Mohawk Towpath Byway
25 miles along the Mohawk River and the old Erie Canal route from Waterford to Schenectady's Stockade District, past Cohoes Falls.
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- LengthAbout 25 miles[2]FHWA lists 26.2 miles.
- Drive timeAbout 40 minutes of driving, or a day or two to explore[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsNot verified
- Start and endWaterford to the historic Stockade District in Schenectady, along the old Erie Canal route[2]
- Fees and passesNone[1]
- Best seasonNot verified
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNot verified
- Seasonal closuresNot verified
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.
About the drive
The Mohawk Towpath Byway follows the historic route of the Erie Canal along the Mohawk River, from Waterford to the Stockade District of Schenectady. NYSDOT says it tells the story of the canal and the region's part in westward expansion and the Industrial Revolution.
Cohoes Falls is the big natural sight, and the route links river views, canal remains and old mill towns. Cycling, hiking, birdwatching and boating are popular along the way.
It's about 40 minutes of driving end to end.
Stops along the way
-
Waterford
Where the Erie and Champlain canals meet.
Official information · 42.79259, -73.68123 · about 0.1 mi from the route line
-
Cohoes Falls
Wide waterfall on the Mohawk River.
Official information · 42.78898, -73.70956 · about 0.1 mi from the route line
-
Schenectady
West end at the historic Stockade District.
Official information · 42.81425, -73.93957 · about 0.2 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Schenectady GreenmarketSchenectady, NY · about 0.2 mi from the route
- Waterford Harbor Farmers MarketWaterford, NY · about 0.4 mi from the route
- Troy Waterfront Farmers MarketTroy, NY · about 3.0 mi from the route · listed as year-round
- Clifton Park Farmers MarketClifton Park, NY · about 3.8 mi from the route
- Guilderland Farmers MarketGuilderland, NY · about 7.6 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Sources
- America's Byways: Mohawk Towpath Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Mohawk Towpath Byway (New York State Department of Transportation) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Scenic Drives You Can Take to Explore New York (I LOVE NY, New York State tourism) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).