Seaway Trail

Infobox road
marker_

state=
highway_name=Seaway Trail
name_notes=National Scenic Byway
type=
route=Seaway Trail
alternate_name=
section=

---

length_mi=518
length_round=
length_ref=
length_notes=
established=1978
decommissioned=
direction_a=West
starting_terminus=Ohio/Pennsylvania state line west of Erie, PA
beltway_city=
junction=
direction_b=East
ending_terminus=US/Canada border at Seaway International Bridge near Massena, NY
counties=
cities=
system=
previous_type=
previous_route=
next_type=
next_route=
browse=

The Seaway Trail is a 518 mile (833.6 km) National Scenic Byway in the United States, mostly contained in New York but with a small segment in Pennsylvania. The Trail consists of a series of designated roads and highways that travel along the Saint Lawrence Seaway—specifically, Lake Erie, the Niagara River, Lake Ontario, and the Saint Lawrence River.

The Seaway Trail was first designated in 1978 and is maintained by the non-profit Seaway Trail, Inc.

Route

Pennsylvania (64 miles)

In Pennsylvania, the Seaway Trail traverses only one county, Erie, which contains the only shoreline in the state.

Erie County

The Seaway Trail begins, at its southwestern end, on U.S. Route 20 at the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, but stays on that route for only 1.5 miles (2 km), when it switches to Pennsylvania Route 5. Aside from some complicated routing in and around the city of Erie, Pennsylvania, the Trail remains on Route 5 the rest of the way to the New York border.cite web | url=http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/2289/travel.html | title=Seaway Trail - Pennsylvania - Maps & Directions | accessdate=2006-10-22 | format=HTML | work=National Scenic Byways Program]

Attractions along this segment of the Seaway Trail include the city of Erie itself, Presque Isle State Park, Erie Bluffs State Park, Waldameer Park and Water World, the Erie Maritime Museum, and the North East, Pennsylvania winery region.

New York (454 miles)

In New York, the Seaway Trail traverses the counties of Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga, Oswego, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence.

Chautauqua County

At the New York border, Pennsylvania Route 5 becomes New York State Route 5, and the Seaway Trail continues along it to the Erie County border.cite web | url=http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/2200/travel.html?
title=Seaway Trail - New York - Maps & Directions | accessdate=2006-10-23 | format=HTML | work=National Scenic Byways Program]

Attractions along the Seaway Trail include the Barcelona Lighthouse in Westfield, Lake Erie State Park, the Midway Park amusement park, and the city of Dunkirk, New York. Nearby is the Chautauqua Institution and the city of Jamestown, New York.cite web | url=http://www.seawaytrail.com/drivingmap3.pdf | title=Driving Map - Western Section of Byway | accessdate=2006-10-23 | format=PDF | work=Seaway Trail Driving Map and Brochure | publisher=Seaway Trail, Inc.]

Erie County

Route 5 and the Seaway Trail cross Cattaraugus Creek together at the county line, but the trail quickly turns off to the east and then back north again along Old Lake Shore Road, to more closely follow the shore of Lake Erie. The Seaway Trail rejoins Route 5 in Hamburg, New York and features a visitors center and overlook, the [http://www.lakeerieseawaytrail.com Lake Erie Seaway Trail Center] , on the Lake Erie shoreline. The Trail continues north into the city of Buffalo, New York, the largest city on the Seaway Trail.

In Buffalo, the Seaway Trail leaves Route 5 for good as it heads north through downtown. It soon picks up New York State Route 266 and follows it to the tip of Lake Erie. Now paralleling the Niagara River, going north, the trail follows Route 266 through the town of Tonawanda and into the city of Tonawanda, a Buffalo suburb. Just before crossing Tonawanda Creek, which forms the county line, Route 266 ends and the Seaway Trail picks up New York State Route 265 to cross the creek and the border.

Aside from the many attractions in the city of Buffalo, nearby points of interest include Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York and a series of three museums in East Aurora, New York. The Erie Canal starts at Tonawanda Creek just east of the Route 265 crossing.

Niagara County

Crossing Tonawanda Creek into North Tonawanda, New York, the Seaway Trail continues along Route 265, which soon overlaps New York State Route 384. Both routes run along River Road very close to the eastern fork of the Niagara River (around Grand Island, New York). The road curves to the west toward Niagara Falls. River Road becomes Buffalo Avenue when it enters the city of Niagara Falls, New York, and soon Route 265 splits off to the north. Route 384 continues westward, where the Seaway Trail picks up the Robert Moses State Parkway at its eastern terminus at the northern Grand Island bridge (I-190).

