The Middle Section of the NYS Erie Canalway Trail showcases the evolution of 200 years of Erie Canal history.
Whether you are out to travel by auto, hiking or cycling your way across the New York State Canalway Trail there is inspiring picturesque scenery to enjoy and remarkable history to discover along the Middle Section of the Canal between Macedon and Camillus. The people, places, nature, and culture of this section of the Erie Canal Corridor include plenty of side trails, aqueducts, locks, murals, museums, parks, restaurants, and shops to explore all while enjoying the inviting experience of small-town charm.
Along this journey, you will encounter nature at its best traveling in the area of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex stretching through almost 10,000 acres of the Finger Lakes Region. The wildlife complex is a resting place for numerous migratory birds and is situated in one of the most active flight lanes in the Atlantic Flyway.
While the New York Canalway Trail follows corridors used for travel by native peoples for many centuries, the ease of travel between the Atlantic seaboard and the Great Lakes was revolutionized 200 years ago with the Erie Canal opening.
The original Clinton’s Ditch opened the unfinished waterway to traffic between Montezuma and Syracuse in April 1820, completing this middle section of the canal.
200 years later, remains of the legendary Erie Canal can be explored in the rural countryside canal towns and villages on a self-guided, 60-mile tour with highlighted stops in Macedon, Palmyra, Newark, Lyons, Clyde/Galen, Savannah, Montezuma, Port Byron, Weedsport, Memphis, Jordan, and Camillus. Here will be revealed the unique and fascinating engineering story of building and the first opening of the Erie Canal.
A new app that has been launched through the Cayuga County Tourism office highlighting the 60 miles of Erie Canal communities along the Erie Canal here in the Finger Lakes Region.Download a brochure to use on your trip here, or pick one up at one of the many locations between Macedon and Camillus..
Are you tracking miles and tracing history with the Erie Canalway Heritage Corridor’s Challenge? Here is an opportunity to rack up some miles. https://eriecanalway.org/explore/challenge
Visit our Facebook Page at: fb.me/treasuresalongerie
The brochure was produced and funded by:
Erie Canal Community Partners
Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
and the NYS Canal Corporation
