New York State Canalway Trail System
 The
New York State Canalway Trail System is comprised of a network
of more than 260 miles of existing multi-use, recreational
trails across upstate New York. Major segments are adjacent to
the waterways of the New York State Canal System (see our map)
or follow remnants of the historic original canals of the
early 1800s that preceded today's working Canal System.
The Canalway Trail System is comprised of four major
segments: the 100-mile Erie Canal Heritage Trail in Western
New York; the 36-mile Old Erie Canal State Park Trail in
Central New York; the 60-mile Mohawk-Hudson Bikeway in the
eastern Capital Region, and the eight-mile Glens Falls Feeder
Canal Trail in the foothills of the Adirondacks near Lake
George. In addition, there are smaller segments of Canalway
Trail.
These trail segments and other areas of the Canalway Trail
System connect with trails leading throughout New York State,
providing one of the most extensive trail networks in the
country.
Canalway Trail Times
Find out what’s going on along the Canalway Trail in the
Canalway Trail Times newsletter. The publication contains
information on volunteer programs, trail development updates
and events from across the corridor. To view the latest
edition, please refer to the
Parks and
Trails New York website.
Erie Canal Heritage Trail -
a 100-mile Trail between Tonawanda and Newark in Western New
York. This Trail segment is designated as a National
Recreation Trail and has numerous access points, primarily
where local roads intersect. Parking is available at many of
the access points. Sign kiosks containing maps and historic
information are located at many trailheads. Trail Uses:
Hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing (all sections);
horseback riding and snowmobiling in some sections (for
details call the Canal Corporation). Trail Surface: Stone
dust; some portions in Tonawanda and Rochester are asphalt.
Biker-Hiker-Boater Campsites are located at Lock 30 in Macedon
and at the Holley Canal Port.
Trail Uses: Hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing.
Trail Surface: Stone dust, gravel.
Old Erie Canal State Park Trail
- a 36-mile Trail within the linear State Park between DeWitt
and Rome in Central New York. Designated as a National
Recreation Trail, this segment incorporates an abandoned
section of the nineteenth century-era Erie Canal. Parking
areas with foot-bridge access to the Trail are located at
Poolsbrook and Cedar Bay picnic areas within the park.
Trail Uses: Hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing,
horseback riding and snowmobiling. Trail Surface: Stone
dust, gravel.
Mohawk-Hudson Bikeway - a 60-mile Trail along the
Erie Canal and Mohawk River between St. Johnsville and
Waterford in the Capital Region. Many sections of this segment
were built on former grades of the nineteenth century Erie
Canal towpath. The trail is continuous except for a segment
between Rotterdam Junction and Amsterdam, a short segment
under Interstate Route 87 (Adirondack Northway) in the Town of
Colonie, and short segments in Schenectady and Cohoes. The
bikeway route is signed along connecting roadways.
Trail Uses: Hiking, bicycling, in-line skating and
cross-country skiing. Motorized vehicles are not
allowed.
Trail Surface: Stone dust in Montgomery County and on a
one-mile segment in Cohoes. Asphalt elsewhere.
Glens Falls Feeder Canal Trail - an eight-mile Trail
between Glens Falls and Fort Edward along the historic Feeder
Canal near the Hudson River and Old Champlain Canal. The Trail
follows the towpath along the Feeder Canal, which is one of
the last surviving sections of the original 1820s Canal
System. The Feeder Canal was built in the late 1820s to help
maintain the water level in the Champlain Canal, since the
section between Fort Ann and Fort Edward was higher than the
rest of the Canal. A link between the Feeder Canal Trail and
the Warren County/Bikeway leading to Lake George is signed
along connecting roadways in Glens Falls.
Trail Uses: Hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing.
Motorized vehicles are not allowed. Trail Surface:
Stone dust.
WATCH THE CANALWAY TRAIL SYSTEM
GROW
The New York State Canal Corporation's long-range goal for
the Canalway Trail System is to create a cross-State network
of multi-use trails that will span nearly 500 miles across
upstate New York, paralleling
major portions of the 524-mile New York State Canal System.
When completed over the next several years, the Trail
System will provide a means for those who are not boaters to
enjoy the beauty and the history found all along New York's
Canals. The System will include both urban and rural trails to
meet the needs of both visitors and local residents alike.
Completion of the Trail will involve the creation of
partnerships between the New York State Canal Corporation and
a variety of organizations, including local governments,
not-for-profit organizations, other New
York State government agencies, and the National
Park Service.
FIND THE CANALWAY TRAIL TODAY
A free map of the New York State Canalway Trail System is
available from the New York State Canal Corporation. To obtain
a copy, or to learn more about the Canalway Trail, call:
Toll-free (800)-4CANAL4 or write: New York State Canal
Corporation P.O. Box 189 Albany, NY 12201-0189.
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