THE ERIE CANAL

Get On the Canals

(Left) Just like the original 1905 Erie Canal Song lyrics (click to play), Passengers on board the Colonial Belle navigate a 'low bridge' in Newark, NY. (photo by Bob Stopper), (Center) Canal Lock 30 in Macedon, (Right) Recreation along the Erie Canal (photo by Bill Blevins)

Discover the Re-imagined Erie Canal !

L ow Bridge ev'ry body down, Low bridge for we're comin' to a town .. For nearly 200 years, the 363 mile-long Erie Canal has attracted and welcomed travelers and industry. Boats transit NY State from Albany to Buffalo by passing through 34 locks that raise or lower the water level by 565 feet.

The Canals were recently 're-imagined' to accommodate Recreational Activities - and the results have been even more exciting than expected.

'On the Canals' hosts Activites and Upcoming Programs for both Summer and Winter, including hiking, biking, paddling, artistry, snowshoeing, and sightseeing.

Additional access to boat tours and historic attractions make the Erie Canal a Favorite Destination for Day trippers, weekenders, and Vacationers.

Canal Towns contain all the necessary Amenities, including Great Places to Dine & Stay.

According to the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, "New York State’s 500-mile-long system of navigable waterways connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Great Lakes is among the state’s greatest assets. This historic and multidimensional waterway plays a central role in tourism, recreation, agriculture, power generation, water supply, commercial/ industrial activities, transportation, and community development."

Experience New York's extraordinary Canal System with over 500 miles of interconnected waterways, accessible trails, welcoming communities, and attractions that make the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor a place for all to explore and enjoy.