About the Byway

The Mohawk Towpath Byway is a road. It’s a series of local, county, state and federal highways between Schenectady and Cohoes and Waterford, New York that follow the Mohawk River. The route tells the story of the waterway west and it’s many layers of history: pre-European, Erie Canal and Industrial Revolution, and the role our communities played in the westward expansion of the country.

The Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway Coalition, Inc. oversees the implementation of the Byway and consists of the Cities of Cohoes and Schenectady; Towns of Clifton Park, Colonie, Halfmoon,Niskayuna and Waterford; and the Village of Waterford.  “It is quite rewarding to experience 8 distinct municipalities working together for common goals,” says Eric Hamilton, Executive Director of the Byway.

The Byway grew out of a 1998 initiative of the Mohawk Valley Heritage Corridor and became a New York State Byway in July 2003.

“We want to tell the importance of the Byway story in the creation of our community and municipalities. The story is part of our identity as New Englanders, New Yorkers.  We are the descendants of the early pioneers who made exploration and settling of the West possible.  This was the home of early technology, engineering, and science that started railroads, waterways, ironworks, and electricity.  Much of our common modern world started here in experiments and early prototypes that are the basis of our everyday lives.  The railroad, clothes pin, circular saw, light bulb, iron boats, washing machines, counter sash windows, and  mass produced clothing are just some of the concepts developed and created here. The freedom of religion made possible communities composed of many philosophies, tolerance of differences allowed people of many different minds to settle together and share ideas creating an environment of creativity. Freedom, tolerance, and liberty to be our best is the heart of the story of the Byway and is the strength and richness or our communities,” summarizes Larry Syzdek, chairman of the Byway Coalition.

There are a collection of 150 byways that are America’s Byways® and All American Roads®.  For more information about the Mohawk Towpath Byway visit our web site.