www.mohawktowpath.org
Open in
urlscan Pro
188.114.97.3
Public Scan
Submitted URL: https://mohawktowpath.org/
Effective URL: https://www.mohawktowpath.org/
Submission: On November 21 via api from US — Scanned from NL
Effective URL: https://www.mohawktowpath.org/
Submission: On November 21 via api from US — Scanned from NL
Form analysis 1 forms found in the DOM
POST /#gf_1
<form method="post" enctype="multipart/form-data" target="gform_ajax_frame_1" id="gform_1" action="/#gf_1" data-formid="1" novalidate="">
<div class="gform-body gform_body">
<div id="gform_fields_1" class="gform_fields top_label form_sublabel_below description_below validation_below">
<div id="field_1_1" class="gfield gfield--type-email gfield--width-full gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below hidden_label field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible"
data-js-reload="field_1_1"><label class="gfield_label gform-field-label" for="input_1_1">Email<span class="gfield_required"><span class="gfield_required gfield_required_text">(Required)</span></span></label>
<div class="ginput_container ginput_container_email">
<input name="input_1" id="input_1_1" type="email" value="" class="large" placeholder="Your Email Address" aria-required="true" aria-invalid="false">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="gform-footer gform_footer top_label"> <input type="submit" id="gform_submit_button_1" class="gform_button et_pb_button button" onclick="gform.submission.handleButtonClick(this)" value="Subscribe"> <input type="hidden" name="gform_ajax"
value="form_id=1&title=&description=&tabindex=0&theme=orbital">
<input type="hidden" class="gform_hidden" name="gform_submission_method" data-js="gform_submission_method_1" value="iframe">
<input type="hidden" class="gform_hidden" name="is_submit_1" value="1">
<input type="hidden" class="gform_hidden" name="gform_submit" value="1">
<input type="hidden" class="gform_hidden" name="gform_unique_id" value="">
<input type="hidden" class="gform_hidden" name="state_1" value="WyJbXSIsIjAzYzBjNzc1MDE3MzAwMGNmNDcyZWJlNDM5OGVkYzFlIl0=">
<input type="hidden" autocomplete="off" class="gform_hidden" name="gform_target_page_number_1" id="gform_target_page_number_1" value="0">
<input type="hidden" autocomplete="off" class="gform_hidden" name="gform_source_page_number_1" id="gform_source_page_number_1" value="1">
<input type="hidden" name="gform_field_values" value="">
</div>
<p style="display: none !important;" class="akismet-fields-container" data-prefix="ak_"><label>Δ<textarea name="ak_hp_textarea" cols="45" rows="8" maxlength="100"></textarea></label><input type="hidden" id="ak_js_1" name="ak_js"
value="1732182532371">
<script>
document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value", (new Date()).getTime());
</script>
</p><input type="hidden" name="_dsgfd" value="1">
</form>Text Content
* Home * Key Attractions * Outdoor Recreation * Bicycling * Hiking * Boating * Exploring on the Water * Birding * Fishing * Winter Sports * Golfing * Itineraries * Tours * Stay, Dine & Shop * For Your Drive * Directions * Local Resources * Travel Conditions * Support the Byway * Marketing Partners * Contact * Blog * Home * Key Attractions * Outdoor Recreation * Bicycling * Hiking * Boating * Exploring on the Water * Birding * Fishing * Winter Sports * Golfing * Itineraries * Tours * Stay, Dine & Shop * For Your Drive * Directions * Local Resources * Travel Conditions * Support the Byway * Marketing Partners * Contact * Blog * Follow * Follow * Follow * Follow * Follow MOHAWK TOWPATH SCENIC BYWAY Explore Now MOHAWK TOWPATH SCENIC BYWAY Explore Now MOHAWK TOWPATH SCENIC BYWAY Explore Now MOHAWK TOWPATH SCENIC BYWAY Explore Now MOHAWK TOWPATH SCENIC BYWAY Explore Now THE BYWAY THE MOHAWK TOWPATH NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY IS UNIQUE IN AMERICA. EXPLORE THE INTRIGUING STORIES AND HISTORY FOUND ALONG THE ROAD. THE MOHAWK TOWPATH STORY Traveling a busy highway to get to the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway, you wouldn’t envision such wonderful serenity awaits. Yet, as you turn at an intersection of trade and commerce in Upstate New York to move toward the route, it appears time has stopped. You’ll feel like you’ve dropped into another century. The land on which the Town of Halfmoon sits was purchased directly from the Mohawk Tribe in 1667. Strolling the streets of the Stockade District, you’ll pass buildings dating from 1670 and in Waterford, some constructed as early as 1770. The Old Military Crossing ford across the Mohawk River was guarded by Generals Enoch Poor and Benedict Arnold (America’s famous turncoat) during the Revolutionary War. The beautiful homes that overlook the Mohawk River in the Crescent-Church Hill Historic District have been reigning over the riverbanks for over 200 years. Exploring this beautiful, quiet, still rural corridor intertwined with natural areas and scenic beauty, the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway parallels the Mohawk River, the Erie Canal, and the New York Barge Canal from the Village of Waterford to the City of Schenectady. Along the route, where much of the landscape still looks like it did in 1825, you won’t know the busy Interstate nearby exists. Historic districts with buildings from canal days still stand proudly in towns along the way. Some thought the canal was a reckless idea. Instead, the water route through New York State became the central corridor through the Appalachians that sped up settlement of the United States further west and established New York City as a major seaport. The name Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway was chosen to commemorate the river and the towpath trod by the mules along the Erie Canal. After you experience the loop of the Byway that includes Cohoes, Waterford, and Halfmoon, slowly take the rest of the journey. Views of the river ebb and flow, all the while blessed with lush greenery. You’ll grow to truly appreciate the meandering route nestled within the trees. It’s peace and serenity at its finest and one of the best escapes from the bustle of life you’ll ever find. BYWAY HISTORY Stretching from the Hudson River to central New York State, the Mohawk River Valley was carved by glacial action during the Ice Age approximately 2 million years ago. Native American tribes resided in the Mohawk Valley for millenniums before Dutchman Henry Hudson plied the river named after him in 1609. The Dutch established a permanent settlement in the Stockade District (now in Schenectady) in 1660. Even with rapids that required portage, the Mohawk River became the main route between the eastern seaboard and the Great Lakes. As early as 1783, plans were developed to build an alternative water route to expedite travel between the two. Continual efforts between 1810 and 1816 by New York State legislators to secure funding for constructing a canal between Albany and Buffalo were unsuccessful. When DeWitt Clinton became Governor of New York the following year, he boldly ordered work to begin in the city of Rome, in what became known as “Clinton’s Big Ditch.” After this inauspicious start, the original Erie Canal was carved across the state between 1817 and 1825. The original canal channel was 40’ wide at the surface, 28’ feet wide at the bottom, and 4’ deep. More than 80 locks with pivoting gates allowed compartments to fill with water to raise the boats or open to lower the boats. The locks handled elevation changes totaling 689 feet along the route. Steep changes in elevation, such as the need to rise 180 feet at Cohoes, required several connected locks. In this case, 16 locks, called the terrible 16s, required an entire day for passage. Boats were towed on the water by mules walking along a path – or towpath – next to the canal. Besides spurring growth in New York City, the canal supported the communities of Waterford, Cohoes, Crescent, Vischer Ferry, Rexford, and Schenectady – historic places now located along the Byway. Early train tracks were built parallel to the Mohawk River and the Canal from Albany to Schenectady in 1831, specifically to avoid the time delay of taking a boat through the 16 locks at Cohoes. After portions of the canal were expanded and rerouted in the 1840s, the remnant of the original Erie Canal served as a power canal for Harmony Mills. Yet, by the 1850s, railroads began competing with the Erie Canal for both passengers and freight. This prompted the enlargement of the canal to 70’ wide and 7’ deep in 1862, although the railroad ultimately eroded the cross-state waterway’s importance. Still needing a waterway path through the region, the New York State Barge Canal, begun in 1903, encompassed 36 locks to lift vessels from Waterford at 15.2 feet to Lake Erie at 565.6 feet. Construction of the five large Flight of Locks at Waterford that replaced the original 16s raised the level 180 feet over the span of five miles. These improvements enabled the canal to continue as a significant transportation route for grain shipped from the Midwest to New York City for several more decades. WHAT TO SEE & DO THE MOHAWK TOWPATH BYWAY WILL CAPTURE YOUR ATTENTION FOR DAYS! VISIT KEY ATTRACTIONS, ENJOY OUTDOOR RECREATION, DO THE TOURS, AND ATTEND EVENTS. KEY ATTRACTIONS OUTDOOR RECREATION ITINERARIES TOURS ITINERARIES MOHAWK TOWPATH: JOURNEY TO ANOTHER PLACE IN TIME ITINERARY MOHAWK TOWPATH: RETURN TO ANOTHER CENTURY ITINERARY FOR YOUR DRIVE Everything You Need to Travel to the Byway and Explore the Area. Directions, Maps, Local Resources, Travel Conditions and more. For Your Drive FOR YOUR VISIT Plan to Visitor for More Than A Day! While Here Stay, Dine, Shop, Fuel Up and Let One of the Pre-Designed Itineraries Be Your Guide. Stay, Dine & Shop SUPPORT THE BYWAY If You’re a Visitor, You Can Contribute to the Non-Profit that Manages the Byway. If You’re a Business or Area Organization, You Can Join. Support the Byway Great and easy path for walking, running or biking. Great views and clear paths. Jenna Such a lovely Audubon space. Wish we had had more time! Bonnie Really cute and super accessible area. I went to take some pictures and there were a few people hiking as well… Casey #MOHAWKTOWPATHBYWAY Tag us on Instagram with @mohawktowpath #mohawktowpath Instagram MOHAWK TOWPATH NEWS 2024 MOHAWK TOWPATH SCENIC BYWAY DUATHLON Join us for the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway Duathlon October 20, 2024, in Rexford, NY This exciting event offers... CONSTRUCTION Riverview Road is closed at the bridge over I-87 Northway. Located in the Town of Halfmoon, this is an important... MOHAWK TOWPATH SPRING 2024 ROAD RALLY The Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway is excited to announce our Road Rally on April 14, 2024. Connect with History,... « Older Entries MORE INFO * Find Us * Dine / Shop / Stay * Support the Byway * Blog * Find Us * Dine / Shop / Stay * Support the Byway * Blog JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER Email(Required) Δ CLIFTON PARK CENTER WEATHER * Follow * Follow * Follow * Follow * Follow PO Box 90, Clifton Park, NY 12065 © Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway. All Rights Reserved. Website created by National Travel Center. Notifications