Black River Trail

The Black River Trail Scenic Byway runs 94 miles through New York's North Country, from the city of Rome north to the village of Dexter and Black River Bay on Lake Ontario. It threads the valley between the Tug Hill Plateau to the west and the Adirondacks to the east. The route splits naturally into two halves — a 48-mile southern stretch from Rome to Lowville and a 46-mile northern stretch from Lowville to Dexter — passing through small communities including Boonville, Port Leyden, Carthage, and Watertown along the way. Much of the drive follows the banks of the Black River and relics of the historic Black River Canal, an engineering project begun in 1840 and fully opened by 1855 that connected the region to the Erie Canal and fueled the industrial growth of New York's 'North Country.' Cyclists and history buffs both find plenty to explore, with canal ruins, riverside overlooks, and canal-era villages strung along nearly the entire route.

• 94 miles, Rome to Dexter on Lake Ontario
• Between the Tug Hill Plateau & Adirondacks
• Follows the historic Black River Canal (1840-1855)
• Passes Boonville, Carthage & Watertown
• Black River Bay, Lake Ontario
• North Country industrial history