Erie Canal NHC
- New York
photo: Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
Why go there?
A tribute to a time when America took on big projects, the 363-mile Erie Canal runs across Upstate New York, from east to west between the Hudson River and Lake Erie. It was created to connect boat traffic between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. In 1825, when it opened, it was the second longest canal in the world after the Grand Canal in China. Today it is part of the New York State Canal System, connecting with three other canals that are mostly used for recreation. The Erie Canalway Trail is popular with cyclists – and if its 360-mile course isn't long enough, you can continue onto the Empire State Trail, which runs a total of 750 miles.
