The Old Erie Canal State Park and Bike Path goes between the Erie Canal Village near Rome and Dewitt, near Syracuse. The surface is crushed stone and good for a pleasant and easy ride. We enjoyed this ride more than the ride on the Mohawk-Hudson Bikeway. The route is rural and it follows along the old canal on the towpath. There are several interesting places to visit; Erie Canal Village, the Chittenango Canal Boat Museum, the Canastota Canal Town Museum. There was variety with a short stretch along the modern Erie Barge Canal at Lock 21. There are some pleasant towns along the route or close to it.
The Old Erie Canal State Park does not have a web site. A good map showing parking locations and points of interest along the canal can be obtained by writing or phoning the park office at:
Old Erie Canal State Park
Andrus Road
Kirkville, NY 13082
315 687-7821
A descriptive pamphlet with information and web site addresses for all the canal museums is also available from this address.
Trail from Rails has a map of the Old Erie Canal State Park with parking locations and general information on accomodations, camping ,etc. The map from the Old Erie Canal State Park is much better.
The New York Canals website has an address to order a map of all the NY Canals, which shows the Old Erie Canal.
The NY Canalways site has information on the Erie Canal museums; there are several near the Old Erie Canal in Rome, Canastota, Chittenanago, Dewitt and Syracuse.
There is a regional bike map of the Rome area. Click on the Utica/Rome button.
Here are some pictures and descriptions of our ride along the Old Erie Canal Towpath.
