Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Hours of Operation

• Schoharie Crossing's Museum and Visitor Center at 129 Schoharie Street, Fort Hunter, NY is open from May 1st to October 31st. Group visits can be arranged by calling 518-829-7516 or emailing: SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov. Guided tours are offered frequently during the operating season and by appointment . Tours are free this season in celebration of the Erie Canal Bicentennial.

  The Schoharie Creek Aqueduct Boat Launch and the Yankee Hill dock are open from May 16th to early November.

  The Schoharie Creek Aqueduct Picnic Area and Yankee Hill Lock picnic area as well as all our grounds are open from sunrise to sunset daily. Permits are required for gatherings of more than 25 persons.

  Interpretive signs throughout the grounds of Schoharie Crossing provide information on the various canal features and pre-canal history of the site. We are installing new interpretive signage throughout the site this season.

Fees & Rates

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.

• Admission
• There is no admission fee for our Visitor Center and Museum, however some fees apply for special events, educational services, tours, and the use of picnic areas.

  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.

Maps

New! Download this park's digital map to your iOS Apple and Android device.

• Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site Trail Map

• Trail Map (pdf)

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.