The Erie Canal spans 100 miles between Lockport and Clyde, with Rochester in the middle. Choose 15 miles to explore for a great day trip.
Pick a town like Brockport or Fairport to spend a few hours. Choose an access point like Greece Canal Park, The Great Embankment or Meridian Center to walk or bike the trail. Stop at one of the canal locks and watch the boats “lock through.”
List of Erie Canal Cities, Towns and Villages
From East to West:
- Clyde
- 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
Clyde
est. 1835
Erie Canal Lock 26 is located east of the historic Clyde Blockhouse replica on NY-31.
Galen Wildlife Management Area and Marengo Marsh
Food & Beverage
Lyons
est. 1789
Lyons is a beautiful historic canaltown, including the 1915 Ohmann movie theater, still owned and operated by descendants of the original Ohmann family.
The Canadaigua Outlet joins the canal right next to Lock 27.
Right next to the lock is a major Canal Corporation repair facility and drydock, one of two on the canal system where barges and boats have their bottoms repaired.
According to tug44.com, “The drydock has a set of canal gates, same as the locks have. On the other end is a drain valve. The gates are opened, a boat is floated in, then the gates are closed and the drain is opened, leaving the boats high and dry with their hulls accessible for repair or maintenance.”
Peppermint Days Festival in July
Food & Beverage
Newark
est. 1819
There is a beautiful park along the canal in Newark, with painted murals depicting historic canaltown life. Lots of great places to eat and drink here, too.
If you’re visiting the lock, make time to take the Lockville Trail—a short walk from Lock 28B—to visit Old Enlarged Erie Locks 58 and 59.
Food & Beverage
Monterrey’s Mexican Restaurant
Palmyra
est. 1729
Lock 29 is located in Pal-Mac Aqueduct County Park, a beautiful green space where Ganargua Creek joins the canal. My most memorable visit here was when the Genesee beer tanks came through.
Lock 29 at Pal-Mac Aqueduct County Park
Town & Village of Palmyra and Historic Palmyra
Food & Beverage
Events
Hill Cumorah Pageant in July
Palmyra Pirate Weekend in August
Canaltown Days in September
Macedon
est. 1823
At the end of the Butterfly Trail in Macedon Canal Park at Lock 30 you can see the convergence of all three historic canals—Clinton’s Ditch, the Enlarged Erie Canal, and the present-day Barge Canal.
Fun fact, there is no Lock 31. While initially planned for construction, it was deemed unnecessary, and the locks were never renumbered.
Lock 30 at Macedon Canal Park
Food & Beverage
Fairport
est. 1867
Fairport Lift bridge
Rent kayak, paddle board, or bicycle at the Erie Canal Boat Company
Food & Beverage
Check the village website for shops, restaurants and events
Events
Fairport Canal Days in June
Fairport Music & Food Fest in August
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
Food & Beverage
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
Events
Spencerport Canal Days in July
Food & Beverage
Check the village website for shops, restaurants and events
Adam’s Basin
est. 1815
There is a parking lot next to the lift bridge. It’s a great spot to begin a walk, run, or ride.
The Historic Adams-Ryan house in Adams Basin, constructed in 1825 to support canal business, has the oldest intact bar-room on the Erie Canal. By 1853, it was also serving as the local ticket office for the Rochester, Lockport and Niagara Falls Railroad. Today, it’s a private residence.
Brockport
est. 1829
Events
Brockport Arts Festival in August
Low Bridge / High Water Festival in May
Food & Beverage
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.
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.
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30 Perfect Picnic Spots Around Rochester
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The term street art means different things to different people. Here, we interpret street art to mean any outdoor, free, public wall art.
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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?
Please share your thoughts and stories with us in the comments. Your insight and experience are invaluable!
