The “Era of the Erie”
The Erie Canal is a major attraction and recreational resource in Wayne County. The canal had a huge impact on the surrounding villages of Macedon, Palmyra, Newark, Lyons and Clyde. The canal provided inexpensive and easy transportation of goods, which allowed agriculture and industry to develop. Local museums depict the “Era of the Erie” in many exhibits and remnants of the old canal are plentiful throughout the county. The canal takes center stage at numerous community events throughout the year.
Today, the Erie Canal provides recreation for the whole family. Whether you’d care to fish, boat, canoe, kayak, hike or bike, Wayne County’s 35 miles of the Erie Canal is waiting for you. Modern facilities such as marinas, hiking/biking paths, and canalside parks will make your experience a pleasant one.
Come and enjoy the “Era of the Erie”
Marina & Boat Rentals
MID-LAKES ERIE MACEDON MARINA
1865 Canandaigua Road
Macedon, NY 14502
(315) 986-3011
E-mail: marina@midlakesnav.com
Web Address: www.macedonlanding.com
Full service marina. Seasonal and transient slips, fuel, pump out, repairs, travelift, ramp, laundry, showers. Self-skippered Lockmaster canalboat rentals, charter by the week. Pontoon boat/kayak/canoe rentals.
Mural Mania
A new, innovative murals trail that features the Erie Canal as well as several canal villages has come to life in Wayne, Cayuga and Onondaga counties. The trail, which runs 75 miles from Macedon to Syracuse, features historical murals on buildings and canal abutments.
In 2016, Mural Mania will be hosting the Global Mural Conference. Go to www.muralmania.org.
New York State Canal System
The New York State Canal System is a navigable 524-mile inland waterway that spans upstate New York. The waterway connects the Hudson River with Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, Cayuga Lake, Seneca Lake, and Lake Erie via the Niagara River.
The Canal System includes four Canals: the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca; canalized natural waterways, plus five lakes: Oneida, Onondaga, Cross, Cayuga and Seneca; short Canal sections at Ithaca and Watkins Glen; feeder reservoirs, canals and rivers not accessible by boat from the Canal; and Canal terminals on Lake Champlain. The Canal System passes through 25 counties and close to 200 villages, hamlets and towns.
Canal Organizations
Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, in partnership with the National Park Service, collaborates with communities and organizations to preserve and interpret the nationally significant heritage of New York’s canal system, invite visitors to explore what makes the Corridor unique, and ensure a vibrant future for the 2.7 million New Yorkers who call the Erie Canalway home. The National Heritage Corridor extends the full expanse of upstate New York and includes the present day canal system and its historic alignments. www.eriecanalway.org
The New York State Canal Corporation operates, maintains, and promotes the New York State Canal System, which includes the Erie, Champlain, Cayuga-Seneca, and Oswego Canals. The Canal Corporation is a subsidiary of the NYS Thruway Authority. www.canals.ny.gov
- New York State Canal System Cruising Guide – The Canal Corporation publishes, The Cruising Guide to the New York State Canal System, a comprehensive guide to boating along the Canal System. It includes information on the services and amenities along the Canal System, bridge clearance information, as well as tourism and Canalway Trail information. The Cruising Guide is highly recommended to those planning a trip on the Canal System. Click here to learn about purchasing the guide.
Parks and Trails New York works statewide to expand, protect, and promote a network of parks, trails, and open spaces throughout the state for all to use and enjoy. PTNY advocates for completion of the Canalway Trail System and promotes the trail through annual events, including Cycling the Erie Canal bike tour and Bicyclists Bring Business roundtables. PTNY supports an Adopt-a-Trail maintenance program, in conjunction with the Canalway Trails Association New York. www.ptny.org
Canal New York Marketing and Business Alliance is a statewide membership organization whose mission is to serve as the one generally accepted private sector entity dedicated to tourism, marketing, legislative advocacy, and business collaboration in support of existing and new business opportunities within New York State’s canal communities. www.canalny.com
Canal Society of New York brings together canal scholars from across New York to protect historic canal sites and features; support the revitalization of canals and the development of canal ports, recreational facilities, canal trails and other related amenities; and present and interpret canal history. www.newyorkcanals.org
Western Erie Canal Alliance (WECA) serves as a conduit and partner to regional communities in an effort to support New York State’s Management Plan for the Western Erie Canal Heritage Corridor. The organization helps preserve, maintain and promote the integrity of the 136 mile stretch of the corridor along the Erie Canal, including the communities in the counties of Erie, Monroe, Orleans and Wayne.www.westerneriecanal.com