Located at the junction between the Champlain Canal and Lake Champlain and at the confluence of the Poultney River, Whitehall is known as the birthplace of the American Navy. Whitehall was founded by British Army Captain Philip Skene in 1759 and was originally known as Skenesboro which became the first settlement on Lake Champlain and the center of maritime trade. In 1980, the Town was designated an Urban Cultural Park Canal Harbor, a state-designated area that has special significance in history. Connecting the Canalway Trail to Whitehall to create a byway from Waterford to Canada was a primary recommendation in the Village’s 2001 Local Waterfront Revitalization Program and several regional plans. The Champlain Canal is exceptionally beautiful and the resources along this waterway are abundant.
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Champlain Canal Trail
Whitehall is the northernmost terminus of the Champlain Canal Trail. An offroad trail connecting the Hamlet of Comstock and the Village of Whitehall is in the design stages. The crushed stone multi-use trail when open will offer a family friendly alternative to NYS Bike Route 9 and Empire State Trail that today connects Fort Ann and Whitehall on a busy, high speed section of State Route 4.
Empire State Trail
At Comstock the EST will follow Route 22 & State Route 4 as an on-road shoulder route. When the off road Champlain Canal Trail is complete the EST will shift its route designation from State Route 4 to follow the footprint of the CCT. Route 22/Route 4 will continue as State Bike Route 9, an on-road bicycle route. An Empire State trailhead and associated parking is located in Whitehall’s Skenesborough Park.
Lake Champlain/Champlain Canal/Poultney River Access Points
- Lock C12 & Whitehall Harbor Wall Tie-Up
- Skenesborough Waterfront Park Boat Ramp
- Whitehall Marina
- Comstock Informal Boat Ramp
- Lock C11 Canal Park
- South Bay State Boat Launch
- South Bay Fishing Pier
- Lower Poultney River Natural Area 5 milesDodge Lane (NY) & Buckner Access Points (VT)
Sites To Visit EVENTS
- Whitehall Harbor
- Skene Manor
- Skenesborough Museum and Heritage Area Visotor’s Center
- Boardman Street 1853 & Smith Street 1795 Cemeteries
- Chubbs Dock Landing, Lake Champlain (water trail only) Dresden
- The Elbow & the Narrows, Lake Champlain (water trail only) Dresden
- Pulpit Point, Lake Champlain (water trail only) Dresden
- Mill Bay, Lake Champlain (water trail only) Putnam
- Six Mile Point, Lake Champlain (water trail only) Putnam
- Saddles State Park
- Dolph Pond-Spruce Point State Forest
- East Bay Wildlife Management Area
- Ward Marsh Wildlife Management Area (VT)
- Helen W. Buckner Memorial Preserve at Bald Mountain (VT)
Local Business (listings greater than a mile from the trail in bold)
Food
- Champs Corner Bar and Grill
- Cigar Brothers Brewing
- The Railyard Taproom & Restaurant – Certified Bike Friendly NY Business
- Whitehall Red Panda
- Green Mountain Food Service
- China Wok
- Broadway Market – Certified Bike Friendly NY Business
- Cumberland Farms
- Stewart’s Shops #211
- Whitehall Farmers’ Market (seasonal)
- The Big Apple DIner 5.5 miles via County Rte 9
Lodging
- Champs Campground RV Park
- Skenes Mills Apartments – Certified Bike Friendly NY Business
- Check Air B&B & VRBO for listings
- Motels/Bed/Breakfasts/Inns in Washington County
- Hotels in Glens Falls, South Glens Falls, Queensbury, Lake George, Saratoga, Ticonderoga +25 miles from Champlain Canalway Trail in Whitehall on/off trail rural/urban
Retail/Culture/Activity/Amenity
- Whitehall Chamber of Commerce – Certified Bike Friendly NY Business
- Freakopolis
- Upstate Discount Warehouse
- Whitehall Free Library
- Creative D Signs & Concepts (souvenirs & antiques)
- CVS
- Dollar General
- Berkshire Bank
- Retro Hoarders Gaming Store
- Mattison’s Sport Shop
- Vermont Marble, Granite, Slate & Soapstone Company (souvenirs & gifts)
- Fort Ann Antiques 2 miles via Rte 4 – Certified Bike Friendly NY Business
- Skene Valley Country Club 2 miles via N Williams St
- Nicholas Auctions 2 miles via Rte 4/Buckley
- Stateline Flea Market 2 miles via Rte 4/Buckley
- Apple Hill Orchards 5.5 miles via County Rte 9
- Adirondack ATV Tours 5 miles via County Rte 18
- Carvers Falls 10 miles via County Rte 10/Carvers Falls Lane
- William Miller Farm, Miller Chapel & Ascension Rock 6.5 miles via Cty Rte 9/Carlton Rd
- Rathburn’s Maple Sugar House & Restaurant 9.5 miles from Lock C11
- Dancing Ewe Farm 9 miles from Lock C11
Public Transportation
- Whitehall Amtrak Station – Adirondack Line – New York City to Montreal Travelling with bikes on Amtrak’s Adirondack Line currently is on a case by case basis at the conductor’s discretion and travelers may need a bike box. Check prior to travel. Bike Info: https://www.amtrak.com/bike-faqs Check for Service Interruptions
Connector Trails
- State Bike Route 9 an on-road signed route along Route 4, an All-American Road
- Snowmobile Trails: Snowmobile routes range east into the Town of Hampton, west into the Lake George area, and south from Fort Ann on the Champlain Canal.
- The Saddles Tract: Hiking trail leading to North Saddle, Devils Den and South Bay.
- Lake George Wild Forest: Hiking Trail system in the Shelving Rock Area, Gull Bay Preserve and the Last Great Shoreline.
- Adirondack Coast Bikeway A series of on-road bike routes along Lake Champlain
- Champlain Bikeway National Park Service
- Lakes to Locks Blueway Trail Whitehall to South Bay
- Lakes to Locks Blueway Trail Ticonderoga to Chubbs Dock
- Lake Champlain Birding Trail connecting 88 bird sites on Lake Champlain (NY & VT)
- Lake Champlain Paddlers’Trail (NY & VT)
- Tim’s Trail (VT)
- Bacher Trail (VT)
Village of Granville & Slate Valley Rail Trail 15 miles via Route 12 or Route 21 & rural roads. Riders will encounter some intermediate to advanced elevations. Town of Ticonderoga 25 miles north via Empire State Trail and NYS Route 9 Town of Fairhaven VT 10 miles via Rte 9B & Rte 11