ERIE CANALWAY TRAIL:
SYRACUSE-ROCHESTER, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: Sept 24, 2021
Length: Camillus to Port Byron; 20.2 miles
Port Byron to Clyde; 14.2 miles on-road
Clyde to Rochester; 52.8 miles
Difficulty: Camillus to Port Byron; Easy. Flat stone-dust trail. Short on-road sections.
Clyde to Rochester; Easy. Flat paved and stone-dust trail. Short on-road sections.
Directions:
To start from Reed Webster Park in Camillus [Eastern End]; From I-690 take exit 6 to Route 695 south. Keep right to merge with Route 5 west. Take your first exit to Route 173/Warners Rd and turn left. Travel 1.2 miles to a parking lot on your right across from the canal.
To start from Weedsport or Port Byron [Center Eastern End]; From I-90 take exit 40 to Route 34 south (right) to Weedsport. Turn right on Route 31 and as you leave town look left for the Centreport Aqueduct Park parking lot. Continue along Route 31 towards Port Byron. Just as your approaching Port Byron look left for the Schafer Park parking lot.
To start from Water Street Park in Clyde [Center Section]; From I-90 take exit 41 to Route 414 north to Clyde. Just before you cross over the Erie Canal turn right on Redfield St. First left on Orchard St. This brings you the Water Street Park.
To start from the T Spencer Knight Canal Port parking lot in Newark [Center Section]; From the junction of Routes 31 and 88 in Newark head north across the canal on Route 88. turn right on Van Buren St for the T Spencer Knight Canal Port parking lot.
To start from the Erie Canal Marina parking lot in Palmyra [Center Western End]; From the junction of Routes 21 and 31 in Palmyra travel west on Route 31. Turn right on Market St, which becomes Division St and follow to the Erie Canal Marina parking lot.
To start from Genesee Valley Park in Rochester [Western End]; From I-390 take exit 17 to Route 383. Head left (north) to Genesee St.
For the Genesee Valley Park; Northwest parking area; Turn right down Genesee St. Parking lot entrance is on your left. Follow the paved trail south from the parking lot.
For the Genesee Valley Park; Northeast parking area; Continue straight on Elmwood Ave and cross over the Genesee River. Take an immediate right on Moore Rd into the park. Parking lot will be on your right.
For the Genesee Valley Park; Red Creek & South parking lots; Turn right on Elmwood Ave and cross over the river. Take an immediate right on Moore Rd into the park. Cross the canal and turn right on Hawthorne Dr. Red Creek parking lot will be on your left. Head left along Hawthorne Dr to reach the trail. If you continue along Hawthorne Dr, crossing Red Creek, you'll come to the South parking lot. Trail is on your right.
These sections of the Erie Canalway Trail travel from Syracuse to Rochester.
The
Erie Canalway Trail
is a network of approximately 300
miles of multiple-use trails across upstate New York. The trail follows the
towpaths of both active and historic sections of the New York State Canal System,
such as the Erie Canal
and Old Erie Canal, as well
as, adjacent abandoned rail corridors such as the former West Shore Railroad which was chartered
The Erie Canalway Trail is part of the Empire State Trail , which will be a continuous 750-mile route spanning the state from New York City to Canada and Buffalo to Albany, creating the longest multi-use state trail in the nation.
Note; A shuttle system has been set up along the length of the Erie Canalway Trail. Visit: BIKE TOURS/SHUTTLE .
Note; For trail closures See; CANALWAY TRAIL CLOSURES .
Camillus to Port Byron Section:
Note; Heading East; The Erie Canalway Trail travels 72.5 miles to the N Genesee Street parking lot in Utica. See; Erie Canalway Trail; Utica-Syracuse .
Starting from Warners Road parking lot in Camillus; [181 miles to Albany from here] [Continuing Mileage] The wide stone-dust Erie Canalway Trail travels west along the northern side of the old Erie Canal.
Note; A grass lined trail travels along the southern side of the canal as part of the Nancy Browne Wildlife Sanctuary.
After passing by an informational sign saying this was the site of the old Erie Canal Clintons Ditch Aqueduct & Lock (A path to your right takes you to Nine Mile Creek) you'll come to the Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct where the canal crosses over the creek. More informational boards. Pass by some old canal boats and canal relics, as well as, the Camillus Sim's Store Museum before coming to Devoe Rd at 183 miles. Across the canal is the Camillus Feeder Canal (bridge over it) followed by Camillus Landing. Map Board, picnic pavilion, Porto-Potty's and Devoe Road parking lot located here.
