Erie Canal built 1817-1825 363 miles Albany to Buffalo — made Syracuse Salt City, made NYC financial capital. 4 best preserved canal towns within 20 min of Syracuse: Baldwinsville island in middle of Seneca River, Phoenix Lock 1 with 3 rivers merging, Camillus 9 Mile Creek Aqueduct only restored aqueduct in NY, Chittenango birthplace L Frank Baum Wizard of Oz. Empire State Trail 360 miles paved bike path follows towpath, free parking at all towns.
Jump to: Baldwinsville Island | Phoenix Lock 1 | Camillus Aqueduct | Chittenango Oz | Bike Trail Map
Baldwinsville — Island in Seneca River + Lock 24
Baldwinsville — 2 Islands, Lock 24, Dining $12-25
Address: 16 W Genesee St, Baldwinsville NY 13027 • Parking: Free municipal lots 200 spaces + street free 2hr • Lock 24 Hours: May-Oct 7am-10pm free to watch boats lock through 15 ft lift
- Island Dining: Paper Mill Island 6 acres in middle of river, free bridge access, Angry Smokehouse $14-22 BBQ, Bville Diner $8-14 breakfast 6am-2pm, Canal Side $12-24 seafood deck over water
- Lock 24: Active lock, watch 30 ft boats rise 15 ft in 10 min, best free entertainment, 9am-5pm most boat traffic Sat-Sun, park benches free
- Boat Rentals: Bville Boat Rentals kayak $25/hr canoe $30/hr, Seneca River 5 mile paddle to Onondaga Lake, fishing bass walleye free from shore
- Events: Canal Day 3rd Sat July free, 10k people, crafts, food $8-12, fireworks 9:30pm over river
Phoenix — Lock 1 + 3 Rivers Junction + Free Camping
Phoenix — Lock 1 Where 3 Rivers Meet, Free Camping
Address: 68 Culvert St, Phoenix NY 13135 • Lock 1 Hours: May-Oct 7am-10pm • Camping: Free at Lock 1 Island 14 days max, no hookups, port-a-potty, first-come
- Three Rivers: Oneida River, Seneca River, Oswego River merge here — only place 3 rivers meet in NY, 270 degree water view, bald eagles Jan-Mar
- Lock 1: First lock north of Erie Canal junction, 12 ft lift, watch boats enter Oswego Canal to Lake Ontario, free parking 30 spaces Lock Island Rd
- Free Camping: Lock 1 Island free 14 days, Henley Park free tent camping 20 sites, no reservation, fire pits, carry in carry out, open May-Oct
- Dining: Bridge House Brats $10-18 German, Lock 1 Distilling $8 flights, Great Northern Pizza $12-20, all walk from lock
Camillus — 9 Mile Creek Aqueduct + Erie Canal Museum $8
Camillus — Only Restored Aqueduct in New York + 8 Miles Towpath
Address: 5750 Devoe Rd, Camillus NY 13031 • Museum Hours: Wed-Sat 10am-4pm Sun 12-4pm May-Oct, off-season Sat-Sun 12-4pm • Fees: Museum $8 adult $6 senior $4 kids under 12 free, Aqueduct free 24/7, Parking free
- Aqueduct: Built 1844 28 ft high 108 ft long carries canal over 9 Mile Creek, only restored aqueduct in NY, $2M restoration 2009, walk across top 15 min, free
- Museum: Original 1850s canal store, 1840s packet boat replica, mule wagon $5 ride weekends, blacksmith demo, 8 miles towpath paved bike/walk
- Bike Trail: Empire State Trail through park, paved 8 miles Camillus to Jordan, flat, benches every mile, connects to 360 mile Albany to Buffalo
- Boat: Camillus Erie Canal Park boat launch free, kayak Seneca River 3 mile loop to aqueduct, fishing bass $5 bait Devoe Rd shop
Chittenango — Birthplace of Wizard of Oz + Chittenango Falls 167 ft
Chittenango — L Frank Baum Birthplace + 167 ft Waterfall State Park
Oz Museum: 10 Genesee St, Chittenango NY 13037 • Hours: 11am-4pm Fri-Sun May-Oct, off-season Sat-Sun 11am-3pm • Fees: Museum $8 adult $6 senior $4 kids 5-12 free under 5, Falls State Park $10 vehicle entry • Phone: 315-687-7582
- Oz Museum: Birthplace L Frank Baum 1856, 5,000 Oz items, 1939 movie props, yellow brick road sidewalk painted downtown, Oz Fest 1st Sat June free 15k people
- Chittenango Falls State Park: 167 ft waterfall 3 miles from village, 0.5 mile trail to base 200 steps, gorge 300 ft deep, open dawn-dusk $10 vehicle May-Oct, ice climbing Jan-Feb guided $75
- Erie Canal: Original canal bed through village, towpath 2 miles paved, Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum $6 adult $4 kids, 1840s dry dock, boat building demo
- Dining: Chittenango Diner $8-12 breakfast 6am-2pm, Yellow Brick Road Casino $12-28 buffet, 10 min to Oneida Lake Sylvan Beach
Empire State Trail — 360 Miles Paved Albany to Buffalo via 4 Towns
Bike Trail Map — Free Parking, Flat, Paved, 4 Towns 25 Miles Total
Empire State Trail: 360 miles NYC to Buffalo, 75 miles through CNY, paved 10 ft wide, flat 1-2% grade, benches, mileage markers.
- Camillus Section: 8 miles Camillus Aqueduct to Jordan, parking free Devoe Rd lot 50 spaces, flat, woods, creek views, best family section
- Baldwinsville Section: 6 miles Bville to Liverpool, parking free Community Park lot 100 spaces Genesee St, river views, lock 24, dining stops
- Phoenix Section: 5 miles Phoenix to Three Rivers, parking free Lock 1 lot 30 spaces, rivers, eagles Jan-Mar, free camping lock island
- Chittenango Section: 6 miles Chittenango to Canastota, parking free Falls State Park $10 or free village lot, farmland, canal bed, Oz museum
- Rentals: Bville Bike Rental $30/day, Syracuse Bike $35/day, e-bikes $60/day, shuttle service $40 Phoenix to Bville 15 miles
Erie Canal Trail Map Jordan to Camillus & Syracuse to Canastota, Interactive Map
Click Box on top left to display list.
Erie Canal Trail Map — Free Parking, Flat, Some Paved, Jordan to Camillus & Syracuse to Canastota. Zoom for directions.
FAQ — Best Town, Parking, Dining, Boat
FAQ
- Which town is best for dining? Baldwinsville island 4 restaurants $12-25 deck over water, Paper Mill Island free access, best sunset. Phoenix 3 restaurants $10-18 walk from Lock 1. Camillus no dining — pack lunch.
- Where is free parking? All 4 towns free municipal lots 20-100 spaces, no meters, 2hr limit Bville weekdays only. State parks $10 vehicle Chittenango Falls, $10 Verona near Sylvan Beach.
- Can you boat the canal? Yes rental kayaks $25/hr Bville, Camillus launch free, Phoenix free camping boat access, canal speed 5 mph no wake, locks free for paddlers must portage around locks — carry 100 ft.
- How far from Syracuse? Camillus 12 min west, Baldwinsville 15 min northwest, Phoenix 20 min north I-81 Exit 30, Chittenango 25 min east Route 13. Loop all 4 towns 75 miles 2 hours driving.