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The Great Lakes Seaway Trail, formerly named and commonly known as the Seaway Trail, is a
National Scenic Byway A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for one or more of six "intrinsic qualities": archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic. The program was established by Co ...
in the northeastern United States, mostly contained in New York but with a small segment in
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
. The trail consists of a series of designated roads and highways that travel along the
Saint Lawrence Seaway The St. Lawrence Seaway () is a system of rivers, locks, canals and channels in Eastern Canada and Northern United States that permits oceangoing vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes of North America, as far inland ...
—specifically,
Lake Erie Lake Erie ( ) is the fourth-largest lake by surface area of the five Great Lakes in North America and the eleventh-largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and also has the shortest avera ...
, the
Niagara River The Niagara River ( ) flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, forming part of the border between Ontario, Canada, to the west, and New York, United States, to the east. The origin of the river's name is debated. Iroquoian scholar Bruce T ...
,
Lake Ontario Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north, west, and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south and east by the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. The Canada–United Sta ...
, and the
Saint Lawrence River The St. Lawrence River (, ) is a large international river in the middle latitudes of North America connecting the Great Lakes to the North Atlantic Ocean. Its waters flow in a northeasterly direction from Lake Ontario to the Gulf of St. Lawrenc ...
. It begins at the
Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...
state line in rural Erie County, Pennsylvania, and travels through several cities and villages (including the cities of Buffalo,
Niagara Falls Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the Canada–United States border, border between the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York (s ...
, Rochester, Oswego, and Ogdensburg) before ending at the Seaway International Bridge northeast of the village of Massena in St. Lawrence County, New York. It is maintained by the non-profit Seaway Trail, Inc. The Seaway Trail was first designated in 1978 as an byway leading from the Seaway International Bridge to the Thousand Islands Bridge. It was extended southwestward across the state of New York in the mid-1980s and into Pennsylvania in 1996. The byway is recognized as a state scenic byway by both New York and Pennsylvania (the latter designation coming in 2003) and was named a National Scenic Byway in two stages. In New York, the Seaway Trail became one of the first byways in the nation to be declared a National Scenic Byway when it received the distinction in 1996. The Pennsylvania portion of the byway was added in 2005. The Seaway Trail was officially renamed the Great Lakes Seaway Trail in 2010.


Route description

The interstate Seaway Trail extends for in Pennsylvania and in New York for a total of . It traverses a total of 11 counties as it crosses the two states; however, all but one— Erie County, Pennsylvania—is located in New York. There, the Seaway Trail traverses the counties of
Chautauqua Chautauqua ( ) is an adult education and social movement in the United States that peaked in popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chautauqua assemblies expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid-1920s. The Cha ...
, Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga, Oswego, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence.


Pennsylvania

The Seaway Trail begins, at its southwestern end, on U.S. Route 20 (US 20) at the
Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...
–Pennsylvania border, but stays on that route for only , when it switches to Pennsylvania Route 5 (PA 5). Aside from some complicated routing in and around the city of Erie, the trail remains on Route 5 the rest of the way to the New York border. Attractions along this segment of the Seaway Trail include the city of Erie itself,
Presque Isle State Park Presque Isle State Park ( ) is a List of Pennsylvania state parks, Pennsylvania State Park on an arching, sandy peninsula jutting into Lake Erie, west of the city of Erie, Pennsylvania, Erie, in Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania ...
, Erie Bluffs State Park, Waldameer Park and Water World, the Erie Maritime Museum, and the North East winery region.


