The Erie Canal spans 100-miles between Lockport and Lyons, with Rochester located right in the middle making it easy to get out there and explore! To enjoy every moment, choose just 15 miles on the canal to explore in a day.
Pick a town like Brockport or Fairport to spend a few hours. Choose an entry point like Greece Canal Park or Meridian Center to walk or bike the trail. Stop at one of the canal locks and watch the boats go through.
List of Erie Canal Cities, Towns and Villages
From East to West:
- Lyons
- Newark
- Palmyra
- Macedon
- Fairport
- Pittsford
- Brighton/Henrietta
- Rochester
- Greece
- Spencerport
- Adams Basin
- Brockport
- Holley
- Albion
- Medina
- Lockport
Map of Locks and Points of Interest
Use our Google Map and ideas below to help plan your Erie Canal day trip.
Canal Towns
Lyons
est. 1789
Peppermint Days Festival in July
The Caboose, as seen on TV
Newark
est. 1819
Palmyra
est. 1729
Lock 29 at Pal-Mac Aqueduct County Park
Town & Village of Palmyra and Historic Palmyra
Hill Cumorah Pageant in July
Palmyra Pirate Weekend in August
Canaltown Days in September
Macedon
est. 1823
Lock 30 at Macedon Canal Park
At the end of the Butterfly Trail you can observe the convergence of all 3 historic canals.
Fairport
est. 1867
Rent kayak, paddle board, or bicycle at the Erie Canal Boat Company
Fairport Canal Days in June
Fairport Music & Food Fest in August
Check the village website for shops, restaurants and events
Fairport Lift bridge
Pittsford
est. 1796
Lock 32 Erie Canal Park
Hop aboard the Sam Patch packet boat and experience going through a lock
Old Erie Canal Lock 62 behind Pittsford Plaza
Hamlet of Bushnell’s Basin
Check the town website for shops, restaurants and events
Brighton and Henrietta
both est.1790
Erie Canal Genesee River Crossing in Rochester
est. 1817
Kayak & canoe rentals on the Genesee
Greece
est. 1822
Spencerport
est. 1804
Spencerport Depot & Canal Museum
Spencerport Canal Days in July
Check the village website for shops, restaurants and events
Adam’s Basin
est. 1815
Historic 1825 Adams-Ryan House – it was recently sold by the previous owners of the Adams Basin Inn. Not certain if it’s open to the public, but a unique building nonetheless. The Adams-Ryan house has the oldest intact barroom on the Erie Canal.
In 1972, a new owner purchased the property from the last surviving Ryan family member, refinished every piece in the bed and breakfast’s four bedrooms and added a “new” main entrance, salvaged from Nathaniel Rochester’s former house.
Brockport
est. 1829
Brockport Arts Festival in August
Low Bridge / High Water Festival in May
Check the village website for shops, restaurants and events
There are 2 Lift bridges in Brockport, Main St and Park Ave.
Holley
est. 1850
There are 2 Lift bridges before Albion in Holley and Hulberton.
Albion
est. 1812
Albion is the Orleans County seat.
There are 3 Lift bridges before Medina in Albion, Eagle Harbor and Knowlesville.
Medina
est. 1832
The only road that goes under the canal is Culvert Road [get directions]
State Street Park, where Oak Orchard Creek runs under the canal on its way to Lake Ontario.
There are 3 Lift bridges before Lockport in Medina, Middleport, and Gasport
Lockport
est. 1865
Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises
Erie Canal Flight of Five Locks
The Lockport Cave & Underground Boat Ride
There are 2 Lift bridges in Lockport
Additional Erie Canal resources
The Canal Corporation maintains a calendar of canal town events throughout the year.
The Erie Canalway website is a great resource for learning more about the canal and how locks work.
Cycle the Erie, Information and recommendations for those cycling along the canal
Did you know?
Of the 20 lift bridges along the canal, 16 are between Fairport and Lockport.
In recognition of the canal’s bicentennial, there is a continued waiver of tolls for recreational vessels through 2021.
You can rent a houseboat from Mid-Lakes Navigation in Macedon. Take a look at the brochure for some great information.
You can pass through any lock in a kayak (or any non-motorized vessel) for free, without permits. Learn more about paddling through on the Canal Corporation website. Check out this video of 10 kayakers as they “lock-through” Lockport Locks 34 & 35.
Water Trails: 58 Places to Explore Rochester’s Waterways
Paddle your way to peace and quiet along Rochester’s water trails. Use these launches for canoes, kayaks, and small motorized watercraft.
Street Art: Exploring Rochester’s Murals & Graffiti
The term street art means different things to different people. Here, we interpret street art to mean any outdoor, free, public wall art.
Monroe County is the heart of the Greater Rochester Nine County Region. The City of Rochester is surrounded by 19 towns and villages.
Rochester’s Fun Facts: Oldest, Original, Only, & More!
Rochester’s fun facts will inspire you to explore more. And these are just some of the historical tidbits that make Rochester special.
Where are your favorite spots along the Erie Canal?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Your insight and experience is invaluable!