The Montezuma Heritage Park consists of 165 acres of parkland acquired by the Town of Montezuma in the 1960′s to be preserved and protected. It holds many significant natural and historic resource sites along the Seneca River/Erie Canal that tell the story of New York State’s Canal System from 1820 to today.
There are now eleven connecting nature trails located along interpreted historic sites of the Erie and Cayuga-Seneca Canal in various stages of development. The remains of the magnificent Richmond Aqueduct, second largest aqueduct on the Enlarged Erie Canal, can be visited along the original towpath trail. Enjoy walking, biking, cross-country skiing, bird watching, and fishing.
Trailhead Locations:
Trailhead #1 – OPEN YEAR AROUND: From State Route 90, turn on Erie Street next to Post Office; parking is available north of the Firehouse; the kiosk with a trail map is located at the site on the former towpath, now the Byron Lapp Memorial Trail; It’s .8 of a mile to the Richmond Aqueduct and access to the other trails in the park.
Trailhead #2 – OPEN YEAR AROUND: is located on Chapman Road off High Street near the Highway Barn; this site includes a parking lot, kiosk, and porta john. The Aqueduct trail leads west from here .4 of a mile to the Richmond Aqueduct on the Seneca River and to other trails in the park.
Trailhead #3 – (CLOSED DURING WINTER MONTHS): is located on the south side of Route 31 just east of the Seneca River Bridge. This is a newly completed parking lot with a kiosk, a waterless bathroom facility, and trails leading to Trail #11 Upland trail which ends at the Chapman Road parking lot, and Trail #10 Seneca River Trail which ends at the Richmond Aqueduct. Coming in the Spring 2024, a new pavilion, tables, benches will be ready to enjoy a picnic while visiting the park.
Trailhead #3 Parking Lot Dedication — On September 17, 2022, the new parking lot was dedicated to former Town Supervisor, David Butler, Jr. As Town Supervisor, he served the town from 1954 to 1965. David successfully applied for funding on behalf of the Town to acquire 136 acres of parkland through the Outdoor Recreation Development Land and Water Conservation Act of 1965.
Attending the dedication were: left: Larry and Loretta (Butler) Panton, daughter of David Butler, Jr., and on the right, NYS Canal Corporation Director Brian Stratton.
It is because of David’s foresight and understanding of this significant Erie Canal historic property, we have the park today. Thanks to him and his successor, Byron Lapp Jr., the Town was awarded additional funding from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation for the park’s development. Now the newly completed parking lot with additional funding provides access to the park directly from the across-state NYS Canalway and Empire State Trail on Route 31.
Virtually Tour the Park: Mike Riley from Port Byron Lock 52 Historical Society has produced several video tours of the park:
Video #1 – A Tour of the Seneca River Aqueduct
Video #2 – A Close Up Tour of Lock 62 and the Seneca River Slackwater Crossing
Video #3 – A Tour of Montezuma Heritage Park — The Montezuma Fibre Company
Download a printable Park Trail and Site Map PDF here.
Historic River Paddle Trail – Enjoy a 30-minute leisurely paddle ride to visit the magnificent Richmond Aqueduct at Historic Montezuma Heritage Park on the Seneca River.
Launch your canoe or kayak at 505 N Mays Point Road off Rt. 89 south (left turn before the bridge that crosses the canal). Paddlers can enter the Montezuma Heritage Park at the historic site where the original Clinton’s Ditch crossed through the Seneca River.
Above Mike Riley leads a tour near Trail #10 where a banner is visible from the river at the landing area located north of the Richmond Aqueduct. This is the site of the original towpath footbridge (sketch drawing in the above photo) built over 200 years ago where the wooden pilings are still visible in the water today.
From there you can walk back to the Aqueduct Trail and visit the other ten nature trails and historic sites in the park.
In the Park Volunteer Opportunities
Members and volunteers of the Old Mentz Heritage Center’s Friends of the Park Committee help support the Town of Montezuma to maintain the Park. With 160 acres and 11 trails, there is a lot to take care of. The Town would not be able to maintain the Park without volunteers who offer their services.
For more information about volunteering email: montezumaparks@tds.net
More information about plans for Montezuma Heritage Park is located here
The Richmond Aqueduct Trail is now a part of a 30-trail system program that was coordinated by a partnership with Wayne County Trails Works, Inc. villages and towns, and the Cornell Cooperative Extension Service Eat Well Play Hard Coalition and sponsored by Wegmans. You are invited to explore the region and the diverse outdoor adventures in your own backyard!
A new Wegmans Hit the Trails smartphone App is now available at itunes or Google Play. It includes directions, maps, photos, videos and information about each site. Search for it by entering “Hit the Trails.” On the Richmond Aqueduct Trail link in the app you will find a video virtual tour of the Richmond Aqueduct site narrated by Mike Riley.
Or Pick up a Passport Book
- Passport booklets are located in one of the kiosk sign-in boxes located in Montezuma Heritage Park at the trailheads on Chapman Road or High Street. A passport rubbing marker is located on Trail #2 at the Richmond Aqueduct. Rub the trail marker in your passport book. Then head out to visit the other 29 trails in Wayne County.
- The program runs continuously. In order to enter for a chance to win a $250 Wegmans gift card, you need to complete 15 of the 30 trails in the booklet, and bring it to Cornell Cooperative Extension on Rt 88 in Newark. If you complete all 30 trails, you will have two entries in the drawing held annually in the Fall, and your entry remains in the pool.
- For more information visit: http://trailworks.org/passport-trails/
Enjoy exploring the Finger Lakes using a new app that has been launched through the Cayuga County Tourism office highlighting 60 miles of Erie Canal communities along the Erie Canal here in the Finger Lakes Region from Macedon to Camillus. Search for the app at: “Treasures Along the Erie Canal” or visit the website at: http://eriecanal.stqry.app
Thank you to the Cayuga and Wayne County Tourism offices and Sue Dove for making this possible.