New York


Chautauqua and Erie Counties

At the New York border, PA 5 becomes New York State Route 5 (NY 5), and the Seaway Trail continues along it to the Erie County border. Route 5 and the Seaway Trail cross Cattaraugus Creek together at the county line, but the trail quickly turns off to the west 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 Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...
, and they continue north into the city of Buffalo, 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 NY 266 and follows it to the tip of Lake Erie. Now paralleling the
Niagara River The Niagara River ( ) flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, forming part of the border between Ontario, Canada, to the west, and New York, United States, to the east. The origin of the river's name is debated. Iroquoian scholar Bruce T ...
, 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 NY 265 to cross the creek and the border. Points of interest along the Chautauqua County piece of the trail include the Barcelona Lighthouse in Westfield, Lake Erie State Park, and the city of
Dunkirk Dunkirk ( ; ; ; Picard language, Picard: ''Dunkèke''; ; or ) is a major port city in the Departments of France, department of Nord (French department), Nord in northern France. It lies from the Belgium, Belgian border. It has the third-larg ...
. Nearby is the Chautauqua Institution, the Midway Park amusement park, and the city of Jamestown. In Erie County, aside from the many attractions in the city of Buffalo, nearby destinations include Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park and a series of three museums in East Aurora. Hamburg features a visitors center and overlook, th
Lake Erie Seaway Trail Center
on the Lake Erie shoreline. The
Erie Canal The Erie Canal is a historic canal in upstate New York that runs east–west between the Hudson River and Lake Erie. Completed in 1825, the canal was the first navigability, navigable waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, ...
starts at Tonawanda Creek just east of the Route 265 crossing.


Niagara County

Crossing Tonawanda Creek into North Tonawanda, the Seaway Trail continues along Route 265, which soon
overlap Overlap may refer to: * In set theory, an overlap of elements shared between sets is called an intersection, as in a Venn diagram. * In music theory, overlap is a synonym for reinterpretation of a chord at the boundary of two musical phrases * Ove ...
s with NY 384. Both routes run along River Road very close to the eastern fork of the Niagara River (around Grand Island). The road curves to the west toward
Niagara Falls Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the Canada–United States border, border between the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York (s ...
. River Road becomes Buffalo Avenue when it enters the city of
Niagara Falls Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the Canada–United States border, border between the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York (s ...
, 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, which carries Interstate 190 (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 access Rainbow Boulevard, which was once part of NY 384. Rainbow Boulevard turns north and ends at NY 104 (Main Street) just east of the Rainbow Bridge to
Niagara Falls, Ontario Niagara Falls is a city in Ontario, Canada, adjacent to, and named after, Niagara Falls. As of the Canada 2021 Census, 2021 census, the city had a population of 94,415. The city is located on the Niagara Peninsula along the western bank of the ...
, Canada. The Seaway Trail continues north on Route 104 to NY 18F in the village of Lewiston. Route 18F jogs west and north through Lewiston and then north to
Youngstown Youngstown is a city in Mahoning County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Ohio, 11th-most populous city in Ohio with a population of 60,068 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Mahoning ...
. 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 NY 18. Route 18 hosts the Seaway Trail for the rest of its length in Niagara County, which is almost . 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 Carrousel Factory Museum __NOTOC__ Herschell Carousel Factory Museum is a historic carousel factory building located at North Tonawanda, New York, North Tonawanda in Niagara County, New York. The factory complex was constructed between about 1910 and 1915 and consists of ...
in North Tonawanda,
Fort Niagara Fort Niagara, also known as Old Fort Niagara, is a fortification originally built by New France to protect its interests in North America, specifically control of access between the Niagara River and Lake Ontario, the easternmost of the Great L ...
in Youngstown, and Golden Hill State Park in
Somerset Somerset ( , ), Archaism, archaically Somersetshire ( , , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Gloucestershire, and Bristol to the north, Wiltshire to the east ...
. There are also several historic lighthouses along the route. Not far away, Erie Canal tours are offered out of the city of Lockport.