Note; If you head left over the canal on Devoe Rd you'll come to a Steam Engine Exhibit on your right. To the left is where the grass lined trail ends along the southern side of the canal.
The wide stone-dust trail continues west. This was as far as I traveled. Cross Route 36 at 185.2 miles where you'll find a parking lot and picnic pavilion. Cross Route 66 at 187.7 miles in Memphis where you'll find a parking lot. Cross Route 135 at 189.3 miles, followed by S McDonald Rd. You'll share the trail with a residential road for a bit before coming to Schaap Rd at 191 miles. Come to N Beaver St at 192.5 miles where you'll need to turn right then left for a short on-road section along N Chappell St. Just past the Jordan Middle School you'll rejoin the stone-dust trail in Jordan at 192.7 miles. I've checked out this section. A bridge takes you over Skaneateles Creek. Here the remains of the Jordan Aqueduct (Enlarged Canal 1840-1845) carried the Old Erie Canal over this creek. In 1932 a garden park was created and is still going strong. Down below is the "Kissing Bridge" which was moved here. Lots of informational boards. Cross Main St, past a Veterans Memorial and travel along the grass lined canal, which allows you to see the stonework that would normally be hidden under water. Cross Hamilton St and Warner Rd before coming to Route 31 where you bear left to a crosswalk (Use Caution; High speed road). The trail now travels along a wooded corridor. Come to the remains of Lock 51 (1847) at 194 miles. Here you'll find the Route 31 parking lot, informational board and picnic tables. Here you can walk through the old grass lined Locks. The trail continues, crossing Pump Rd and Route 14, before crossing Route 31 (Use Caution; High speed road). Return to Route 31 at 157.4 miles.
Note; Left is the West Shore Trail, a grass surface trail that travels up a slight hill bringing you to E Brutus St after 1.7 miles. I didn't check out this trail. Future plans call for the West Shore Trail to continue west through Weedsport to the old Centreport Aqueduct.
Cross Route 31 and after 195.2 miles the trail ends on Towpath Rd where you must continue on-road for 2.1 miles. Continue left (west) along Towpath Rd (low traffic) back out to Route 31 at 197.3 miles. Head right on-road (wide shoulder) crossing Putnam Brook. Come to the busy intersection of Routes 31 & 34 in Weedsport. Continue straight across the intersection (Use Caution) along Route 31. Here you'll follow a BIKE LANE for a bit, then a wide shoulder before coming to the Centreport Aqueduct Park parking lot at 198.8 miles. Here you'll find informational boards, Map and picnic tables. The stone-dust trail continues west along the grass lined Old Erie Canal before a bridge takes you over Cold Spring Brook next to the remains of the old Centreport Aqueduct. The trail enters a wooded corridor and follows the remains of the old canal. Cross Centreport Rd and the old canal becomes more distinct, filling with water before coming to the Schafer Park parking lot in Port Byron at 201.2 miles, where you'll find a picnic pavilion, Map & informational board and Porto-Potty.
Note; As of Sept 2021, a gap currently exists in the trail from Port Byron west to Clyde requiring an on-road detour.
Port Byron to Clyde Section:
Note; This next section of the Empire State Trail & Erie Canalway Trail is all on-road from Port Bryon 14.2 miles to just outside of Clyde. Not recommended for novice bikers.
Starting from the Schafer Park parking lot in Port Byron; I haven't checked out this next section. Head left on-road along Route 31 (wide shoulder) to Main St. Continue right along Route 31 through downtown Port Byron. Come to the Port Byron Old Erie Canal Heritage Park parking lot on your right at 202.1 miles. Here you'll find a Visitor Center and museum. A short trail here will take you to the remains of the old Erie Canal Lock 52, as well as, Van Dettos' Erie House an old 1860's Saloon along with some other historical buildings. Unfortunately, the old Erie Canal continues along the other side of I-90, thus the on-road detour. Continuing west along Route 31 (wide shoulder) you travel through open farmland before crossing a bridge over I-90. Next you cross over the Seneca River and modern day Erie Canal at 206.5 miles where the open farmland continues. Routes 31 & 89 combine as you turn north up to Savannah at 211.4 miles. Continue straight along Route 31 heading west. Turn left when you reach Brown Rd just south of Clyde. Cross a set of RR tracks and you'll pick up the stone-dust Erie Canalway Trail on your right at 215.4 miles.
