Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site

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Address
129 Schoharie Street
Fort Hunter, NY 12069
Latitude 42.939854
Longitude -74.283005

Know Before You Go...

More Info

Visitor Center

Schoharie Crossing's Visitor Center and Museum on Schoharie Street is closed for the season. We will be hosting programs and events during the winter months, so please check out the events tab for more information. The Visitor Center and Museum will reopen for the 2025 Season on Thursday, May 1st. The hours will be Wednesday through Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday's 1:00pm to 5:00pm.

Yankee Hill

Our lovely Yankee Hill Lock Picnic Area is open from sunrise to sunset daily at 550 Queen Anne Rd, Amsterdam, NY 12010.

Aqueduct Boat Launch

The Aqueduct Boat Launch area is open from sunrise to sunset daily at the end of Hartley Lane, Town of Glen, off NYS Route 5-South. Come see the stabilization of the Schoharie Creek Aqueduct while recreating at this historic site.


Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the Erie Canal as one of the 19th century's greatest commercial and engineering projects. The Visitor Center exhibit traces the history of the Erie Canal and its impact on the growth of New York State and the nation.

Within the site's boundaries are many structures dating from the three eras of the canal's development. At the eastern end of the site is the Putman Lock Stand at Yankee Hill that houses an exhibit on Erie Canal stores. The site's largest structure is the remains of the Schoharie Aqueduct, which carried the water of the Enlarged Erie Canal over the Schoharie Creek.

Schoharie Crossing is also the location of 18th century Fort Hunter and the Lower Castle Mohawk village. See artifacts from that portion of our history on display at the Visitor Center.

Stop into the Visitor Center to orient yourself to the site, check out the exhibit space and gift shop.

Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site offers educational outreach programs as well as an on-site tours, student field trips, recreational programs, and special events.

Pavilion Information
Schoharie Crossing has three event tents (approximately 20'x 20') available. Prices range from $50 to $75 and can accommodate up to 25 people. Please check availability and request special use permit information by contacting the site before reserving on ReserveAmerica.com.

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 140 Fort Hunter, NY 12069

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 available by advance reservation only and are $5 per adult, $3 per senior or student, 12 and under are free with paying adult or senior.
    • The Schoharie Creek Aqueduct Boat Launch and the Yankee Hill dock are open from May 17th to mid-October.
    • 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 20 persons.
    • Interpretive signs throughout the grounds of Schoharie Crossing provide information on the various canal features and pre-canal history of the site.
    • We will be open select days in the off season. Please follow us on Facebook for updates.

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 $5 Adult, $3 Senior/Student, 12 and under free, per person and available by reservation. Contact the site for Student Group rates and options. Outreach program rates and topics are also available by request.

Maps

Digital Maps

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

Our museum exhibit, "Pathway to Empire: How the Erie Canal Helped Build America" helps mark the Bicentennial Celebrations of 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, there are 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 undergoing a restoration project and will be closed to the general public for most of the 2024 season. We expect majority of the restoration work to happen in July, August, and September. It may impact access to picnic areas. The grounds of Yankee Hill remain open at this time, from sunrise to sunset daily.

Wed 01 Jan
First Day Hike
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Bring in the new year with Schoharie Crossing! We'll be hitting our Towpath Trail for a loop walk of about 5 miles from the Visitor Center to Yankee Hill and back. Winter Trail Conditions May Include: Snow, Ice, Mud. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the conditions and weather. The walk is over mostly flat ground with a couple of road crossings.
Wed 01 Jan
First Day Hike
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 01:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Please dress in layers for the weather so you can take off or add clothing to stay comfortable on this hike that will take roughly two hours. While some may wear running shoes, we recommend at least light hikers with ankle support. The hike is on mostly flat ground. The first half is mostly the grass surface of the tow paths along the Old Erie Canal. The second half is the paved surface of the Empire State Trail. At the halfway point, there will be a five- to ten-minute break at the old Putman's Canal Store (which is no longer a store but does have benches to rest on) before starting back along the Empire State Trail. Should there be snow/ice on the ground, the hike leader will modify the tour. For your awareness: meet at the Visitor's Center at 129 Schoharie St. It will be open for a 1/2 hour prior to the hike and just after the hike. If you leave the hike early, don't expect the Visitor's Center to be open. Meet-up Location: Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, Age Minimum: Old enough to walk 5 miles or ride in a stroller/wagon, Approximate distance of hike: 5 miles, Leashed pets welcome.
Wed 01 Jan
First Day Hike
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 01:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
(518) 829-7516

Start off the New Year right by joining site manager Paul Banks for a First Day Hike at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site. The hike starts at the Visitor Center (129 Schoharie St. Fort Hunter, NY 12069) at 1 pm and should wrap up around 3-3:30 pm. This hike is rated as easy since we will be walking to the east end of the site on the tow paths trod by many a mule along the historic Erie Canal and walking back on the Empire State Trail. FYI, snow or ice on the ground may change the hike to a snowshoe with less distance or require traction aids. Please bring water and snacks and anything else you want on a hike including all New Year's resolutions! Well-behaved dogs are welcome on a short leash, controlled and cleaned up after. Montgomery County public health law requires rabies vaccination. For questions or more information, please call the site at 518-829-7516 or email us at SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov. Please join us!, Meet-up Location: Schoharie Site Visitor Center, Approximate distance of hike: 5.25 miles, Leashed pets welcome.
Registration: Required

Amenities Information

  • Amenities
  • Biking
  • Equestrian Trails
  • Hiking (Accessible)
  • Picnic Area (Accessible)
  • Snowshoeing/X-Country Skiing
  • Tours (Accessible) * Museum Accessible
  • Visitor Center (Accessible) * There are accessible restrooms available when open.