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 Albion is an alternative name for Great Britain. The oldest attestation of the toponym comes from the Greek language. It is sometimes used poetically and generally to refer to the island, but is less common than "Britain" today. The name for Scot ...
, 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. The trail crosses Lake Avenue and onto the Colonel Patrick O'Rorke Bridge over the
Genesee River The Genesee River ( ) is a tributary of Lake Ontario flowing northward through the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York (state), New York in the United States. The river contains several waterfalls in New York at Letchworth State Park and Roch ...
. Now on Pattonwood Drive, the trail almost immediately exits this narrow strip of the city and enters the town of Irondequoit. The Seaway Trail meanders along Lake Shore Boulevard 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. NY 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 from Lake Ontario. Alternately, during the winter months, Seaway Trail travelers can take Culver Road approximately north toward the lake shore, cross the seasonal Irondequoit Bay Outlet Bridge to Lake Road and rejoin the normal Seaway Trail in approximately at the intersection of Bay Road. The route avoids the longer trip () 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 to the county line. The Seaway Trail travels through 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 The New York Museum of Transportation (NYMT), founded in 1975, is a non-profit organization located at 6393 East River Road, in the Rochester, New York, Rochester suburb of Rush, New York, Rush. A private rail line built by volunteers connects N ...
, and Mendon Ponds Park.


Wayne, Cayuga and Oswego Counties

From County Line Road, Seaway Trail continues along Lake Road passing the Ginna Nuclear Generating Station (3.4 miles) and on to Sodus Point, on the shores of
Sodus Bay Sodus Bay is a bay on the south shore of Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes. Sodus Bay is located in Wayne County, New York, United States. Most of the bay is in the Town of Huron; however, the western part is in the Town of Sodus. Sodus ...
. There, the trail takes NY 14 south to Ridge Road. "The Ridge" heads east through the village of Wolcott to its eastern terminus at NY 370. Route 370 takes the trail north less than to its northern terminus at NY 104. NY 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, but turns northeast and hits the county line still some distance from the lake. The Seaway Trail enters Cayuga County heading northeast along Route 104A and soon enters the village of Fair Haven, on the southern shore of Little Sodus Bay. Route 104A turns east toward the hamlet of Sterling, then north again before again moving northeast, paralleling the Lake Ontario shore at a distance of about . Just a mile later, Route 104A hits the county line. Continuing northeast, Route 104A terminates at its parent route, NY 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. Crossing the Oswego River, Route 104 continues eastward. Just before the hamlet of
New Haven New Haven is a city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. With a population of 135,081 as determined by the 2020 U.S. census, New Haven is the third largest city in Co ...
, the Seaway Trail veers northeast onto NY 104B at its western terminus. Route 104B approaches the lake shore again as it heads toward the hamlet of
Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
. The route ends at NY 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. Wayne County is largely rural. Attractions here include the Sodus Point lighthouse, boating on Sodus Bay, and Chimney Bluffs State Park. A bit farther south is the town of Palmyra, where the
Latter Day Saint movement The Latter Day Saint movement (also called the LDS movement, LDS restorationist movement, or Smith–Rigdon movement) is the collection of independent church groups that trace their origins to a Christian Restorationist movement founded by ...
(
Mormonism Mormonism is the theology and religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement of Restorationism, Restorationist Christianity started by Joseph Smith in Western New York in the 1820s and 1830s. As a label, Mormonism has been applied to va ...
) began in 1830. To the direct east, 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. The city of Oswego in Oswego County contains several attractions, including Fort Ontario. There is a lighthouse at Port Ontario, and the village of Pulaski is nearby.


Jefferson County

Route 3 continues to carry the Seaway Trail north along the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. East of Sackets Harbor, Route 3 turns east toward the city of Watertown. The Seaway Trail instead turns north again along NY 180. Just north of the village of Dexter, the trail turns northwest along NY 12E. Route 12E passes through the village of Chaumont and turns west around Chaumont Bay, then turns northwest again to Cape Vincent. Here, Route 12E turns sharply to the northeast, just 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, NY 12, in the village of Clayton. Route 12 continues to carry the Seaway Trail northeast to the county line, passing through Alexandria Bay. Seaway Trail, Inc., is headquartered 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 The Thousand Islands (, ) constitute a North American archipelago of 1,864 islands that straddles the Canada–US border in the Saint Lawrence River as it emerges from the northeast corner of Lake Ontario. They stretch for about downstream fr ...
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, Westcott 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.


