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North Country Trail

Fort Stanwix to
Rome Fish Hatcher
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This four mile stretch of the North Country Trail in eastern Rome, NY is currently a road walk for the most part after you leave Fort Stanwix.  The City of Rome has proposed to build the 'Mohawk River Trail'.  From the city website the trail is described:

The Mohawk River Trail is a proposed development of a multi-use waterfront trail along the Mohawk River from Bellamy Harbor Park on the Erie Canal in Rome to Delta Lake State Park. The goal of this project is to develop a waterfront trail that will connect the downtown business district, historic sites, city parks, schools and neighborhoods along the Mohawk River. The trail will also link the Erie Canalway System to the NYS Parks System.

A 1.7 mile section of the trail is available off road and can be utilized by those wanting to hike the North Country Trail, however there are no blazes for the NCT anywhere on this section.  The off road section of trail utilizes a multi-use trail that follows the old Black River Canal towpath.  It mostly used as a snowmobile trail.

From Fort Stanwix, pass a small city park on your left and follow NY 46.  After a short while, the only sidewalk is on the east side of the road.  At 0.5 miles NY 26 turns left off NY 46.  Continue straight, following NY 46.  At 1.1 miles pass Franklin Field on your left.

At 1.7 miles pass NY 825 and Chestnut Street.  The sidewalk now ends, however thru hikers will be happy to know that your entering a section of road with numerous retail outlets and plaza's.  This includes McDonalds as well as other fast food restaurants, a large grocery store and a large sporting goods store.

When you see the Dipping Donuts store on your left at 2.3 miles, veer right off the road into a grassy area and soon see a trail that travels through Olney's Flowers & Garden Center.  At the parking area, the trail turns right to pass under the bridge next to the Mohawk River.  The trail will soon turn right to follow the old Black River Canal towpath.

You may notice what remains of the old canal on your left as you walk along the old towpath.  The towpath is under of a canopy of trees, probably a welcome relief after walking along the highway.  The sounds of NY 46 are still nearby as the road parallels the trail.  There are a few views of the Mohawk River along the trail.

At 3.3 miles reach a small parking area on your left off NY 46.  There is a kiosk here that discusses the snowmobile trail.  At 3.5 miles there is an access to NY 46 on your left.  Soon the trail veers right off the old towpath, descends and crosses a stream on a wide bridge.  The trail passes a yellow gate and reaches the DEC parking area for a fishing access platform at the Rome Fish Hatchery, which marks the end of this section.

For those who wish to walk the off road section of trail, we recommend parking at the DEC parking area off NY 46 at the Rome Fish Hatchery and walk to Olney's Garden Center and back for a 3.4 mile roundtrip hike.  We have a few pictures and a map of this section of the North Country Trail below.

http://cnyhiking.com/HPIM6014.JPG

Future North Country Trail

http://cnyhiking.com/HPIM6012.JPG

Mohawk River

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