Pedaling the Erie Canalway Bike Path - Lock 17 to Herkimer

Sunday, August 29, 2021

Hi Blog!

Since we had such a good time exploring the Erie Canal Bike Trail last week, we decided to tackle another section. We started our ride in Little Falls, the home of Lock 17.

Little Falls is located on both sides of the Mohawk River just above the slope of a narrow gorge, through which the Mohawk River falls 45 feet in less than a mile, forming a number of cascades (i.e. little falls). The town of Little Falls was first settled by Europeans around 1723. It was then the westernmost European settlement in the colony of New York. The need to portage around the little falls promoted a trading location on the site of the future city. 

A number of railroads use to run along the banks of the Mohawk River. We started our ride over to Lock 17 through one of the old railroad cuts.

In order to reach the lock, we needed to descend 45 feet to banks of the river.

It took a little patience to make it to the bottom. To see how it was done, click the link to this video of Kathy navigating the ramp maze as we pedaled over to Lock 17.

Once we reached the service road, we got our first good look at Lock 17. It was massive!

Lock 17 is so large it replaced 4 locks of the original 1825 Erie Canal and is over 40.5 feet in height, making it the largest lock on the Erie Canal. Because it has to raise and lower the water level over 40 feet, this is the only lock along the Erie Canal that actually recycles water.

Situated in the middle of the Mohawk River, Moss Island is a popular climbing location. The island's main feature is a reasonably long 30-40' high cliff on the southern edge of the island along the river. We stopped and watched a few of the free climbers make their ascent.

After watching the rock climbers, we started our journey toward Lock 18. We followed the old railroad grade before returning to the original tow path. Lock 18 seemed small after the massive Lock 17.

Beyond Lock 18 is an area known as German Flats. This was one of the original areas of the Burnetsfield Patent in the province of New York, where in 1722–1723, Governor William Burnet granted Palatine German immigrants leases to purchase land from the Mohawk, the powerful eastern nation of the Iroquois Confederacy. It was the first land sold to Europeans west of Schenectady. We rode past a number of very active farms.

Parts of the old canal provide the perfect home for a family of turtles.

Just to the east of Herkimer, the West Canada Creek joins the Mohawk River creating an island known as Plantation Island Wildlife Management Area. This blue heron thinks the wide flat areas near the banks of the Mohawk make for good fishing.

We made our way into Herkimer and found a nice bench along the banks to have our lunch. We watched the Erie Canal Cruise leave the dock and make its way downstream. We wondered whether we would see it make its way back. After lunch, we made a number of stops to take in the expansive views found along this part of the trail.

As we made our way back to Lock 18, we noticed the heron had changed fishing spots.

We thought we had missed the Canal Cruise work its way back upstream, until we looked down into the lock and there it was waiting for the gates to close and the water level to rise the 20 feet needed to make it upstream.

It was fascinating watching the big doors close and the lock begin to fill. Click the link below to see what we saw.

Once the cruise boat was into the lock, the downstream doors closed so that the water in the lock could rise.

The water is pumped in from the bottom until it reaches the full height before the gates are opened. Click the link below to watch the process.

We watched as the lock finished filling and the boats went on their upstream way.

Over the years we have done a number of bike rides along the Erie Canal. This was the first time, we actually got to see an Erie Canal lock in action.