Join the Erie Canalway Challenge!

Join the Erie Canalway Challenge

The New York State Erie Canalway system is getting ready to open on Friday, May 17, 2024!

Now is the time to sign up and make your plans for the Erie Canalway Challenge! Get out and have some fun with family and friends to enjoy the scenic outdoors along the historic Erie Canal!

What is the Erie Canalway Challenge?

The Erie Canalway Challenge encourages anyone who loves being outside to experience the beauty and wonder of the Erie Canalway system by walking, riding or paddling along the waterway. The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor invites the public to create your own adventure and get out and have fun along the 524-mile NYS Canal System and 365-mile Canalway Trail. Join this free program and experience the Erie Canalway up close and personal.

A view of the Erie Canal in Herkimer, NY.

New York’s canal system has been in continuous operation since 1825

The Erie Canal’s continuous operation is longer than any other constructed transportation system on the North American continent. Over the years, it has been enlarged three times to accommodate larger boats and more traffic. Today, pleasure boats, kayaks and canoes, and commercial vessels share the waterway. The NYS Canal System includes:

Erie Canal, which connects the Hudson River with Lake Erie, 338 miles to the west;
Champlain Canal, which connects the tidal portion of the Hudson River with Lake Champlain, 63 miles to the north;
Oswego Canal, which follows the Oswego River from the Erie Canal 23 miles north to Lake Ontario;
Cayuga-Seneca Canal, which connects the Erie Canal to 92 miles of canalized rivers and lakes, including the Seneca River and Cayuga and Seneca Lakes.

How can you sign up for the Erie Canalway Challenge?

It is easy to sign up for the Erie Canalway Challenge! Just click the link to take you to the registration page. Here you can choose to register as an individual so you can track your own progress.
Sign up as a group or team where all participants will be doing the same mileage. This allows a single team leader to manage miles for the group.
Register as an organization if you have a group of participants that want to do different mileages, but want to track results together. Designate a team leader to signup first and receive a JOIN CODE to share will all of the participants. Participants will use the Join Code to register individually. If you have a join code, go directly to Join a Challenge tab.

Sign up today and get out on the canal to enjoy the beauty of the Mohawk Valley region. Earn badges and bragging rights as you log your miles and have a great time with family and friends.

How can you participate in the Erie Canalway Challenge?

Within the Mohawk Valley there are a variety of ways for you to enjoy Erie Canalway Challenge and log your miles. Take a look at a few ideas to help get you started.

Cycling Day Trips

Cycling day trips are a nice way to spend a few hours out on the trail and take in the sites and historic places along the way. The folks at the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor have put together a variety of ideas for you to pick from, or you can create a day trip ride of your own!

Paddling Day Trips

Paddle along the Erie Canal with well-planned day trips of 10 miles or less. These day trips make it easy to enjoy time on the water and experience the canal as you pass through the locks at different locations. Along the way there’s so much to see and do! Be sure to check out the paddling resources to plan your trip and make the most of your time on the water!

Multi-day itineraries

The Erie Canalway’s more than 300-miles from Buffalo to Albany offers lots of opportunities for multi-day adventures. The portion from Syracuse to Albany runs right through the Mohawk Valley and offers lots to see and do in the picturesque rural landscape of the region. You’ll enjoy a variety of cycling experiences all along the Canalway Trail from Central New York through the Mohawk Valley to the Capital Region. Visit the Canalway Multi-day Itneraries and the NYS Canalway Map to plan your trip and discover all there is to see when you’re out on the trail!

What are some places to visit, things to do along the Erie Canalway ?

Be sure to check out the Erie Canalway Hot Trail Link website to plan a unique experience perfectly suited for you! Remember to visit Mohawk Valley Today Events and Mohawk Valley Museums to see all that is happening along your path.

Notable stops along the way

Fort Stanwix National Monument

For centuries, the Oneida Carrying Place, a six-mile portage connecting the Mohawk River and Wood Creek, served as a vital link for those traveling by water from the ocean to the Great Lakes. When Europeans arrived, nations fought for control of the carry, the homelands of the Six Nations Confederacy, and the rich resources of North America. Fort Stanwix would play a vital role in this struggle.

Herkimer Home State Historic Site

Situated overlooking the Mohawk River, this Georgian-style mansion was home to General Nicholas Herkimer. General Herkimer’s place in history was assured in 1777 when he assembled 800 militiamen, supported by 60 allied Oneida warriors, and marched to defend Fort Stanwix against a British siege. Considered to be a significant turning point in the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Oriskany, fought on August 6, 1777, has been described as one of the bloodiest battles of the war.

General Herkimer Home | Herkimer County | Photo by Sarah Rogers.

The World Famous Boilermaker Road Race

The Boilermaker Road race features special races along the Erie Canal in Whitesboro and Utica on May 19 2024. Erie Canal Races includes a 10-miler, 5K (3.1 miles), and a two-person 10-mile relay (5 miles per runner). All races start on the Whitesboro High School track, before getting onto the Canalway Trail at Paul Becker Road. From there, enjoy an out-and-back on the scenic Erie Canal Trail before making your way back to Whitesboro High School for an epic finish on the track!

Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site

The Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the Erie Canal as one of the 19th century’s greatest commercial and engineering projects. The Visitor Center exhibit traces the history of the Erie Canal and its impact on the growth of New York State and the nation.

Little Falls Historic Canal Place

Canal Place in historic Little Falls is located on the Erie Canal and offers shopping, dining, natural outdoor activities and more.

Canal Place, Little Falls

Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook Bridge

The Mohawk Valley Gateway overlook Bridge is a public pedestrian bridge in the City of Amsterdam that connects Riverlink Park on the north shore of the Mohawk River to Bridge Street on the south shore. The bridge is 30 feet wide and spans 511 feet (156 m) over the river.