The Old Erie Canal State Historic Park encompasses a linear segment of the original

Erie Canal The Erie Canal is a historic canal in upstate New York that runs east-west between the Hudson River and Lake Erie. Completed in 1825, the canal was the first navigable waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, vastly reducing t ...

's Long Level section. It extends westward from Butternut Creek in the town of DeWitt, just east of

Syracuse Syracuse may refer to: Places Italy *Syracuse, Sicily, or spelled as ''Siracusa'' *Province of Syracuse United States *Syracuse, New York **East Syracuse, New York **North Syracuse, New York *Syracuse, Indiana * Syracuse, Kansas *Syracuse, Miss ...

, to the outskirts of

Rome, New York Rome is a city in Oneida County, New York, United States, located in the Central New York, central part of the state. The population was 32,127 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Rome is one of two principal cities in the Utica–Ro ...

. The park includes restored segments of the canal's waterway and towpath which were in active use between 1825 and 1917. It is part of the New York State Park system.

Access

The towpath has been resurfaced with asphalt and stone dust and is suitable for biking, hiking, horseback riding or snowmobiling. The canal also is navigable by canoe or kayak for short segments throughout the park.

All-terrain vehicle An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), also known as a light utility vehicle (LUV), a quad bike, or simply a quad, as defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI); is a vehicle that travels on low-pressure tires, with a seat that is stra ...

s (ATVs) and motorcycles are not permitted, and no campsites are available in the park, although camping is available at

Green Lakes State Park Green Lakes State Park is a New York State Park located east of Syracuse in the Town of Manlius. The park is strikingly scenic, and has a "masterpiece" Dodson, James (2001). ''The Dewsweepers: Seasons of Golf and Friendship'' (Dutton Adult), p ...

east of Syracuse, which is closely adjacent to Old Erie Canal State Park. Several picnic areas are available on the route and are accessible via nearby roads.

Route

The park lies within

Madison Madison may refer to: People * Madison (name), a given name and a surname * James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States Place names * Madison, Wisconsin, the state capital of Wisconsin and the largest city known by this ...

Oneida Oneida may refer to: Native American/First Nations * Oneida people, a Native American/First Nations people and one of the five founding nations of the Iroquois Confederacy * Oneida language * Oneida Indian Nation, based in New York * Oneida Na ...

, and

Onondaga Onondaga may refer to: Native American/First Nations * Onondaga people, a Native American/First Nations people and one of the five founding nations of the Iroquois League * Onondaga (village), Onondaga settlement and traditional Iroquois capita ...

counties. The park passes near or through several communities, including Fayetteville, Manlius Center, Kirkville,

Chittenango Chittenango is a village located in Madison County, New York, United States. The village is in the southern part of the Town of Sullivan. The population was 5,081 at the 2010 census. Chittenango is the birthplace of L. Frank Baum, author of '' ...

Canastota Canastota is a village located inside the Town of Lenox in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 4,804 at the 2010 census. The village of Canastota is in the southern part of the Town of Lenox. Canastota High School is loc ...

, Durhamville and New London. east of Butternut Creek, the canal passes by the entrance to

. The park's terminus is at the Erie Canal Village, a now defunct privately operated museum and historic recreation of a 19th-century canal village located outside of

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, which featured a

narrow gauge railway A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than standard . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves, smaller structur ...

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Connecting trails

Other trails connecting with the Old Erie Canal towpath trail include: * Butternut Creek Recreation and Nature Trail, DeWitt * Fayetteville Feeder Towpath, Fayetteville * Chittenango Creek Walk,

North Country Trail The North Country National Scenic Trail, generally known as the North Country Trail or simply the NCT, is a footpath stretching over from Middlebury in central Vermont to Lake Sakakawea State Park in central North Dakota in the United States; ...

(Concurrent east of Canastota to Rome) * Oneida Rail Trail,

* Rome Canalway Towpath,

Nearby parks

Other parks, museums, and recreation areas along and nearby the Old Erie Canal State Historic Park include, from west to east: * Ryder Park and Recreation Area, DeWitt * Cedar Bay Park, DeWitt * Canal Landing Park, Fayetteville *

, Manlius * Poolsbrook Picnic Area,

Minoa Minoa was the name of several Bronze-Age port cities on the coasts of the Aegean islands Crete, Paros, Siphnos, Amorgos and Corfu in Greece, as well as the Italian island of Sicily.F. Schachermeyer (1964). ''Die Minoische Kultur des alten Kreta ...

* Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum, Chittenango * Duruss Conservancy, Oneida *

Verona Beach State Park Verona Beach State Park is a state park located on the eastern shore of Oneida Lake in the Town of Verona, Oneida County, New York. The park is located on NY 13 northwest of the City of Oneida and south of Sylvan Beach. Oneida Creek enters ...

Verona Verona ( , ; vec, Verona or ) is a city on the Adige River in Veneto, Northern Italy, Italy, with 258,031 inhabitants. It is one of the seven provincial capitals of the region. It is the largest city Comune, municipality in the region and the ...

Verona Park Verona Park is a park located in Verona, as part of the Essex County Park System, New Jersey. Verona Park is a park with a lake bordered by Lakeside and Bloomfield Avenues in the southern part of Verona. This is the fifth largest park within the ...

, Verona * Lock 21 Park, New London, Oneida County * Erie Canal Village, Rome

History

In July 2006, stretches of the old canal within the park had to be dammed or drained to effect repairs on the aqueduct over Butternut Creek east of Syracuse, which was in danger of a potentially catastrophic leak due to unusually heavy rains. In February 2010 the park was among about 40 New York State parks recommended for closure under Governor David Paterson's austerity budget plan. The park remains open.

References

External links

*
Map of the Old Erie Canal State Historic Park

* ttp://www.eriecanalvillage.net/ Erie Canal Village {{Coord, 43.0731, -75.9261, type:landmark_region:US, format=dms, display=title DeWitt, New York Historic sites in Onondaga County, New York Manlius, New York New York (state) historic sites Parks in Madison County, New York Parks in Oneida County, New York Parks in Onondaga County, New York State parks of New York (state)