Alfred Z. Solomon Cultural Heritage Trail

“Nothing should be hidden.” The formula that Alfred Z. Solomon used so successfully for selling women’s hats takes on new meaning when applied to the trail named in his honor. The route celebrates the communities, the river, and the natural features of the upper Hudson River landscape along the Champlain Canal from Whitehall, at the head of Lake Champlain, south to Troy, then on to Schaghticoke and Hoosick Falls, returning through the rich farmlands of Easton, Cambridge and Salem, to the northern edge of the Slate Valley at Granville, New York.

This stretch of eastern New York State has served travelers since the glaciers melted. Wildlife and waterfowl migrated along the Hudson River and Lake Champlain in spring and fall. Indian hunting and trade routes followed the connecting waterway, bypassing waterfalls and heights of land with portage paths. European Armies penetrated the heart of the wilderness, dragging cannon and supplies in their quest for control of North America. When peace finally paved the way for settlement, the canal by-passed barriers to navigation so manufactured goods and farmers’ produce could travel cheaply by water all the way from New York City to Canada, and beyond. With the advent of the railroad, markets opened for the slate and agricultural products of the working landscape. And now, diverse recreational opportunities are abundant throughout the region.
What You Should Know Before You Go
The Alfred Z. Solomon Cultural Heritage Trail is a product of the Alfred Z. Solomon Heritage Trust.

What About this Experience is Distinctive or Authentic to the Character of the Region?
The Alfred Z. Solomon Cultural Heritage Trail provides information and access to the sites and communities associated with the rich history of the region. Look for kiosks in the Lakes to Locks Passage Waypoint Communities that tell the story of the natural features, battlefields and monuments, historic villages, picturesque landscapes, and recreational opportunities. The following thematic itineraries will link the stories and communities.

Additional Notes
The Batten Kill Itinerary

Champlain Canal Boater’s Itinerary

Driving Tour of RiverSpark

The Great Northern Turnpike

H.H. Richardson: An Albany Architecture Tour

The Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway

Road to the Walloomsac: Lt. Col. Friedrich Baum’s Expedition of 1777

Saratoga: Health, History and Horses

Turning Point Trail: The 1777 Campaign of Major General John Burgoyne

Location

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