History, Natural History & the Arts
As America marks its 250th anniversary, the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is launching Revolutionary Experiences, road trips along New York’s historic waterways.
These self-guided itineraries invite participants to explore the people, places, and ideas that helped shape the nation. [Read more…] about Erie Canalway Launches “Revolutionary Experiences” Tours
Parks & Trails New York (PTNY), a nonprofit based in Albany that centers their work on environmental stewardship and advocacy will host their annual Canal Clean Sweep the weekend of April 17-19, 2026.
Thousands of volunteers clean up trails, parks, and waterways along the Erie Canalway and New York State’s many canals. Registration is now open for groups to host or join cleanup events. [Read more…] about Host A Canal Clean Sweep Event
The NYS Canal Corporation and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor have announced that 41 non-profit organizations and municipalities will receive 2026 NYS Canal System Tourism Infrastructure and Event Grants totaling $207,953.
The grants will support 11 tourism infrastructure and amenity improvements and 31 events along canal waterways and the Canalway Trail. [Read more…] about Canal System Tourism Grants Announced
The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor has opened a new round of applications for Mohawk Valley Historic Revitalization Grants to support capital improvements for historic properties in rural communities within the Mohawk Valley in Herkimer and Montgomery counties. [Read more…] about Grants for Historic Revitalization in the Mohawk Valley
The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is inviting New Yorkers to take part in the free “February 15” Canalway Challenge.
Participants pledge to complete 15 miles walking, running, hiking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing anywhere within the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor by the end of February to earn rewards, including 15-miler crew socks, a sticker and magnet. [Read more…] about “February 15” Canalway Challenge Getting Underway
When a couple of baby boomers commenced walking across New York State between Albany and Buffalo on the Erie Canalway Trail, they assumed walking a mostly level path would be easy – but there were challenges.
Jim and Lisa Saunders have been chased by mosquitoes, biting flies, hissing geese and lightning. They endured torrential downpours, floods, ice, blinding snow, chafing underwear, swollen knees and aching feet.
When they noticed buzzards circling overhead, they knew they must looked tired. Yet, they found ways to persevere and enjoy the beauty and engineering marvels along the way. [Read more…] about Seven Wonders of the Erie Canalway Trail
The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and New York State Canal Corporation have released a study of recreational amenities along the Erie Canal.
The study offers a comprehensive conditions evaluation and long-term plan for recreational amenities like rest rooms, water, charging stations, and storage facilities. [Read more…] about Erie Canal Amenities Study Released
Completed in 1825, the Erie Canal spans 363 miles across New York State to connect Albany and Buffalo, which made it an indispensable tract for commerce 200 years ago. While the canal’s use as a primary means of moving commercial goods across the state has been replaced by trucks and trains, its recreational usage has increased exponentially since then.
The path that parallels the waterway has become a mecca for hikers, bikers, and runners of all ages. In celebration of the Canals’ 200th anniversary, The Erie Canal Traveler’s Guide (North Country Books, 2025) features more than 200 restaurants, pubs, and attractions for the entire family and the curious traveler alike, all within ‘a stone’s throw’ – or, to be precise, 445 feet and ten inches – of the Canal Path. [Read more…] about The Erie Canal Traveler’s Guide: Restaurants, Pubs, and Attractions on the Canal
In 2025, New York State commemorates the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Erie Canal from Albany to Buffalo. This event was transformative for both the state and the nation, linking the Great Lakes with the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean in an unprecedentedly efficient waterway.
During the bicentennial, we are offered an opportunity to reflect on two centuries of rich and complex history and discover how that period’s impacts allow us to explore and enjoy the Canal today. Here is some history, and tips for enjoying the canal. [Read more…] about 200 Years of Erie Canal History (1825-2025)
The NYS Canal Corporation and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor have announced that 45 non-profit organizations and municipalities will receive 2025 NYS Canal System Tourism Infrastructure and Event Grants totaling $255,000. The grants will support eleven tourism infrastructure and amenity improvements and 36 events along canal waterways and the Canalway Trail. [Read more…] about Grants Support Tourism Along New York’s Canals for 200th Anniversary
The New York State Canal Corporation and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor are offering competitive grant funding to support tourism, recreation, and events along the New York State Canal System including canal waterways and Canalway Trail.
Applications are open now through November 15, 2024. [Read more…] about NYS Canal System Tourism Infrastructure and Event Grants
The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and the NYS Canal Corporation are hosting an online Erie Canal Bicentennial Preview to share the latest updates on a variety of commemorations and activities planned for 2025 on August 13, 2024, at 11 am. [Read more…] about Erie Canal Bicentennial Online Preview set for August 13th
The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is calling for entries for its annual Erie Canalway Photo Contest. Amateur and professional photographers are invited to submit up to three images that capture the canals’ beauty, vibrancy, and character. Winning photos will be featured in the 2025 Bicentennial Erie Canalway Calendar. [Read more…] about Erie Canalway Photo Contest Call for Entries
In partnership with the NYS Canal Corporation and with additional funding support from DEC’s Mohawk River Watershed Basin Program the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor will be assessing amenities and access sites along the Erie Canal and Erie Canlway Trail throughout 2024. [Read more…] about Erie Canalway Amenities Study Underway
Construction of the Erie Canal began in Rome, in Oneida County, NY, in 1817. Workers started first on the easiest, most level sections. In subsequent years, they tackled major engineering challenges at Cohoes, Little Falls, Rochester, and Lockport, where construction needed to overcome the most difficult elevation changes. Sections of the canal opened as they were completed, until the entire canal from Buffalo to Albany opened in 1825. [Read more…] about Erie Canalway Bicentennial Marketing Toolkit Now Available
The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor has launched the Mohawk Valley Historic Revitalization Grant Program to support capital improvements for historic properties in rural communities within the Mohawk Valley in Herkimer and Montgomery counties. Funding is available to private, public, and nonprofit owners of National Register listed historic properties and properties that contribute to a listed historic district. [Read more…] about New Grant Program Supports Historic Revitalization in Herkimer, Montgomery Counties
Paper charts of the Erie Canal are in the process of being transformed to electronic navigational charts. The Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which has maintained and updated the charts since the early 1970s, are converting the charts to digital format and will make them available as electronic navigational charts. [Read more…] about NOAA Bringing Erie Canal Nautical Charts into the Digital Era
Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor has received an Open OutDoors for Kids grant from the National Park Foundation to expand education programs throughout the National Heritage Corridor. The grant will enable Erie Canalway to engage 1,500 students from lower income schools in free field trips to the Erie Canal Museum (Syracuse), Fort Stanwix National Monument (Rome), Saratoga National Historical Park (Stillwater), and Women’s Rights National Historical Park (Seneca Falls) during the 2023-24 school year. [Read more…] about Erie Canalway Corridor Receives Grant to Expand Education Programs
The public is invited to pick up a free 2024 Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor calendar starting December 1, 2023 at selected libraries and visitor centers throughout the Heritage Corridor.
The calendar features winning images from this year’s Erie Canalway photo contest. [Read more…] about Free 2024 Erie Canalway Calendar Available December 1st
The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and the New York State Canal Corporation have announced the release of new educational materials geared for fourth graders learning about the Erie Canal. The Erie Canal Adventure: Unlocking the Waterway Wonders includes a 40-minute video and two lesson plans.
The materials are available for free online at the Erie Canal Learning Hub. [Read more…] about New Erie Canal Educational Resources Available
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