Clyde to Rochester Section:
Starting from Brown Rd just south of Clyde; I haven't checked out this next section. The stone-dust Erie Canalway Trail heads west through the woods to a bridge across the Seneca River and modern day Erie Canal. Just south of here is Lock 26. The trail continues northwest along the Erie Canal bringing you to Water Street Park parking lot at 217.8 miles. Here you'll find a boat launch and picnic pavilion.
Note; The stone-dust trail continues underneath the Route 414 Bridge, but is not part of the Erie Canalway Trail. This trail travels out to Geneva St and end after 0.5 miles.
From Water Street Park head left up a sidewalk to Redfield St for a short on-road section. Turn right along Route 414 traveling over the Erie Canal to Clyde. First left on Columbia St, quick left on William St and you'll pick up the stone-dust Erie Canalway Trail to your left at 218.2 miles. [This next section is 6.8 miles to Lyons] Here the trail travels west briefly alongside the RR tracks and Erie Canal before turning inland alongside the old Erie Canal and out to Route 31. The trail then follows the old Erie Canal alongside Old Route 31 before heading into the woods. I've checked out this next section before it was stone-dust. Pass by an old stone bridge abutment before coming alongside an active RR. You'll pass by a spur trail on your right.
Note; This path leads to Black Brook Park where you'll find parking, a picnic pavilion and restrooms.
Continue through the woods with the old dried up canal along your right. Cross a bridge over Black Brook. Cross Gansz Rd to the Lock Berlin Park parking area where you'll find the remains of the old Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 54 (Lock Berlin). Picnic tables located here. Continuing past the Lock you'll renter the woods alongside the old canal which has some water. This was as far as I traveled. Cross Peters Rd, Sunderville Rd and soon the trail follows Hill Rd to the intersection of Old Route 31. The trail heads left crossing Cole Rd and follows alongside Route 31. You return to the Erie Canal where the trail travels underneath Route 31 and continues west alongside the canal. Come to Elm St in Lyons at 225 miles. A short 0.3 mile on-road section starts here. Continue straight, crossing Geneva St.
Note; Left Geneva St crosses the Erie Canal where you can check out Lyons Southside Canal Park and Canandaigua Outlet for Flint Creek.
Continue straight traveling through downtown Lyons via Water St. Just before Leach Rd you'll pick up the paved Erie Canalway Trail on your left after 228 miles. I've checked out this next section. This trail brings you down alongside the Erie Canal and heads right underneath Leach Rd bringing you to Lock 27. Across the canal is the Canandaigua Outlet for Flint Creek. Continuing west alongside the canal you'll come to the Abbey Park parking lot at 228.4 miles where you'll find a playground, picnic pavilion and restroom. Exit the park for a short 1 mile on-road section left along Old Newark-Lyons Rd (narrow shoulder), crossing over Ganargua Creek. Pass by Dry Dock Rd.
Note; You can take a quick detour here to check out the old Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 56. Head left down Dry Dock Rd past Lyons Dry Dock and across the Erie Canal next to Lock 28A. Continue right alongside the canal. After 0.5 miles, as the road turns away from the canal, bear right on a grass lined path. This takes you past the old Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 56. Travel past the Lock and turn left back out to Dry Dock Rd where you can Loop back to Old Newark-Lyons Rd for a 1.4 mile Loop.
Continuing along Old Newark-Lyons Rd you'll pick up the Erie Canalway Trail on your left at 229.4 miles. Here you'll find a small parking lot and Map Board. This was as far as I traveled. The wide stone-dust trail continues west alongside the canal before emerging onto Old Lyons Rd at 231.5 miles. Another 1.7 mile on-road section. Head left following Old Lyons Rd (wide shoulder) before rejoining the paved Erie Canalway Trail on your left at 233.2 miles in Newark. I've checked out this next section. Continuing alongside the Erie Canal you quickly cross N Clinton St.
Note; You can take a quick detour here to check out the old Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 58 & 59. Head left down N Clinton St past Lock 28B and across the canal and you'll quickly come to the old Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 59 on your left. The grass lined Lockville Trail takes you past the old Lock then through the woods to the old Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 58. The trail then loops back alongside the canal to N Clinton St. Return to the Erie Canalway Trail after a 0.6 mile Loop.
