Lakes to Locks Passage

Lakes to Locks Passage. The Champlain Canal Region. The Village of Fort Ann sits here at Halfway Brook, midway along an Indian path made to travel between the Hudson River and Lake Champlain. European armies tramped along this route between 1690 and 1760, building fortifications near here for each of the four “French and Indian” wars. The fort built during Queen Anne's war (1702-1713) gave this place its name. In 1777, American rebels fought in the Battle of Fort Anne and then retreated ahead of Burgoyne's invasion army, felling trees to block the road to the south. Their sabotage delayed the British advance long enough for Colonial forces to mount a successful defense at Saratoga and turn the tide of war in America's favor., When war gave way to settlement, the nearly level terrain presented the most promising route for a canal connecting Lake Champlain to the Hudson River. When the Champlain Canal opened in 1823, it made Fort Ann an inland port. The canal also served as a route for fugitive slaves in the decades before the Civil War. The Wray Farm, the Old Stone House Library and a cave at Kane's Falls are all sites associated with the “Underground Railroad.”, The Town of Fort Ann stretches west to the eastern shore of Lake George, embracing ancient mountains whose deposits of iron ore fueled local industry. Today, hiking and horse trails wind through the woods to dramatic mountaintop vistas. Paddlers and boaters can fish or explore abundant wildlife on Lake George, Halfway Brook, the Champlain Canal and scattered smaller lakes and ponds., Places of Interest , . Boating, fishing and swimming on Lake George's Log Bay, Pilot Knob, Shelving Rock and Kattskill Bay can be accessed from Buttermilk Falls Road and Pilot Knob Road. , . Access to the Champlain Canal can be found at the Lock 11 picnic area and at the foot of Clay Hill Bridge, just off U.S. RT 4. , . Wilderness camping at state-owned sites on the islands and eastern shore of Lake George is accessible from Buttermilk Falls Road. , . One of Fort Ann's oldest buildings now serves as the Old Stone House Library on George Street U.S. RT 4 in the village. , . South of the town, the community of Hudson Falls is located at a dramatic bend in the Hudson River, with the river's highest waterfall. The Feeder Canal Trail provides miles of easy biking, walking and canoeing. , . To the north, Whitehall showcases canal history at the Skenesborough Museum and Urban Cultural Park and a commanding view of the northernmost lock on the Champlain Canal from Skene Manor. , . To the east, Granville's Slate Valley Museum tells the story of the quarries and the people of the trade. A pedestrian bridge leads to the Pember Museum and its rich natural history collection. , . To the west, Queensbury and Lake George Village offer shopping and amusement parks for the whole family to enjoy. , (photo captions) , . The Champlain Canal towpath provides access to the old Champlain Canal Locks 16 and 17 (circa 1857), near the Clay Hill Bridge, as well as miles of easy walking or biking , and terrific snowmobiling during winter. Photo by Kim Bender. , . Buttermilk Falls Road and Pilot Knob Road provide access to the mountainous western region of Fort Ann. Hiking and horseback riding trails to Pilot Knob, Buck Mountain, Sleeping Beauty and Shelving Rock offer dramatic views of Lake George. Photo by Kim Bender. , . Now a destination for paddlers from Halfway Brook and the Champlain Canal, Kanes Falls was the source of power for a forge in the 18th century, a woolen mill in the 19th century and a hydroelectric plant in the early 20th century. Photo courtesy of Fort Ann Historical Society., The Great Northeast Journey panel. , Waypoint Communities are poised to greet the traveler along Lakes to Locks Passage, offering sites to visit, lodging, dining and shopping experiences. Streams of history flow through these valleys, reflecting "lives” that continue to unfold. Be sure to visit the Waypoint Community Heritage Centers located throughout the region for interpretive exhibits that reveal the stories of the Four Lives of Lakes to Locks Passage. , The Four Lives , Natural Forces and Native Peoples shaped the landscape and culture of the inland waterway rich with resources., Conflict and Settlement traces the exploration, warfare and peacekeeping activities of nation-building along the waterway., Corridor of Commerce explores the trade in furs, timber, stone, minerals, farm products and technology that flows through these valleys., Magnet for Tourism reveals the evolution of tourism and stewardship of the environment., Lakes to Locks Passage takes you through a spectacular landscape laden with history. Follow this map to find your way through four story-filled regions that connect the historic waters of Lake Champlain and Lake George with the Champlain Canal and Hudson River to the south and the Chambly Canal to the Richelieu and St. Lawrence Rivers of Quebec to the north., (photo caption) , . Overlooking Lake George. Photo by Gary Randorf.