Mohawk Towpath Byway

Visit New York s historic canal system and see the locks and bridges that made canal transport possible for almost two centuries. The Mohawk Towpath Byway links scenic, recreational, and historic resources. Architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries endures, as do the landscape and the perseverance of the canal builders. As you explore, other stories emerge including the area’s natural history, Native American influences on the only water-level route through the Appalachian Mountains, the American Revolution, the role our communities played in the westward expansion of the country and in the Industrial Revolution, the seat of innovation and invention, and family history.

Length

26.2 mi / 42.2 km

Time to allow

Take 40 minutes to drive the byway or a day or two to experience the history, recreational opportunities, and unique communities.

Fees

None

We publish 5 places that sit on this road, listed in the order you meet them. This is not a route and not a drive time — it is the names, so you can put them into whatever navigation you already use.

Of those, 1 is a roadside oddity — the sort of thing you would drive past without knowing it was there.

“Off” is a straight line from the place to the road, rounded. It is not a driving distance, and the road itself is a simplified centre line, so treat a mile or two as noise.