Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Hours of Operation

• Schoharie Crossing Grounds are open from Sunrise to Sunset.

  The Visitor Center is open by Reservation Only – Please Call to Schedule a time to Visit the Pathway to Empire Exhibit.
  Hours available between 10am and 4pm Wednesday to Saturday and between 1pm and 4pm on Sundays.

• Tours and Exhibit at Schoharie Crossing
  
  Guided tours of the site grounds will be given by advance reservation only on Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10am to 3pm Call the Site at (518) 829-7516 during normal business hours to schedule. Tours are $2 per person.
  
  
  Tours will be limited to 5 people.
  
  
  Masks must be worn by all visitors inside the Visitor Center. 
  
  
  Access into the Visitor Center will be provided by staff. Visitors should arrive no more than 10 minutes prior to their reserved time. 
  
  
  Interpretive signs throughout the grounds of Schoharie Crossing provide information on the various canal features and pre-canal history of the site. 
  
  
  All social distancing guidelines should be practiced by visitors while at Schoharie Crossing.

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 is $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 however some fees apply for special events, educational services, tours and the use of picnic areas.
  
  $3 per person for guided tours (available by reservation)
  Contact the site for Student Group rates and options. Outreach program rates and topics are 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)

Our new exhibit, "Pathway to Empire: How the Erie Canal Helped Build America" helps us 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 you can also view panels on the pre-canal history of the site. This portion of our exhibit highlights the Mohawk Village as well as 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 the Putman Canal Store - Yankee Hill Lock, there is an exhibit on canal commerce along the waterway. Coming soon there will be a display monitor by USGS providing information on the stream gauging of the Schoharie Creek and Mohawk River.