This is part 3 of the impromptu road trip I have taken from camping and hiking in the Finger Lakes to 1000 Islands ending in the Adirondacks. Read the first 2 posts here - Road Trip Story - Part 1 and Road Trip Story - Part 2
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| Great Lakes Seaway Trail |
The Great Lakes Seaway Trail, formerly named Seaway Trail, is a 518-mile (834 km) National Scenic Byway in the northeastern United States, mostly contained in New York but with a small segment in Pennsylvania. The trail consists of a series of designated roads and highways that travel along the Saint Lawrence Seaway—specifically, Lake Erie, the Niagara River, Lake Ontario, and the Saint Lawrence River. It begins at the Ohio state line in rural Erie County, Pennsylvania, and travels through several cities and villages before ending at the Seaway International Bridge northeast of the village of Massena in St. Lawrence County, New York.
The Seaway Trail was first designated in 1978 as an 80-mile (129 km) byway leading from the Seaway International Bridge to the Thousand Islands Bridge. It was extended southwestward across the state of New York in the mid-1980s and into Pennsylvania in 1996. The byway is recognized as a state scenic byway by both New York and Pennsylvania and was named a National Scenic Byway in two stages. In New York, the Seaway Trail became one of the first byways in the nation to be declared a National Scenic Byway when it received the distinction in 1996. The Pennsylvania portion of the byway was added in 2005. The Seaway Trail was officially renamed the Great Lakes Seaway Trail in 2010.
- Wikipedia
I did not know anything about this scenic byway when I started this road trip. I saw the sign on the road when I was in the Niagara Falls area and found it interesting. I needed to do some research - I needed wifi. When I stayed in the Western New York Welcome Center and was planning for my next destination, I checked the route (and possible places for overnight stays). And boom, a plan was hatched.
BUT at the same time, I wanted to visit Canada. I'm already here, why not go there first and explore the area.
US has the Niagara Scenic Pkwy running parallel on the south side of Niagara River from Niagara Falls to Fort Niagara. Canada has the counter part Niagara River Pkwy running parallel on the north side of the river to Ontario-on-the-Lake, a historic town across Fort Niagara in NY. I wanted to go here.
Plan modified, destination set, and I left the welcome center for this next adventure.
Niagara River Pkwy
I have to say, the Niagara River Pkwy in Canada is more scenic than its counter part Niagara Scenic Pkwy in USA. It is more like driving in the countryside. I went to Niagara-on-the-Lake and had lunch with a view of Fort Niagara across the river.
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View of the raging waters of Niagara River
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| Fort Niagara across Niagara River |
After lunch, I headed back to the US, taking the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, and followed the Niagara Scenic Pkwy, until it ends and meets Rt 18.
Rt 18 hosts the Great Lakes Seaway Trail in this section, running parallel the south side of Lake Ontario. Rt 18 is also parallel to the faster route, Rt 104, but more scenic and rural.
I would simply follow Rt 18 until it meets Lake Ontario State Pkwy in Lakeside State Park. The roadside photo above was taken in this pkwy. I would pass several NYS state parks, and check every single one. I have the NYS Empire Pass, so no worries on entrance fees.
I stopped at Olcott, a tiny community along the shore of Lake Ontario. There is a small, but interesting laid-back village shop, a lighthouse, and a carousel park.
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| Olcott Beach Lighthouse |
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| A shop in the village |
After the short detour in Olcott, on to the journey - with the question, where would I stay the night? What is the next park on the road?
The next state park I saw on the map was Golden Hill State Park, where the Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse is. And a small campground. When I drove to the park, I asked if there was any camping sites available for a night. Yes, and it was a beautiful site! Another serendipity.
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| Sunset @ Golden Hill State Park |
Continuing the journey the next day, I would pass and visit more parks, lighthouses, and see more treasures on the road until I reach the North Country Welcome Center, where I would spend the night. And on the drive, I would turn my radio on and sing along. I was happy, and thankful.
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| Sodus Point Lighthouse |
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| Sunset in Fair Haven Beach State Park |
Quiet and night drive to North Country Welcome Center.
When sunset was over, I thought of staying in Fair Haven Beach State Park campground for the night. But I did not want to set up camp this late. I won't be able to explore the park and camp anyways. So I decided to continue the drive, with the North Country Welcome Center as the target destination. I was a bit hesitant to do this because as a rule of thumb on my road trips - Never drive at night on unfamiliar places. But I have some guidance to continue the drive. It was a quiet drive. I was tired, but not sleepy. I missed a lot of things to see tonight. For now, the focus was just on the road and to get to the welcome center safely. Before midnight, I arrived at the welcome center. The facility is open 24/7, but the store and information center was closed when I arrived. The parking lot was dead empty. A quiet night for a quiet sleep.
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| Goodnight. |
Tomorrow, the road trip continues to the beautiful 1000 Islands.
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