Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site highlights New York State's rich and diverse Erie Canal history. You need not be a history buff to enjoy the site, as we offer great opportunities for recreation and to explore the outdoors!
Schoharie Crossing is located at the strategic confluence of the Mohawk River and Schoharie Creek, where the Lower Castle Mohawk village and eighteenth-century Fort Hunter once stood. The location developed further in the nineteenth century with the construction and expansion of the Erie Canal.
Schoharie Crossing stretches across a sprawling and picturesque landscape which includes the Visitor Center on the east bank of the Schoharie Creek, the Schoharie Aqueduct on the west bank of the creek, Putman's Canal Store at Yankee Hill Lock on the bank of the Mohawk River (off Queen Anne Road), two original Erie Canal locks and two double locks from the Enlarged era canal. Miles of marked trails are available for walking, biking, hiking, horse riding, as well as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter months. Kayakers and canoers are welcome to use the Yankee Hill Kayak Launch or the Aqueduct Picnic Area Boat Launch. Boaters using the launch should respect the "no wake zone" until they are in the Mohawk River. The Visitor Center is the perfect spot to orient yourself about the site and learn more about the amenities or programs we offer. While there, be sure to also check out the exhibits on the Erie Canal and Fort Hunter.
Please note motorized vehicles are not allowed on trails or on the grass anywhere onsite except for overflow parking for special events and programs.
Schoharie Crossing hosts frequent special events and programs throughout the year. These include on site tours, recreation programs, and educational programs (on site, outreach, and virtual options available).
If you are an educator considering a field trip, the Connect Kids Field Trip Grant Program can assist with costs associated with field trips to state parks and historic sites! More information available at: https://parks.ny.gov/environment/connect-kids/grant-program.aspx. Our educational programs are built on NYS curriculum standards and can be tailored to your class.
Event Tent Information
Schoharie Crossing has two event tents (each approximately 20'x 20') available. Prices range from $50 to $75 and can accommodate up to 25 people. Please check availability information by contacting the site before reserving on ReserveAmerica.com and see the link below for our special use permit.
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site does not charge a vehicle fee
Most New York State Parks charge a vehicle use fee to enter the facility. Fees vary by location and season. A list of entry fees and other park use fees is available below. For fees not listed or to verify information, please contact the park directly.
The easy-to-use Empire Pass card pricing starts at $80- and your key to all-season enjoyment with unlimited day-use entry at most facilities operated by State Parks and the State Dept. of Environmental Conservation including forests, beaches, trails and more. Purchase online or contact your favorite park for more information. Learn more about our Admission Programs including the Empire Pass.
Guided tours are free this season. Guided tours are offered frequently during the operating season and by appointment. Contact the site for Student Group rates and options. Outreach program rates and topics are also available by request.
New! Download this park's digital map to your iOS Apple and Android device.
The three eras of the Erie Canal found throughout the site are our most significant and enduring exhibits.
Our museum exhibit, "Pathway to Empire: How the Erie Canal Helped Build America" examines the Erie Canal. This exhibit highlights the major themes associated with the history of the canal and illustrates them with interesting artifacts and interactive displays. A major focal point of the exhibit is a scale model of the Schoharie Creek Aqueduct and Lock 30, along with the Browns Cash Store that once stood along the canal here in Fort Hunter, NY. By using artifacts and primary documents, this exhibit delves into the geology, social and economic impacts, political motivations, and engineering of the nationally significant and historic waterway we know as the Erie Canal. With its rich history, the canal continues to play a critical role in the lives of all New Yorkers and Americans to this day.
Inside of our Visitor Center exhibit you can also view panels on the pre-canal history of the site. This portion of our museum highlights the Mohawk Village known as Tiononderoge and the Haudenosaunee people who occupied these lands for generations before the American Revolution. The panels also explore the British Colonial fort that once existed along the banks of the Schoharie Creek. Witness artifacts that were excavated onsite that help tell the story of this era of New York and American History.
In partnership with the United States Geological Survey, the exhibit contains panels that illustrate the historic water conditions of the Schoharie Creek and Mohawk River. This exhibit demonstrates the immense power of water and the destructive nature of flooding in the valleys.
Featured on the east end of the historic site at Yankee Hill Lock is the Putman Canal Store. The building is currently being restored. This project may impact access to picnic areas and other site amenities. Please use caution. Give restoration workers and vehicles space to operate. The Yankee Hill picnic area and the kayak launch remain open at this time, from sunrise to sunset daily.