Palmyra-Macedon Aqueduct Falls, Wayne County

Palmyra-Macedon Aqueduct Falls
AKA - Palmyra Canal Park Falls, Mud Creek Falls, Lock 29 Falls

Location - Village of Palmyra, with both the town of Macedon and Palmyra, Wayne County
Maps - Google Map, Topo , Live Maps (Bird's eye)
GPS/Locations - N 43.06383 / W 77.25011
Directions - Take Rt. 31 (Pittsford-Palmyra Rd) to Palmyra. The park is just west of the village, across from Creek Rd.
Or use Google Directions.

Information
Number of falls: 1
Size/Types: a man-made, S-shaped slope, about 15 ft high, that drains from the neighboring Erie Canal lock into Ganargua Creek. Crafted from bricks
Best time to visit: Spring through fall - whenever the canal has water. Best seen when the canal locks are in use.
Flow: variable. The flow will reduce when water in the channel is diverted to fill the lock. When the lock is draining, the flow will increase considerably.
Waterway: Erie Canal, Ganargua Creek
Time: Just a 5-minute walk from the parking. A few more minutes to see the canal lock.

Accessibility
Seasons/Hours: Park open year-round. Dawn to dusk
Parking: 5 lots in the park for a total of 60 or so cars.
Admission: free
Handicap accessibility: Yes
Pets: Allowed on leash.
Accommodations: gravel walkways, picnic tables, pavilions, ballfeild, playgrounds, restrooms, historic markers, canalway trail.

Description...
Palmyra-Macedon Aqueduct Park is a tribute to the remnants of past iterations of the Erie Canal, which continues to pass through here, just not in the same manor as before. In the early 1800s, engineers had to segregate the canalway from natural waterways—to control flooding. At this very spot, a wooden aqueduct with stone abutments, carried the canal over Ganargua Creek (often called Mud Creek).

As the years went on, and the canal was rebuilt larger and more advanced, other flood-control measures made aqueducts like these unnecessary, and they were dismantled. The Canal was moved slightly to the north, and a portion of the former aqueduct was modified into a flood-control outlet that dumps into Ganargua Creek. This outlet is the waterfall. The stone abutments still stand, covered in greenery and crumbling. The southern canal towpath now serves as part of the Canalway Trail; carrying hikers and cyclists over the creek.

Palmyra-Macedon Aqueduct Park is a clean and pleasant park, often filled with the sound of rushing water. Erie Canal Lock 29 is here, and its pumping stations will dictate the flow of the falls. Throughout the day the falls will spill a moderate amount of water. When the lock is drained, it spills over the falls, increasing the flow dramatically. When the lock is being filled, flow over the falls will stop, and you can clearly see the stonework underneath. At one time the pumps that run this lock were completely powered by water. Today the station is plugged into the electrical grid.

The waterfall stands roughly 15 feet high and is composed of hand-crafted stone-work. Its curvy shape carries water down with little ordeal, but the bumpy stonework manages to mix it up a bit and give it some noise.

Trails
Difficulty: easy.
Markings: You can view falls from several spots around the park. Start by heading west from the entrance, along the Canalway Trail that runs parallel to Rt 31. It will lead you to the old towpath and an excellent view of the falls and stone ruins. Head back to the parking lot and cross the grassy area, passing the pavilion and playground to get a view of the falls from the creek bank. If you are feeling up to it, scramble through the brush directly across the falls to get another view. Now head north to the steel bridge that crosses the creek. Cross the bridge and turn back for another excellent view. Keep heading north, uphill, to check out lock 29. Head west to the large pumping station and use the cement platform along the back to cross the water to the south. Head to the trees to get to the crest of the falls.

History...
Palmyra has a rich history, mostly notably impacted by the opening of the Eire Canal in 1825. It was immediately following the opening of the canal, that the population of Palmyra more than doubled, businesses sprang up, and the economy bustled. Agriculture and manufacturing were strong. The income the canal brought into the local economy built the buildings you see on Main Street as well as the federal-style homes acattered about the village.

Besides transporting goods, the canal also brought a fair share of religious influence to the region. Boats, packed with missionaries for old and newfound sects, would travel up and down the canal, stopping at every town and village to spread the word. It would become a common occurrence for residents to be preached to about a new religion every week.

The cradle of Mormonism lies near Palmyra. Joseph Smith, the founder of the of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was borne in this area. He supposedly found golden plates, inscribed with the word of God, on nearby Hill Cumorah in Manchester, which he translated into the Book of Mormon. It was first published in Palmyra. Today, thousands from all over the country come to experience the Hill Cumorah Pageant

Do not miss...
Lock 29. Take some time to learn how the lock operates. Have patience, a boat will be by soon. Say hello to the operator, he/she will be glad to answer any questions you may have.

The Aldrich Change Bridge has been reconstructed and you can check it our near the parking lot at the park entrance. Since the canal lacked any current, and powered boats were a rarity at the time, boats had to be drawn, usually by horses or donkeys. Towpaths were built on either side of the canal to allow for this. If the tow team had to switch sides, they would have to come upon one of these in order to do so. This bridge is one of only two left.

The Canalway Trail features over 260 miles of trail systems that parallel the New York canal system. The stretch that passes by here is the Erie Canal Heritage Trail, stretching 70 miles from Lockport to Palmyra.