Central New York Debuts New 18 Mile Paddle Race

A New Way to Travel the Canal

There’s a new kind of race coming to Central New York this fall, and it’s not on wheels—it’s on water.

The first-ever Canal Cities Classic is an 18-mile flatwater paddle from Rome to Utica that follows the historic Erie Canal and Mohawk River on September 19. Think of it as part race, part sightseeing tour.

The route starts at Bellamy Harbor Park in Rome and finishes at Harbor Point in Utica, with paddlers crossing some of the region’s most iconic waterways along the way.

person riding on orange kayak during daytime

The Course (and the One Part Everyone Will Remember)

This isn’t just a straight shot down the canal. There’s one portage before the River Street bridge in Whitestown—a 350-yard carry where racers will have to get out, haul their boats, and then jump back in to finish strong on the Mohawk River.

It’s basically the race’s version of a hill… except you carry your hill with you.

Registration is capped at 100 boats, and it’s already open online for $45 per paddler, including a T-shirt and a reusable cup.

Deadline is September 7 at 9 PM or whenever it fills up—whichever comes first.

a person in a kayak paddling on the water

More Than a Race

Once the paddles hit shore in Utica, the day turns into a full celebration at the Erie Canal History & Heritage Festival.

Expect live music from Our Common Roots, food trucks, a Saranac beer tent, plus exhibits from the Utica Children’s Museum and Oneida County History Center.

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A Shared Vision Between Cities

Rome Mayor Jeffrey Lanigan says the race is a perfect way to connect the two cities and showcase the region’s natural beauty, while encouraging sports tourism across the Mohawk Valley.

Utica officials say the idea started as a casual conversation about activating the harbor and turned into something much bigger—two communities connected by water, history, and now a shared endurance challenge.

Get more information and sign up at paddleguru.com.