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 - 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
Mon 06 Jan
Bird is the Word Walk
Monday, January 6, 2025 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
We'll take a walk along the Schoharie Creek to look for birds and see how many species we can identify on a winter's morning. During this informal walk, we'll watch for birds in and along the creek as well as agricultural borderlands. Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions and wear proper supportive/warm footwear. Moderate to heavy snowfall, ice, or rain may cancel or postpone this program.
Mon 06 Jan
Museum Monday
Monday, January 6, 2025 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Join us inside the Pathway to Empire exhibit for World Technology Day. This Museum Monday program will explore some of the technology used to construct the original 1820's Erie Canal. Doors open at 11am and there will be a short discussion around 11:30am. The museum will remain open for you to check out the exhibit and enjoy some light refreshments until 1pm. This program is free and open to the public.
Mon 13 Jan
Moon Meander
Monday, January 13, 2025 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Enjoy a short walk along the Schoharie Creek to catch a glimpse of the full Wolf Moon rising above the Mohawk Valley. Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions and wear proper supportive/warm footwear. Moderate to heavy snowfall, ice, or rain may cancel or postpone this program.
Sat 25 Jan
Tracks! EnviroEd Winter Series
Saturday, January 25, 2025 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Join us as we take a "paws" to look for tracks on the trails at the site. We'll see if we can identify critter tracks along the old canal. Free program open to all ages. Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions and wear proper supportive/warm footwear. Moderate to heavy snowfall, ice, or rain may cancel or postpone this program.

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.