Written Directions
Take the Thruway to Exit 25, and I890 west to exit 4B (Erie Blvd) to start the route. Follow Erie Blvd out of Schenectady (it becomes Aqueduct Rd). Left on rt 146 and cross the Rexford Bridge. On the other side, turn right onto Riverview Rd. Turn right just after the Vischers Ferry fire dept to stay on Riverview Rd. Make a right onto Clamsteam Rd just after I-87 and a left at the bottom of the hill onto Towpath Rd (becomes Canal Rd). Merge onto Vischer Ferry Rd. Left on US 9 in Halfmoon and then your first right onto Church Hill Rd (just past Stewarts). Turn right on to Middletown Rd and then your 1st right onto Fonda Rd. Turn right onto 6th St then right onto Rt 32 in Waterford. Cross the river, take your first right on New Courtlandt St. which becomes N Mohawk St then Crescent Rd. Follow this road to US 9. You can either take a right, cross the Mohawk River and backtrack, or turn left and get on I-87!
Scenery
This route takes you along the Mohawk River to where it flows into the mighty Hudson. You start among historic structures in Schenectady such as the homes in the Stockade Neighborhood, Proctor's Theater, and the campus of Union College. Outside of town, the route is lush with trees as it rolls along the Mohawk and the old Erie Canal, and past small towns like historic Visher's Ferry. Also, dont pass up a look the at the gorgeous 62 foot high Cohoes Falls, especially in spring or fall when the water rages over the falls.
Drive Enjoyment
The roads on this route are in good shape overall. The only rough patch is Cresent Road between Cohoes and US 9 in Crescent. The Mohawk Towpath Byway is also a very rural route between Schenectady and Halfmoon so there isn't a lot of traffic along the better part of the route. Expect a lot of rolling hills and a fair amount of twisties, mostly between Rexford and Vischer's Ferry. This road is a perfect route for riders looking to go bounce around for a few hours in the afternoon and have some fun.
Tourism Opportunities
There are plenty of gas stations in Schenectady and Waterford. Downtown Schenectady also has lots of restaurants and bars, mostly along Erie Blvd, Union St. and State St. Aperitivo Bistro, Bombers Burrito Bar, Gershon's Deli, Mike's Hot Dogs, and the Bangkok Thai Bistro are definitely worth checking out. Be sure to check out Proctor's, a historic vaudeville theater still in operation, and the Stockade, the oldest historic district in NYS home to dozens of Dutch colonial homes, Arthur's Market (the oldest continually open market in the US), and the Van Dyke lounge which often has live music. In fall, stop at Bowman Orchards in Rexford for apple picking and apple cider. History buffs will appreciate the remants of the Erie Canal along the route, like the Rexford Aqueduct, sections of the canal in the Vischers Ferry Preserve, and the Flight of Locks at Waterford. Also, The Klamsteam Tavern in Halfmoon provides a great place to stop midroute.