St. Lawrence County

The Seaway Trail enters the state's largest county along Route 12, heading northeast. It passes through Chippewa Bay and Oak Point before reaching NY 37, Route 12's northern terminus. The trail continues northeast along Route 37 to just outside the city of Ogdensburg. There, it follows NY 68, the Downtown Arterial Highway, which runs closer to the St. Lawrence River than Route 37. After crossing the
Oswegatchie River The Oswegatchie River is a river in northern New York (state), New York that flows from the Adirondack Mountains north to the Saint Lawrence River. The Oswegatchie River begins at Partlow Lake in Hamilton County, New York. The river continues t ...
mouth, the trail leaves Route 68 and winds its way through the western half of the city, eventually reaching NY 812, which it traverses for 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. At NY 131's western terminus, the trail switches to Route 131, which runs north of the village of Massena 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, 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 Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada, situated where the provinces of Central Canada, Ontario and Quebec and the U.S. state of New York (state), New York converge. It is Ontario's easternmost city. Although it is the seat of the United ...
. This is the point at which New York's northern border straightens out and proceeds due east (along the
45th parallel north The 45th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 45 degrees north of Earth's equator. It crosses Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean. The 45th parallel north is often called the halfway point between the ...
) rather than following the St. Lawrence River, which cuts through Quebec. Attractions along this northeasternmost segment of the Seaway Trail include
Singer Castle Dark Island, a prominent feature of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, is located in the lower (eastern) Thousand Islands region, near Chippewa Bay. It is a part of the Town of Hammond, New York, Hammond, in St. Lawrence County, New York. A histori ...
, the Frederic Remington
Art Museum An art museum or art gallery is a building or space for the display of art, usually from the museum's own Collection (artwork), collection. It might be in public or private ownership, be accessible to all, or have restrictions in place. Although ...
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.


History

The Seaway Trail was conceived in 1978 by William E. Tyson, executive director of the St. Lawrence-Eastern Ontario Commission, whose initial work led to the New York State Legislature designating the trail in 1980. It was originally an byway extending from the Thousand Islands Bridge to the Seaway International Bridge by way of a series of highways paralleling the
Saint Lawrence Seaway The St. Lawrence Seaway () is a system of rivers, locks, canals and channels in Eastern Canada and Northern United States that permits oceangoing vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes of North America, as far inland ...
. Signage for the trail was erected shortly afterward by the
New York State Department of Transportation The New York State Department of Transportation'' (NYSDOT) is the department of the Government of New York (state), New York state government responsible for the development and operation of highways, Rail transport, railroads, mass transit sys ...
. It received its first designation in 1983 when it was recognized as a
National Recreation Trail The National Trails System is a series of trails in the United States designated "to promote the preservation of, public access to, travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of the open-air, outdoor areas and historic resources of the Nati ...
by the
National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an List of federal agencies in the United States, agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government, within the US Department of the Interior. The service manages all List ...
. The trail was extended southwestward around the edge of
Lake Ontario Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north, west, and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south and east by the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. The Canada–United Sta ...
to
Niagara Falls Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the Canada–United States border, border between the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York (s ...
in 1984 and along the shores of the
Niagara River The Niagara River ( ) flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, forming part of the border between Ontario, Canada, to the west, and New York, United States, to the east. The origin of the river's name is debated. Iroquoian scholar Bruce T ...
and
Lake Erie Lake Erie ( ) is the fourth-largest lake by surface area of the five Great Lakes in North America and the eleventh-largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and also has the shortest avera ...
to the Pennsylvania state line in 1986, completing the byway's modern alignment within New York. It was later designated as a New York State Scenic Byway. On September 19, 1996, the Seaway Trail was one of the first 20 byways nationwide to be named a
National Scenic Byway A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for one or more of six "intrinsic qualities": archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic. The program was established by Co ...
by the
United States Department of Transportation The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT or DOT) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government. It is headed by the secretary of transportation, who reports directly to the president of the United States a ...
. That same year, Seaway Trail, Inc., the non-profit organization maintaining the byway, reached an agreement with the state of Pennsylvania that extended the byway another southwestward to the
Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...
state line, bringing the route's total length to . This extension of the Seaway Trail became a Pennsylvania Scenic Byway on August 8, 2003, and a National Scenic Byway on September 22, 2005, making the Seaway Trail the first and, thus far, only interstate byway in the region. The route was recognized as one of the "Top 50 Most Comfortable Touring Drives" in the nation by the
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is an American multinational tire manufacturer headquartered in Akron, Ohio. Goodyear manufactures tires for passenger vehicles, aviation, commercial trucks, military and police vehicles, motorcycles, recreati ...
in October 2010. Since its inception in 1978, the trailblazers along the byway had been white-on-green signs with a pair of footprints adjacent to the words "Seaway Trail". On June 22, 2010, the Seaway Trail unveiled a new marker design as part of a larger rebranding of the byway itself, which was renamed the Great Lakes Seaway Trail. According to Seaway Trail, Inc. president Teresa Mitchell, research revealed that the Seaway Trail name was publicly associated more with the Saint Lawrence Seaway than the
Great Lakes The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes spanning the Canada–United States border. The five lakes are Lake Superior, Superior, Lake Michigan, Michigan, Lake Huron, H ...
region, prompting the change. An extension of the Seaway Trail further westward into the Great Lakes—specifically Ohio—was considered in December 2000; however, that state established the Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail instead. The area along the Seaway Trail was a major front in the
War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...
. 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 42 special brown-and-white "War of 1812" markers, designating sites significant to the war.


