This past weekend I made a trip to my hometown, Fairport, NY and explored the Erie Canal Heritage Trail. This is a trail that I know well. When I was a kid, my best friend and I rode our bikes from Fairport to Pittsford many, many times. It was fun to revisit the trail on foot. Sadly, Sunny did not make the trip to Fairport with me, so it was a solo walk.
History of the Trail
Around 1822, the Erie Canal reached Monroe County with Fairport establishing itself as a vital canal port by 1828. The trail was originally a dirt path used by horses and other animals to pull boats along the canal. In 1914 the lift bridge was built and today it still lifts to allow boat traffic through the canal. In 1973 the state identified the Pittsford-to-Fairport section of the towpath as one of three pilot segments to be converted into a multi-use trail. After the success of the first three pilot sections, the state spent the next several decades expanding the trail. Today it is part of the 750 mile Empire State Trail network.
My Adventure
My adventure started by parking at the Village Landing and walking down South Main Street toward and across the lift bridge. Once over the bridge, I found a set of stairs on the left and followed them down to the trail. This section of the trail is behind some business and along the canal. Shortly after that I came upon a wooded section.
Just after passing some townhomes on the right, I saw a sign for Perinton Park. This is a park that I visited many times when I was a kid. There’s playground equipment, plenty of areas for a picnic, a skatepark, tennis courts, and basketball courts, as well as a restroom. Just as I walked under the bridge on West Church Street, I saw the sign indicating Pittsford was one direction and Fairport the other. Although I didn’t walk all the way to Pittsford, I continued on the trail toward Pittsford.
Shortly after this, the trail turned from asphalt to hard packed gravel. This part of the trail is the most scenic with views of the canal, homes on the other side, and trees next to the trail. I even saw a deer in the woods. I continued the walk until I came to a fenced section and then decided it was time to turn around. By the time I returned to the car I had walked nearly 4 miles.
My Rating
I have a soft spot for the Fairport-to-Pittsford section of the Erie Canal Heritage Trail, since it has a lot of memories for me. This adventure reminded me what a wonderful trail it truly is. I rate the trail 3.5 out of 4 paws up and Sunny would have agreed. It’s a well-maintained, beautiful trail along the Erie Canal that runs through downtown Fairport, NY. There are views of the lift bridge on Main Street, Perinton Park, and the canal. There are restrooms in Perinton Park and several parking options. The trail is paved in some areas and hard-packed gravel in others. And the trail consists of many, many miles. It’s a great place for a walk, run, or bike ride.
How Do I Get There?
The Erie Canal Heritage Trail has a couple access points in Fairport, NY. You can park at the Village Landing and walk along South Main Street toward and across the lift bridge. Once across the bridge look for the steps down to the trail on the left. The other option is to park at Perinton Park. If you use 50 O’Connor Road in GPS, it will guide you to the parking lot. From there walk past the skate park and the basketball and tennis courts. You will see a building that has the restrooms in it. Walk past this, toward the canal. Just in front of the canal you will find the path, which you can follow to the right or left.
For more information, check out these websites: