Everyone knows the benefits of exercise even a short walk on a regular basis. Here’s a walk in the middle of the Mohawk Towpath Byway corridor that is level and accessible even for those in a wheelchair, and it reveals two centuries of canal history; at least two wildlife habitats; and much more!

Carefully park at the entrance to the Water Authority access road on Riverview Road half way between Male Drive and VanVranken Road. I use the adjective “carefully”, because you don’t want to block access to Clifton Park’s water supply infrastructure. If there are more than three cars there come back another day or later is the day!

As you walk south the first body of water on your left is the original Erie Canal and the trail to the right is the towpath for that 1825 “Clinton’s Ditch”. This is one of the few places in the state where you can see the original canal still watered.

Walk further and you pass over the 1842 enlarged Erie Canal. This was the Erie Canal, the waterway west until 1917 when the Canal was moved to the current mainstream of the Mohawk River. The towpath for this Canal was washed out with a spring flood sometime in the late 1980’s. Would it be difficult to replace this towpath with a boardwalk? When the Towpath Community Connector Trail was constructed in 2015 the trail followed the route south, along the Water Authority access road you are on today.

As you continue south you will pass Stop 34 on the birding trail. Dial 518-649-9990 and key in 34 at the prompt. You will hear a narrative by an Audubon Society member describing the upland bird habitat.

Also note the green painted devises that anywhere else would be painted red as a fire hydrant. This is a part of the system that provides about six million gallons of water to the Town of Clifton Park and neighboring communities.

At the point where the trail turns to the right (west) you will see a large picnic area maintained by volunteers from the Capitol Region Chamber in cooperation with the Town of Clifton Park. Enjoy this area for picnicking. Stop 33 on the birding trail, mentioned above, describes the waters edge habitat and some of the bird species that favor this area including bald eagles.

Complete your mile walk by retracing your steps back to Riverview Road. On the return look for other evidence of wildlife activity.