Eastern Erie Canal
The Eastern section of the Erie combines the rivers, lakes and man-made sections of the Canal. Starting in Waterford the Canal climbs more than 160’ in less than 2 miles. The greatest rate of climb of any navigable waterway in the world. Your trip continues on the navigable section of the Mohawk River as you pass communities such as Amsterdam, and the smaller villages of Little Falls, and Illion. The Canal continues west as it passes through Utica, Rome and onto Sylvan Beach. On the eastern shore of Oneida Lake, Sylvan Beach will remind you of a sea-side town complete with amusement park and sandy beach. You cross Oneida Lake, and into the Oneida River past the intersection with the Oswego Canal and then the junction with Onondaga Lake and into Syracuse. The original canal went through the city of Syracuse, but when the use of motorized vessels came into play the modern-day Canal took the route of rivers and lakes and by-passed Syracuse. The Canal continues west through the bedroom community of Baldwinsville and on to the intersection of the Cayuga / Seneca and points west.
A trip along the Eastern Section of the Canal will offer you the opportunity to visit historical sites such as Fort Stanwix a reproduction of the Revolutionary War fort. Construction of the Erie Canal began on July 4th. of 1817 in Rome as well where the ceremonial first shovel of dirt was removed.