The Robert Moses Parkway follows extremely close to the river to Quay Street; continuing west would take drivers directly into Niagara Falls State Park, but the Seaway Trail instead uses Quay Street to return to Route 384, which now is called Rainbow Boulevard. Route 384 turns north and ends at New York State Route 104, Main Street, just east of the Rainbow Bridge to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

The Seaway Trail continues north on Route 104 to New York State Route 18F in the village of Lewiston, New York. Route 18F jogs west and north through Lewiston and then north to Youngstown, New York. North of Youngstown, Route 18F comes very close to the mouth of the Niagara River and swings eastward, now following the Lake Ontario shoreline. Route 18F ends a short distance east of the river's mouth at New York State Route 18. Route 18 hosts the Seaway Trail for the rest of its length in Niagara County, which is almost 30 miles (50 km).

Aside from the Falls themselves, and the twin cities of Niagara Falls on either side of the border, nearby attractions include Artpark in Lewiston, the Erie Canal Junction at Tonawanda Creek, the Herschell Carousel Factory Museum in North Tonawanda, Fort Niagara in Youngstown, and Golden Hill State Park in Somerset, New York. There are also several historic lighthouses along the route. Not far away, Erie Canal tours are offered out of Lockport, New York.

Orleans County

The Seaway Trail follows Route 18 eastward about halfway through Orleans County, where it switches onto the Lake Ontario State Parkway at its western terminus. The Parkway continues east, coming very close to the Lake Ontario shore at times, until crossing the border into Monroe County.

Orleans County is largely rural; attractions include the Cobblestone Society Museum complex in Childs, the Historic Courthouse Square in the county seat of Albion, Point Breeze, and two state parks: Lakeside Beach State Park and the Oak Orchard State Marine Park.

Some distance to the south, straddling the Genesee County border, is the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.

Monroe County

The Seaway Trail continues along the Lake Ontario State Parkway to its eastern terminus just inside the city of Rochester, New York. The trail crosses Lake Avenue and onto the Colonel Patrick O'Rorke Bridge over the Genesee River, opened in 2004. Now on Pattonwood Drive, the trail almost immediately exits this narrow strip of the city and enters the town of Irondequoit, New York.

The Seaway Trail meanders along Lake Shore Road through northern Irondequoit and the city-owned Durand-Eastman Park and Sweet Fern Drive to Culver Road. The trail takes Culver Road south, away from Lake Ontario, in order to go around Irondequoit Bay. At Empire Boulevard, the trail starts eastward again. New York State Route 404 begins a short distance along Empire Boulevard, and the trail follows them east and north-northeast along the shore of the bay. The trail next follows Bay Road, staying close to the bay shore, north-northwest to its terminus at Lake Road, just a tenth of a mile (.15 km) from Lake Ontario.

Alternately, during the winter months, Seaway Trail travelers can take Culver Road approximately 1 mile north to ward the lake shore, cross the seasonal Irondequoit Bay Outlet Bridge to Lake Road and rejoin the normal Seaway Trail in approximately 1 mile at the intersection of Bay Road. The route avoids the longer trip (11.8 miles) around the bay to the south and takes in additional scenic landmarks such as Seabreeze Amusement Park and the jetties at the outlet.

In either case, Lake Road carries the Seaway Trail eastward along the northern edge of the town of Webster, New York to the county line.

The Seaway Trail travels though only a small sliver of the City of Rochester, but the bulk of the city is not far to the south and contains numerous attractions. Aside from those, attractions near the trail route include Hamlin Beach State Park, more lighthouses, and Seabreeze Amusement Park. Not far away, south of Rochester, are the Genesee Country Village and Museum, the New York Museum of Transportation, and Mendon Ponds Park.

Wayne County

From County Line Road, Seaway Trail continues along Lake Road passing the Ginna Nuclear Generating Station (3.4 miles) and on to Sodus Point, New York, on the shores of Sodus Bay. There, the trail takes New York State Route 14 south to Ridge Road. "The Ridge" heads east through Wolcott, New York to its eastern terminus at New York State Route 370. Route 370 takes the trail north less than one mile to its northern terminus at New York State Route 104. New York State Route 104A begins here and picks up the Seaway Trail designation. Route 104A takes the trail north toward the lake shore, through the village of Red Creek, New York, but turns northeast and hits the county line still some distance from the lake.

Wayne County is largely rural. Attractions include the Sodus Point lighthouse, boating on Sodus Bay, and Chimney Bluffs State Park. A bit farther south is the town of Palmyra, New York, where the Latter Day Saint movement (Mormonism) began in 1830.

Cayuga County

The Seaway Trail enters Cayuga County heading northeast along Route 104A and soon enters the village of Fair Haven, New York, on the southern shore of Little Sodus Bay. Route 104A turns east toward the hamlet of Sterling, New York, then north again before again moving northeast, paralleling the Lake Ontario shore at a distance of about two miles (3.5 km). Just a mile later, Route 104A hits the county line.

Cayuga County is relatively thin near Lake Ontario, so the Seaway Trail doesn't take long to pass through it. Fair Haven Beach State Park is nearby, and in July and August, travelers can visit the Sterling Renaissance Festival.