Major intersections

The Seaway Trail connects to these highways of regional importance: * I-79 in
Erie, Pennsylvania Erie is a city on the south shore of Lake Erie and the county seat of Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, fifth-most populous city in Pennsylvania and the most populous in Northwestern Pen ...
* NY 394 near
Westfield, New York Westfield is a town in the western part of Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 4,513 at the 2020 census. Westfield is also the name of a village within the town, containing 65% of the town's population. This unique ...
* New York State Thruway (
I-90 Interstate 90 (I-90) is an east–west transcontinental freeway and the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It begins in Seattle, Washington, and travels through the Pacific Northwest, Mountain states, Mountain West, Great Pla ...
) near Silver Creek, New York * US 62 via NY 75 near Hamburg, New York * I-190 in
Niagara Falls, New York Niagara Falls is a City (New York), city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a total population of 48,671. It is adjacent to the Niagara River, across from the city of Niagar ...
* NY 98 in Carlton, New York * NY 390 in Greece, New York * NY 590 in Irondequoit, New York (near Rochester) * NY 14 in Alton, New York * NY 481 in Oswego, New York * NY 13 near Pulaski, New York * NY 3 near Watertown, New York * I-81 at the
Thousand Islands The Thousand Islands (, ) constitute a North American archipelago of 1,864 islands that straddles the Canada–US border in the Saint Lawrence River as it emerges from the northeast corner of Lake Ontario. They stretch for about downstream fr ...
* NY 26 in Alexandria Bay, New York * NY 812 in
Ogdensburg, New York Ogdensburg is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 10,064 at the 2020 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and developer Samuel Ogden. T ...
* NY 56 in
Massena, New York Massena is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. Massena is along the county's northern border, just south of the St. Lawrence River and the Three Nations Crossing of the Canada–United States border. The population was 12 ...


See also

* * *


References


External links


Official site archive link

Lake Erie Seaway Trail CenterSaint Lawrence Water Trails
{{Authority control National Scenic Byways Great Lakes Circle Tours Tourist attractions in Erie County, New York Tourist attractions in Niagara County, New York Tourist attractions in St. Lawrence County, New York Tourist attractions in Chautauqua County, New York Tourist attractions in Monroe County, New York Tourist attractions in Cayuga County, New York Tourist attractions in Jefferson County, New York Tourist attractions in Oswego County, New York Tourist attractions in Wayne County, New York Tourist attractions in Orleans County, New York Tourist attractions in Erie County, Pennsylvania 1978 establishments in New York (state) 1978 establishments in Pennsylvania