Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway

The Mohawk Towpath Byway is a driving route from Waterford and Cohoes west along the historic route of the Erie Canal including the towns of Colonie, Halfmoon, Clifton Park, Niskayuna into downtown Schenectady and the viewshed expanding into village of Scotia and town of Glenville. What makes this route special are the communities, convenience shops, quaint hometown businesses, and the people you are likely to meet along the way with their stories about our communities’ heritage and history. The Byway’s intrinsic qualities make our Byway unique. Among the archaeological, scenic, natural, recreational, cultural, and historic qualities, our many stories from many generations set our Byway apart. Many residents in the corridor express both a concern for the future of the unique features located in our communities and a willingness to share these remarkable resources.

Our vision and goal remains: The Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway is a regional partnership of communities that will balance the promotion local interests with the protection of scenic, agricultural, recreational, and historic resources by encouraging preservation, visitor accommodations, and intermodal access; coordinating interpretation, promotion, and signage; and emphasizing the important historic transportation role of the river valleys and the resultant cultural/industrial development so important to the westward expansion of the country.

The Byway originates at the junction of Eighth Street and Route 32 in Waterford. Bridging the Erie Canal, the route proceeds south on Route 32 into Cohoes and turns right onto New Courtland Street, which becomes North Mohawk Street, then Cohoes-Crescent Road in the Town of Colonie. The Mohawk Towpath Byway continues north on State Route 9, crosses the Mohawk River on the Crescent Bridge, turns left onto Crescent-Vischer Ferry Road, and bears left onto Canal Road, closely following the Mohawk River, the current Erie Canal, and the route of the original Erie Canal in the Town of Halfmoon. The Byway moves right onto Clamsteam Road, left onto Riverview Road into the Town of Clifton Park. Continuing on Riverview Road, the Byway passes through the hamlet of Vischer Ferry into the hamlet of Rexford. It turns left on State Route 146 and crosses the Rexford Bridge into the Town of Niskayuna. The Byway turns right onto Aqueduct Road and bears right on Maxon Road after entering the City of Schenectady. The Byway turns onto Erie Boulevard and terminates at the intersection of Erie Boulevard and State Street. An alternate route loops back to Waterford beginning at the Route 9 Crescent Bridge in Halfmoon, turns right onto Church Hill Road (County Route 99), and right again onto County Route 94. This alternate route bears right onto Middletown Road, then right again as it enters the Town of Waterford onto Fonda Road. Fonda Road becomes Washington Avenue in the Village of Waterford. Turn right onto Eighth Street to the eastern terminus of the Byway.