Paddling the historic NYS Canal System continues to gain momentum as interest, information, and amenities for paddlers improve. Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is taking a leading role in the development of the New York State Canalway Water Trail, in partnership with the New York State Canal Corporation and the National Park Service (NPS) Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA). Here are a few highlights of this year’s activities and a few photos to encourage you to paddle the canals.
• Paddlers are sharing information, asking questions, and meeting others who share a passion for paddling the canals on the New York State Canalway Water Trail paddling group on Facebook. With nearly 700 members, this peer-to-peer group is a great place to get inspired for a paddling adventure on the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Join the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NYSCanalwayWaterTrail/
• Planning a paddling outing or multi-day trip are about to get much easier with the release of a new guidebook and navigational map set slated to become available early in 2019. The guidebook includes launch sites, amenities, and points of interest for the 524-mile NYS Canal System. Once complete, the same wealth of information will also be available online. Preliminary information is available online now for the Erie Canal from Rome to Waterford: https://www.eriecanalway.org/watertrail.
• No boat? No problem! Numerous rental outfitters are located along the canals, including in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Amsterdam, Schenectady, Waterford, Albany, Oswego, Geneva, and points in between. Find information on rentals, paddling through locks, and navigating the canal system here: https://eriecanalway.org/explore/boating/paddling.
Canalway Trail Times 