Waterford, located at the junction of the Hudson River, Champlain Canal, Mohawk River and Erie Canal, is the start of the Champlain Canalway Trail. The Champlain Canalway Trail is entirely located along the Old Champlain Canal and is nearly fully developed throughout the Town and Village of Waterford. The trail runs from Old Champlain Lock 4 at the southern point of the Town and just east of Route 32. It continues north along the Old Champlain Canal for about 1.25 miles to the 4th Street Bridge into the Village. The trail continues from the Erie Canal Lock 2 Park north for about 0.35 miles before it reaches the Village border just after the Old Champlain Canal Weighlock and the overhead railroad bridge. It then continues north for about 1.9 miles to the Town’s border with the Town of Halfmoon.
Empire State Trail: The Empire State Trail will follow the same path as the Champlain Canalway Trail through Waterford.
Hudson River/Champlain Canal Access Points
- Schaghticoke Municipal Boat Launch
- Peebles Island State Park
- Battery Park in Waterford Canal Harbor
- 123rd Street Launch
- Troy Motorboat and Canoe Club
- 111th Street Launch
- Flightlock Road Boat Launch
Sites To Visit
- Waterford Harbor & Visitor Center
- Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center
- Peebles Island State Park
- Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Visitor Center
- Flight of Locks – Lock E2 and E6 State Canal Parks
- Old Champlain Canal Locks 4 and 5
- Old Champlain Canal Weighlock
- Old Champlain Canal Sidecut Locks
- Waterford Rural Cemetery
- Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park
- Northside Historic District
- Sugarloaf Pond Park
- Towpath Park
- Harris Park
- Champlain Canal Lock 1
- Waterford Battery
- Lock 2E Park
- Waterford Nationals Garret Field Ball Fields
- Matton Shipyard (Cohoes)
- Van Schaick Mansion (Cohoes)
- Overlook Park and Fall View Park 3 Miles Via Black Bridge Trail & Heritage Trail (Cohoes)
Local Business (listings greater than a mile from the trail in bold)
Food
- La Bella Pizza & Pasta
- Don and Paul’s Coffee Shop
- Waterford Mini Mart
- McGrievey’s Restaurant
- I Love Rosa
- Corcoran’s Towpath Tavern
- South Waterford Stewart’s Shops #363
- McDonald’s
- Hannaford Market over Waterford/Troy Bridge (Troy)
- Burger King over Waterford Troy Bridge (Troy)
- Pizza Hut over Waterford Troy Bridge (Troy)
- Duncan Donuts over Waterford Troy Bridge (Troy)
- Slavonian European Cafe over Waterford Troy Bridge (Troy)
- Duke’s Grove
Lodging
- Check Air B&B & VRBO for listings
- Old Judge Mansion Bed & Breakfast (Troy)
- Hotels in Clifton Park Cohoes, Troy and Albany +5 miles from Waterford Harbor Visitors Center on/off trail urban
Retail/Culture/Activity/Amenity
- Upstate Kayak Rentals
- Nellman’s Antiques
- Waterford Public Library
- Port of Call Consignments – Certified Bike Friendly NY Business
- Pioneer Waterford Branch
- Lock 1 Marina & Shipyard
- Walgreens over Waterford Troy Bridge (Troy)
- Dollar Tree over Waterford Troy Bridge (Troy)
- Cohoes Music Hall 2 miles via Black Bridge Trail and Delaware Avenue
- Cohoes Visitor Center 2 miles via Black Bridge Trail and Delaware Avenue
Connector Trails:
- State Bike Route 9 an on-road signed route along Route 4, an All-American Road
- Flight of Locks Trail follows Locks E3 – E6 from Division Street to Flightlock Road
- Black Bridge Trail an important connection between the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail and the Champlain Canalway Trail
- Uncle Sam Bike Trail A 3.5-mile multiuse path that begins at the Waterford Bridge and continues on a former railroad bed running north-south beginning at Middleburgh Street and ending at Northern Drive in the City of Troy 1.5 miles over Waterford Troy Bridge to Northern Drive at Oil Mill Hill Road. Trailhead Parking
- Peebles Island State Park Peebles Island Perimeter Trail
- Cohoes Heritage Trail
- Cohoes Falls Trail
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail: A Bike-Hike Trail connecting Albany and Schenectady Counties on the south side of the Mohawk River to the Erie Canal Trail 2.5 miles from Waterford Harbor Visitor’s Center (Cohoes)
City of Schenectady 20 miles via Mohawk-Hudson Bike_Hike Trail… City of Troy 5 miles via Uncle Sam Bike Trail and city streets… City of Albany via Black Bridge Trail-to Green Island- Erie Canalway Trail-Mohawk Hudson