Big city Buffalo is second in size state-wide only to New York City, but holds its own in terms of cultural attractions, proximity to national landmarks like Niagara Falls and the easy access it proffers to grand parks.
The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor preserves the canal system, all 524 miles of it, and celebrates its long, 180-year history. New England and the rest of the US were shaped by this canal.
Hours + Fees
Hours:
Most towpath sections of the Erie Canalway are open year-round from dawn until dusk.For more information on lock hours of operation contact the NY State Canal Corporation.
Be sure to visit the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Visitor Center, located at Peebles Island State Park in Waterford, NY.
Peebles Island State Park is open 7:30 a.m. to dusk daily. To contact them by phone or mail: P.O. Box 219 Waterford, NY 12188 Phone:(518) 237-8643
Season:
The canal is closed to boat traffic during the winter.
Map + Directions
Basic Directions
Several interstate highways cross the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. The New York State Thruway (I-90) roughly parallels the Erie Canalway route from Albany to Buffalo. Perhaps the best way to explore canal country by car is along state and county roads that hug the water more closely and thread through the hamlets, villages, and cities that grew along the waterways. These are NY Rt. 31 in western New York, NY Rt. 5 and 5S in the east, NY Rt. 481 along the Oswego, ...and a host of smaller roads in between them.
The Lakes to Locks Passage along the Champlain Canal and the Mohawk Towpath along the eastern end of Lake Erie have been designated National Scenic Byways.
We offer a compact version of Go-New-York for mobile users, allowing you to access just the information you need on the road. Of course, you can still use the full version of Go-New-York on your mobile device just as you can on your desktop.
