Mohawk Towpath Byway
Unlock the Mystery of the Erie Canal
| Departure: | Waterford's Canal Harbor Welcome Center, New York |
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| Destination: | Historic Schenectady Stockade District, New York |
| Time to allow: | 1 day |
Follow the route of the Erie Canal - the waterway west. Plan a day to explore the stops along this itinerary including features of the original 1825 Erie Canal, the Enlarged 1847 Erie Canal and the present day Barge Canal.
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Start: Waterford's Canal Harbor Welcome Center
Walk three blocks south on Tug Boat Alley to the visitor's center that overlooks the harbor and the grand entrance to the present day N Y State Barge Canal system. An additional short hike along the water front will bring you along side Lock 2 where, during the busy warm months of the year, you can see, up close, how a lock works.
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Stop 1: Cohoes Harmony Mills District
Directions from previous place: Proceed west on Broad Street, south on State Route 32. After crossing the bridge over the Mohawk take a right on Cortland Street which becomes North Mohawk Street to the Harmony Mill District.
Distance from Previous Site: 2 miles / 3.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 5 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 45 minutes The first mill was erected in 1837 between the Erie Canal and the Mohawk River. Construction of other mill buildings followed. When completed in 1872, Harmony Mill #3 was the largest individual cotton factory in the world. Locals know the mill as "Mastodon Mill" because of the complete skeleton of a prehistoric mastodon discovered during construction of the building. A brochure containing a "Self Guided Tour: Harmony Mills Historic District" is available from the Sprindle City Historical Society by phoning 518-237-7999.
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Stop 2: Cohoes Falls
Directions from previous place: Continue west on North Mohawk Street, turn right on Front Street, left on Cataract Street. The falls overlook is at the intersection of Cataract and School Streets. If no parking is available continue on School Street and take a right back onto North Mohawk Street. There's a parking lot on the left just beyond Church Street. It's a short walk back to the overlook.
Distance from Previous Site: 0.2 miles / 0.3 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 4 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 10 minutes With a vertical drop of more than 70 feet, the Falls extends approximately 1000 feet across the Mohawk River between the City of Cohoes and the Town of Waterford. Water power provided by the falls was significant in the development of several large knitting mills that became leading manufacturers of cotton textiles, thus earning the name 'Spindle City' for the municipality.
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Stop 3: Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve
Directions from previous place: Go west on North Mohawk Street which becomes Cohoes Crescent Road to State Route 9. Take Route 9 north across the Mohawk and take a left at the first traffic light onto Crescent Vischer Ferry Road. Bear left at the first intersection and continue on the Byway's Canal Road to the stop sign at Klamsteam Road. Take a right up Klamsteam Road and take a left onto Riverview Road. Look for the preserve entrance on the left at the intersection of Riverview and VanVranken Roads.
Distance from Previous Site: 7 miles / 11.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 15 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours Ths 600 acre preserve includes the area between Riverview Road and the Mohawk River in the Town of Clifton Park. A segment of the original 1825 Erie Canal and Towpath; a segment and a number of structures of the 1842 Enlarged Erie Canal; and the current NY State Barge Canal are accessible within the preserve. The entrance to the preserve includes a restored 1862 Whipple Truss Bridge, a design used widely to bridge the canal during the later half of the 19th Century.
This is also a great place to stop for a family picnic, bird watch, fish, explore for amphibians and other wildlife, hike, mountain bike, cross country ski or snowshoe.
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Stop 4: Rexford Aqueduct
Directions from previous place: Continue west on Riverview Road. Drivers are required to stop at the intersection with Saratoga County Route 91 (Grooms Road). Continue straight on Riverview Road to State Route 146. Take a left on Route 146 across the Mohawk River. Look for the parking lot on the left just south of the bridge.
Distance from Previous Site: 8 miles / 12.8 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 12 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes The aqueduct was built of cut limestone in 1842 as part of the enlarged Erie Canal to carry boats safely across the Mohawk River. The trough that held the water was constructed of wood, making repair and replacement a constant necessity. Remnants of the aqueduct foundation are visible alongside the State Route 146 Rexford Bridge over the Mohawk.
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End: Historic Schenectady Stockade District
Directions from previous place: Proceed west on Schenectady County Route 10 (Aqueduct Road) which gradually turns southerly. Upon entering City of Schenectady limits the road bears right and becomes Maxon Road. At Erie Boulevard intersection take a left and follow the path of the original Erie Canal. Take a right after passing under the railroad bridge onto Union Street. You are in the Stockade. Park anywhere and take a walk to explore the community and its architecture.
Distance from Previous Site: 4 miles / 6.4 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes A 17th century Dutch settlement, founded by Arendt Van Curler in 1661, located at the junction of the Binnekill and Mohawk River. Burned in 1690 by the French and allied Native Americans, the area was rebuilt with help from Albany settlers and Mohawks. The Erie Canal made this area an island between the canal (now Erie Blvd.) and the Mohawk River. The Stockade became New York State's first National Register Historic District in 1965 and retains the ambiance of an early colonial village.