After crossing N Clinton St you'll come to Lock 28B and another informational board. The trail continues along the canal before exiting back out to Old Lyons Rd at 233.6 miles. Old RR trestle across the canal here. Head left for a short on-road section along Old Lyons Rd (wide shoulder). Cross East Ave and you'll come to the T Spencer Knight Canal Port parking lot at 233.8 miles in Newark. Head left to pick up the paved Erie Canalway Trail that travels through the T Spencer Knight Canal Port (Gazebo and picnic pavilion) to a paving stone dock along the canal. Travel underneath Main St where the paved trail continues west. Travel above the canal through a wooded corridor with a few small hills before you come to an old iron trestle bridge across the canal at 234.5 miles. This bridge has been converted to a pedestrian bridge. Right brings you to the W Shore Blvd parking lot. This was as far as I traveled. The trail continues as stone-dust along the canal, past the Harter Canal Park parking lot (Map Board) and underneath Whitbeck Rd at 235.7 miles. Travel along the Wide Waters of the Erie Canal before a tunnel takes you underneath E Palmyra Port Gibson Rd at 237.4 miles. After traveling underneath Galloway Rd you come to an intersection at 240.2 miles.
Note; Right will bring you to the Swift Landing County Park parking lot.
Continue straight across Ganargua Creek via an iron bridge, past a Map Board overlooking a spillway dam and across another iron bridge over Red Creek to another overlook. Very scenic area. The trail continues along the canal traveling underneath Route 21 at 241.8 before coming to Division St. I've checked out this next section. Here you'll need to cross over the canal via the Division Street Bridge (closed to traffic). This takes you past a small harbor to the Erie Canal Marina parking lot in Palmyra at 242.5 miles. The trail continues right crossing Willow and Church Streets before a berm takes you between the Palmyra Wetlands and Old Erie Canal. You then pass through the Pal-Mac Aqueduct Park where you'll find restrooms and picnic pavilions before traveling underneath the old Whipple Bridge at 243.4 miles. This is one of the oldest known surviving Whipple Bridge structures. You can go up and across this bridge. The trail then travels left where you'll find the remnants of the old Palmyra Macedon Aqueduct, before crossing the Creek Rd next to Route 31.
Note; Right along Creek Rd brings you to Lock 29.
Continuing along the trail you'll cross over Ganargua Creek and a spillway for the canal before coming to a Map Board along the Erie Canal at 243.8 miles. This was as far as I traveled. At 244.6 miles the open trail travels between the canal and Route 31before turning right on O'Neil Rd and crossing over the canal where you pick up the trail on your left at 245.9 miles. I've checked out this next section.
Note; You can take a quick detour from here to check out the old Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 60. Head right past a red gate along a dirt and grass trail along the canal. You'll come to the old Lock after 0.3 miles. After checking out the Lock you may return via a grass lined path that follows the power lines and the Old Erie Canal back out to O'Neil Rd for a 0.7 mile Loop.
Continuing left along the trail you'll pass by the old stone abutments of Gallops Bridge #39 with an accompanying informational board. Travel underneath Ontario Center Rd and you'll come to Lock 30 at 246.5 miles in Macedon. Picnic tables and Porto-Potty.
Note; You can take a quick detour from here to Macedon Canal Park. Head left crossing Lock 30 to Macedon Canal Park. Head left then right along a service road where you'll travel right through a parking lot past the Fire Dept. and pavilion. This will bring you to the start of the 0.4 mile Butterfly Nature Trail after 0.3 miles. This gravel trail travels past wild flowers and alongside the Old Erie Canal (Clintons Ditch)/Enlarged Erie Canal out to the Erie Canal. Informational sign. Return along the trail then head left out along the Erie Canal before completing the loop. Return back to the Erie Canalway Trail after a 1 mile Loop.
This was as far as I traveled. The trail continues west alongside the canal. Cross Canandaigua Rd, then Route 206 at 249.7 miles. Parking area here. The trail then shares the road with W Canal St (low traffic gravel road) for 0.5 miles before returning to stone-dust. Travel underneath Route 44 at 252 miles and share a road again with Cobb's Lane (low traffic paved road). The paved trail then travels alongside Cobb's Lane. Come to a pedestrian bridge over the canal at 253.5 miles.
Note; This bridge takes you over to the Rochester, Syracuse & Eastern Trail .
I've checked out this next section. The paved trail continues west alongside the canal passing by the Cobb's Lane parking lot in Fairport where you'll find a Map Board. Travel underneath Turk Hill Rd and past a ramp up to Turk Hill Rd. Pass a spur for the stone-dust Thomas Creekwalk on your right and you'll come to an intersection at 254 miles. The Erie Canalway Trail continues straight along the canal, however, all bikes must detour around the next section which is pedestrian only. Follow the paved trail right to a roundabout.
Note; This is the start of the Thomas Creekwalk on your right. This trail parallels Thomas Creek with boardwalks and overlooks along your left. Only 0.3 miles long before it brings you back out to the Erie Canalway Trail.
