Old Erie Canal State Historic Park is a part of the New York State Park system. It is a linear park encompassing a 36-mile segment of the original Erie Canal's Long Level section, and extends eastward from Butternut Creek in the town of Dewitt, New York, east of Syracuse, to just outside of the city of Rome, New York. This section of the canal was in active use between 1825 and 1917.
The park consists of restored segments of the canal's waterway and towpath, which has been resurfaced with stone dust and is suitable for biking, hiking, horseback riding or snowmobiling. The canal also is navigable by canoe or kayak for short segments throughout the park. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and motorcycles are not permitted, and no campsites are available in the park, although camping is available at Green Lakes State Park east of Syracuse, which is closely adjacent to Old Erie Canal State Park. Several picnic areas are available on the route and are accessible via nearby roads.
The park passes near or through several communities, including Fayetteville, Manlius Center, Kirkville, Chittenango, Canastota, Durhamville and New London.
Five miles east of Butternut Creek, the canal passes by the entrance to Green Lakes State Park.
The park's eastern terminus is at Erie Canal Village, a privately-operated museum and historic recreation of a 19th-century canal village located outside of Rome.
In July 2006, stretches of the old canal within the park had to be dammed or drained to effect repairs on the aqueduct over Butternut Creek east of Syracuse, which was in danger of a potentially catastrophic leak due to unusually heavy rains.
In February 2010 the park was among about 40 New York State parks recommended for closure under Governor David Paterson's austerity budget plan. The park remains open.
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