongoing throughout the season. Whitehall www.carilloncruises.com Champlain Canal 518-695-5609 Many private and municipal marinas experienced extensive damage as well. Boaters Tour Boats, Schuylerville www.champlaincanaltours.com • • • traveling to the New York State Canal System this year should call ahead to verify Multiple Locations docking facilities are operational and advertised amenities, such as fuel, water and Blount Small Ship 800-556-7450; 401-247-0955 electric, are available. Adventures, Warren, RI www.blountsmallshipadventures.com • For more information, visit www.canals.ny.gov Mid-Lakes Navigation Co., 800-545-4318; 315-685-8500 Skaneateles www.midlakesnav.com • 2 Erie Canalway Map & Guide Seek Adventure: Become an End to End Rider 365 miles: no problem. Join the growing number of cyclists who count riding across New York on the Erie Canalway Trail among their adventurous accomplishments. You can take advantage of excellent guide books and online trip planning maps to help you create an itinerary that suits your interests (see Erie Canalway Trail Resources below). Walk! Cycle! Jog! The Erie Canalway Trail is waiting for you. Take your kids or friends or relatives or even just the dog. No matter how you go, take Erie Canalway Trail Resources If you don’t want to go it alone, sign up for the summer’s biggest cycling event: Cycling the Erie Canal, July 8–15, 2012. pleasure in getting out along the water on • Cycling the Erie Canal—A guide to Organized by Parks & Trails New York, this supported group 400 miles of adventure and history along the Erie Canalway Trail. The 365-mile trail is ride attracts 500 cyclists of all ages and from all over the country. the Erie Canalway Trail—Available from mostly level and closely parallels much of the The eight-day ride begins in Buffalo and ends in Albany. Shorter Parks & Trails New York, www.ptny.org/ weekend options are also available. Erie Canal from Albany to Buffalo; more than guidebook, 518-434-1583. Also check three-quarters is off-road on former canal PTNY’s interactive Cycling the Erie Canal towpaths or rail bed. website: www.ptny.org/bikecanal. Cycling the Erie Canal 2012 • Sunday, July 8: Buffalo to Medina • Erie Canalway Trail Map—Free from Great for exercise or an evening stroll, the trail is also a the New York State Canal Corporation, • Monday, July 9: Medina to Pittsford perfect way to access all sorts of interesting canal sites that (800)-4CANAL4 or (518) 436-3055, • Tuesday, July 10: Pittsford to Seneca Falls you might miss in a car. You can visit Western New York’s www.canals.ny.gov/exvac/trail/ • Wednesday, July 11: Seneca Falls to Syracuse canal villages with their distinctive lift bridges; see the 1800s index.html.