Travel left on-road along Liftbridge Lane (BIKE SHARROWS) through scenic Fairport paralleling the canal. Cross Main St passing by the old Fairport RR Station before rejoining the paved Erie Canalway Trail at 254.4 miles. This was as far as I traveled. The trail then loops south passing by a spur to Perinton Park parking lot at 255.2 miles before traveling underneath Fairport Rd. Pass by the Fairview Crew Club after which the trail reverts to stone-dust at 255.4 miles. Travel underneath Ayrault Rd, Route 31, then I-490 at 258 miles. Travel underneath Route 38 where the canal starts looping back north. Travel alongside the Great Embankment Park and you'll come to a small dock and a spur trail leading to the Great Embankment Park parking lot in Pittsford at 259.5 miles. Pass by a Guard Gate before traveling underneath Mitchell Rd at 260.4 miles. The trail becomes paved as you travel underneath Route 31 and come to a bench pavilion at 260.9 miles. I've checked out this next section. Past the pavilion no bikes allowed along the canal. Follow the BIKE SHARROWS along Schoen Pl (low traffic). This takes you through the old industrial section of Pittsford and past the old Pittsford Flower Mill, Coal Water Tower and TOWPATH BIKE . Crosswalk over N Main St where you rejoin the paved Erie Canalway Trail at 261.2 miles. Travel underneath a RR trestle and Monroe Ave before coming to an intersection at 261.7 miles.
Note; This section is closed M-F (6am-5pm) as it bisects private property. To bypass head right down to Brook Rd, then head left and you'll pick up the paved trail again.
Continue straight along the canal, then head right through the complex where you'll rejoin the paved trail next to Brook Rd. The trail then continues left through the woods and back alongside the canal. You come to an intersection at 262.5 miles.
Note; The trail on your right is part of the Pittsford Loop Trail which follows the towpath of the Old Erie Canal north up to Lock 62.
Continuing west you travel underneath Clover St and come to Lock 32 at 262.9 miles. Porto-Potty and water fountain here. Next you come to Lock 32 Canal Park where you'll find a parking lot, picnic table and informational board. You then cross a causeway and bridge where the trail continues west. This was as far as I traveled. Travel underneath Route 102 and you come to Lock 33 at 264.2 miles. Lock 33 Canal parking lot in Rochester located here. Travel underneath S Winton Rd and past spur trails to Meridian Centre Park before traveling underneath Route 100 and I-390 at 265.8 miles. Again travel underneath I-390 and past a spur trail that leads to Brighton Park and Westfall Rd. Travel under E Henrietta Rd, W Henrietta Rd and Kendrick Rd before you pass by the East Guard Lock where you'll find a Map Board. I've checked out this next section. Rochester University is along your right. Just past the Guard Lock you'll come to an old RR bridge across the canal at 267.8 miles.
Note; This is the start of the Lehigh Valley Trail; North Branch which travels south where it meets up with the Lehigh Valley Trail in Rochester Junction.
Travel underneath Moore Rd and through Genesee Valley Park; Northeast (North of I-390 & Erie Canal & East side of Genesee River). On your right is the Genesee Valley Park; Northeast parking area. Pass by a spur trail on your left at 268.1 miles.
Note; This leads to a concrete pedestrian bridge over the Erie Canal to Genesee Valley Park; South (South of I-390 & Erie Canal) and the Red Creek parking lot.
Come to another intersection.
Note; Left leads to another concrete pedestrian bridge over the Erie Canal to Genesee Valley Park; South (South of I-390 & Erie Canal) and the Genesee Valley Park; South parking area.
Head right to another intersection next to the Genesee Valley Park; Genesee River Bridge at 268.2 miles. This is the start for the Erie Canalway Trail; Rochester-Buffalo section.
Note; Straight takes you north along the Genesee Riverway Trail; East Side .
Head left over the Genesee Valley Park; Genesee River Bridge to Genesee Valley Park; Northwest (North of I-390 & Erie Canal & West side of Genesee River). The Genesee Riverway Trail; West Side crosses here traveling north-south. Heading left the Erie Canalway Trail; Rochester-Buffalo combines with the Genesee Valley Greenway and Genesee Riverway Trail; West Side.
Note; Straight leads to the Genesee Valley Park; Northwest parking area.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR ERIE CANALWAY TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR EMPIRE TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR GENESEE VALLEY GREENWAY MAP
(Shows the Genesee Valley Park Trail system in Rochester)
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT