MOHAWK TOWPATH SCENIC BYWAY:
SCHENECTADY-WATERFORD, NEW YORK
MOHAWK TOWPATH BYWAY TRAIL:
CRESCENT TRAIL:
CLIFTON PARK, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: March 08, 2025
Length:
Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway; 28 miles (On-Road Route)
Mohawk Towpath Byway Trail; 6.4 miles
Crescent Trail; 1.8 miles
Difficulty: Mohawk Towpath Byway Trail; Easy. Flat, stone dust trail.
Crescent Trail; Easy. Flat stone dust trail.
Directions:
From Route I-87 take exit 8.
For the Crescent Trail [Eastern End]; Travel east on Crescent Rd/Crescent Vischer Ferry Rd. Just before Route 9 take a right on Canal Rd for the Crescent Park parking lot or continue across Route 9 to the Terminal Rd parking lot.
For the Mohawk Towpath Byway Trail [Eastern End]; Travel east on Crescent Rd/Crescent Vischer Ferry Rd. Take your first right on Dunsbach Rd, then a right on Clamsteam Rd. Follow to Towpath Rd. The Clamsteam Road parking lot is straight ahead.
For the Mohawk Towpath Byway Trail; Travel west on Crescent Rd for 2.2 miles.
[Central Section] Turn left down Van Vranken Rd, then right on Riverview Rd. The Vischer Ferry Preserve parking lot is on the left. Head right to access Clutes Dry Dock.
[Western End] Continue west on Riverview Rd to Vischer Ferry and head left. Take your first left down Ferry Dr to the Ferry Drive parking lot .
The Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway follows both the Erie Canal and the Mohawk River from Schenectady, East to Waterford, highlighting the Erie Canal's cultural sites. Stops along this route coincide with the Mohawk Scenic Byway Audio Tour (518-649-9990). The Scenic Byway is an on-road route, but you can utilize several Trails that follow parts of this route. In the Clifton Park hamlet of Vischer Ferry, you can utilize the Mohawk Towpath Byway Trail, that travels through the Vischer Ferry Preserve. Further East, you can then utilize the Crescent Trail, which travels through Clifton Park Northeast, to Crescent Park in Waterford. In Waterford, you can utilize the Flight of Locks Trail , which is part of the Erie Canal. In Cohoes, you can utilize the Cohoes Heritage Trail, which can be accessed off the Mohawk-Hudson Bikeway; Erie Canalway Trail; Albany-Pattersonville . The Mohawk Towpath Byway Trail travels along sections of both the 1825 Erie Canal & 1842 Enlarged Erie Canal. For more information visit; MOHAWK TOWPATH SCENIC BYWAY , FRIENDS OF THE MOHAWK TOWPATH BYWAY & VISCHER FERRY PRESERVE .
CRESCENT TRAIL:
Starting from the Crescent Park Terminal Rd parking lot in Waterford [Eastern End]; The paved Crescent Trail starts at the Western End of the parking lot. An informational sign tells the history of the Crescent Aqueduct, which carried the Erie Canal over the Mohawk River from 1825-1915. The trail travels West, underneath the Route 9 bridge, where a fishing pier and bench overlooks the Mohawk River. You'll come to the Crescent Park parking lot at 0.3 miles in Clifton Park. Picnic tables, benches and another informational sign board are located here. The trail now continues as stone-dust, Southwest, between the river and Canal Rd. A cross-walk takes you across Canal Rd at 1.4 miles where the trail pulls away from the road and into the woods. After crossing over a wooden bridge another parking lot will be on your left. The trail returns to Canal Rd, next to the junction of Beech Rd after 1.8 miles, where it currently ends.
Note; To connect to the Mohawk Towpath Byway Trail travel right, on-road, along Towpath Rd (wide shoulder for a short distance, then no shoulder/low traffic). The old Erie Canal is buried along your right. This brings you to the Clamsteam Road parking lot on your left after 0.8 miles.
MOHAWK
TOWPATH BYWAY TRAIL:
Starting from the Clamsteam Road parking lot [Eastern End];
[Re-zeroing Mileage] A sign board, picnic tables and informational sign are located here.
Note; A path leads up to this iron bridge and over the Old Erie Canal, where a stone-dust trail then travels around the old Clutes Dry Dock-1825 area. Informational sign. Come to an intersection. Right leads to the Clutes Dry Dock parking lot off Riverview Rd. Left, a grass path leads to a small bridge overlooking the Canal. A hard packed dirt & grass trail continues West, alongside the old Erie Canal Towpath.
Continuing West, alongside the Enlarged Erie Canal, pass by an old stone abutment before coming to an intersection at 1.9 miles. Sign board here.
Note; Right, North, a causeway takes you over the waterway and across the old Erie Canal out to Riverview Rd. The hard packed dirt & grass trail continues West, alongside the old Erie Canal Towpath.
The stone-dust trail now turns left, South, bypassing a large marsh. Cross a bridge over a waterway before passing by some open grass areas (overlooks for the Mohawk River) as the trail turns West again. Pass a large brown structure before coming to an *Intersection. This is referred to as Forts Ferry on the Vischer Ferry Preserve Trail Map Below.
Note; I haven't checked out this section. Straight, the wide stone-dust trail leads to a turn-around, with vies of the river. I believe you can access grass trails that take you West, through the preserve. See; Troop 22 Trail on the Vischer Ferry Preserve Trail Map Below.
From the *Intersection continue right, North, along a causeway across the Enlarged Erie Canal. Return to the Old Erie Canal at 2.9 miles.
Note; Straight takes you over the Canal, via the old Whipple Iron Truss Bridge, to the **Vischer Ferry Preserve parking lot. Map Board located here.
Continue left, West, between the old Canal and marsh via a causeway along the old stone-dust Towpath. Pass by two more old stone abutments, before heading into the woods. Pass by the Troop 22/Tall Spruce Trail on your left, before coming to Lock 19, an 1842 double Chamber Lock at 4.3 miles. Come to another intersection at 4.5 miles.
Note; I haven't checked out this section. A gravel road travels left, Southeast, along the river and leads to the "Dredge Spoils Area" as indicated on the Vischer Ferry Preserve Trail Map Below.
Continue straight,
North, along the trail (old Canal no
longer visible here). You'll finally get some views of the Mohawk River and the
Canal will be
along your right again at 4.9 miles. You come to the Ferry Road parking lot at
5.2
miles (A ferry used to cross the river here from 1790-1922).