Oswego County

Continuing northeast, Route 104A terminates at its parent route, New York State Route 104, which previously carried the Seaway Trail in Niagara Falls and here does so again. Route 104 continues Route 104A's northeastern path, gradually getting closer to the lake shore, until it enters the city of Oswego, New York. Crossing the Oswego River, Route 104 continues eastward. Just before the hamlet of New Haven, New York, the Seaway Trail veers northeast onto New York State Route 104B at its western terminus. Route 104B approaches the lake shore again as it heads toward the hamlet of Texas, New York.

Route 104B ends at New York State Route 3 east of Texas. The Seaway Trail follows Route 3 northeast, then north, crossing the Salmon River at Port Ontario. Route 3 continues north across the county line.

The City of Oswego contains several attractions, including Fort Ontario. There is a lighthouse at Port Ontario, and the village of Pulaski, New York is nearby.cite web | url=http://www.seawaytrail.com/drivingmap2.pdf | title=Driving Map - Eastern Section of Byway | accessdate=2006-10-23 | format=PDF | work=Seaway Trail Driving Map and Brochure | publisher=Seaway Trail, Inc.]

Jefferson County

Route 3 continues to carry the Seaway Trail north along the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. East of Sackets Harbor, New York, Route 3 turns east toward the city of Watertown, New York. The Seaway Trail instead turns north again along New York State Route 180. Just north of the village of Dexter, New York, the trail turns northwest along New York State Route 12E. Route 12E passes through the village of Chaumont, New York and turns west around Chaumont Bay, then turns northwest again to Cape Vincent, New York.

In Cape Vincent, Route 12E turns sharply to the northeast, just an eighth of a mile (200 m) from the shore at the headwaters of the St. Lawrence River. Canada, specifically Wolfe Island, is just across a narrow channel. Route 12E continues northeast along the river. Route 12E ends at its parent route, New York State Route 12, in the village of Clayton, New York. Route 12 continues to carry the Seaway Trail northeast to the county line, passing through Alexandria Bay, New York.

Seaway Trail, Inc., is headquarted in Sackets Harbor, and the Seaway Trail Discovery Center is located there. There are several lighthouses along this section of the trail, and the Thousand Islands resort region begins here. The city of Watertown, not far from the trail, has several attractions as well. Nearby state parks include Southwick Beach State Park, Western Beach State Park, Long Point State Park, Burnham Point State Park, Cedar Point State Park, Grass Point State Park, Wellesley Island State Park, Keewaydin State Park, and Kring Point State Park.

t. Lawrence County

The Seaway Trail enters the state's largest county along Route 12, heading northeast. It passes through Chippewa Bay, New York and Oak Point, New York before reaching New York State Route 37, Route 12's northern terminus. The trail continues northeast along Route 37 to just outside the city of Ogdensburg, New York. There, it follows New York State Route 68, the Downtown Arterial Highway, which runs closer to the St. Lawrence River than Route 37. After crossing the Oswegatchie River mouth, the trail leaves Route 68 and winds its way through the western half of the city, eventually reaching New York State Route 812, which it traverses for a fifth of a mile (300 m) to get back to Route 37.

Route 37 continues northeast and starts to turn slightly eastward as it approaches the top of New York State, passing through the village of Waddington, New York. At New York State Route 131's western terminus, the trail switches to Route 131, which runs north of the village of Massena, New York rather than through it. Past the city, Route 131 turns south toward its eastern terminus at Route 37. Route 37 then carries the trail to the hamlet of Rooseveltown in the town of Massena, New York, where the Seaway Trail ends just shy of the Franklin County line.

Travelers finding themselves at the end of the trail can cross the border into Canada on the Seaway International Bridge, traversing a thin wedge of Quebec before ending up in Cornwall, Ontario. This is the point at which New York's northern border straightens out and proceeds due east (along the 45th parallel north) rather than following the St. Lawrence River, which cuts through Quebec.

Attractions along this northeasternmost segment of the Seaway Trail include Singer Castle, the Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg, the Eisenhower Locks on the river near Massena, and a few more historic lighthouses. State parks in this area include Jacques Cartier State Park, Eel Weir State Park, Coles Creek State Park, St. Lawrence State Park, and Robert Moses State Park. The Thousand Islands resort area also continues through this region.

War of 1812

The area along the Seaway Trail was a major front in the War of 1812. At the time, Canada was still a British territory, and the waters dividing the United States and Canada often saw battle. Throughout the Seaway Trail, travelers can find forty-two special brown-and-white "War of 1812" markers, designating sites significant to the war.cite web | url=http://www.seawaytrail.com/drivingmap1.pdf | title=Map Overview and Description | accessdate=2006-10-23 | format=PDF | work=Seaway Trail Driving Map and Brochure | publisher=Seaway Trail, Inc.]

References

External links

* [http://www.seawaytrail.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.lakeerieseawaytrail.com/ Lake Erie Seaway Trail Center]
* [http://www.sentiermaritime.com/ Saint-Lawrence Water Trails]