Old Erie Canal State Park

Old Erie Canal State Park near Canastota is a quiet 36-mile ribbon of water and towpath that threads through canal towns and farmland. It has been designated a National Recreational Trail by the National Park Service. Canastota is a Madison County village known for the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Visitors can bring a bike, walking shoes or a kayak and enjoy the canal’s easy pace. Along the way are old stonework and footbridges, as well as the remnants of stone aqueducts that once carried the canal over streams. It is a gentle outdoor outing for families and history buffs.

What to Know

• The park runs 36 miles along a former section of the Erie Canal.
• Walkers, cyclists and paddlers all use the towpath and the water.
• Stone aqueduct remnants and footbridges give the route a historic feel.
• The National Park Service has designated it a National Recreational Trail.