Utica and Lyons Join Empire State Trail Town Program, Expanding Erie Canal Tourism Network to 13 Communities
The Erie Canal’s role as an economic engine for upstate New York continues to grow. Parks & Trails New York announced in March that the City of Utica and the Town of Lyons have been selected as the newest members of the Empire State Trail Town program, bringing the total number of canal communities in the initiative to thirteen.
A Big City and a Small Town, United by the Trail
Utica is the largest community selected for the program to date. Situated along the Empire State and Erie Canalway Trail near the Mohawk River corridor, the city offers trail users access to lodging, dining, arts, and recreation — positioning it as a major hub for cyclists and hikers traveling the 750-mile statewide trail network. Meanwhile, the Town of Lyons in Wayne County brings a quieter but equally compelling draw: a National Register-listed Historic Downtown District, bike-friendly infrastructure, and pedestrian improvements connecting the trail directly to its main street.
“Utica, with its size and energy, is a hub where people can explore the city as they travel the trail. Lyons gives people a reason to slow down,” said Paul Steely White of Parks & Trails New York.
What the Trail Town Program Delivers
Funded by the NYS Canal Corporation, the year-long Trail Town program provides each selected community with expert guidance, community workshops, and strategic recommendations. Parks & Trails New York assesses trail use patterns, identifies needed improvements, and develops actionable plans tailored to each town’s strengths. For Utica, that means leveraging its Harbor Point waterfront and cultural institutions. For Lyons, it means building on the work of partners like Active People Healthy Wayne and the Lyons Main Street Program, who have already invested in making the community more welcoming to trail visitors.
Riding a Wave of Canal Investment
The Trail Town expansion arrives during a period of historic investment in New York’s canal system. The FY 2026 state budget includes a $50 million allocation — the second consecutive year of such funding — for critical infrastructure work including the rehabilitation of 19th-century reservoir dams, replacement of aging steel gates, and repairs to water control structures serving more than 200 upstate communities.
The Canal Corporation and Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor have also awarded $207,953 in tourism infrastructure and event grants to 41 organizations and municipalities for 2026. Among the recipients, the Lockport Locks Heritage District Corporation will create a tactile map and accessibility assessment for its historic locks, the Village of Clyde will upgrade its Welcome Center with new seating and signage, and the Town of Montezuma will enhance its High Street Trailhead with a drinking fountain, bike racks, and accessible picnic facilities.
Millions of Visitors, Billions in Impact
The numbers underscore why these investments matter. The Canalway Trail system attracts nearly 4 million visits annually, while the broader Empire State Trail generates over 9 million visits each year. Every new Trail Town designation strengthens the network of services and amenities that keep visitors coming back — and spending money in communities that have long depended on the canal for their identity and livelihood.
With the 2026 navigation season set to open on May 15 and the annual Cycle the Erie Canal bike tour returning July 11–19, this summer promises to be one of the busiest yet along the historic waterway. For Utica and Lyons, the Trail Town designation is more than a title — it is an investment in the future of their communities and a recognition that the Erie Canal remains, two centuries on, a corridor of opportunity.