The Empire State Trail

The Empire State Trail. At Canajoharie. , [Side 1:] , Big Nose , The Mohawk Valley is a narrow passage running between the Adirondacks to the north and the Appalachian Plateau to the south. The Valley, one of the ten physiographic provinces into which New York State is divided, provides the most accessible water level route from eastern New York through the uplands of central New York to the Great Lakes Basin, and it is along this route that the Erie Canal was built. The Noses, two imposing hills on either side of the Mohawk River four miles to the east of Canajoharie, mark one of the narrowest points in the valley. The Iroquois called this mountain range "the Turtle." The hill on the north side of the river (pictured right), named "Big Nose" today, is the head of the turtle., Beech-Nut Packing , The Beech-Nut Packing Company of Canajoharie, was originally founded in 1891 as the Imperial Packing Co. The company achieved its first major success through the perfecting of vacuum-sealed glass jars. Products packed in the new jars could be shipped to distant markets and kept for months without spoiling. Later successes included Beech-Nut chewing gum and baby food, for which Beech-Nut is best known, In 2005, Beech-Nut was bought by a Swiss consumer goods firm, and, after 118 years in Canajoharie, a new factory was built 20 miles east in the Town of Florida, NY near Amsterdam., [Side 2:] , The 750-mile Empire State Trail connects people to New York's spectacular natural beauty, cultural heritage, iconic landscapes, and unparalleled outdoor recreation opportunities. The Trail promotes healthy lifestyles and provides a place for friends and families to experience the Empire State's special places and rich diversity - connecting urban centers, village main streets, and rural communities from New York City through the Hudson River Valley, west to Buffalo along the historic Erie Canal, and north to the Champlain Valley and Adirondacks., Enjoy the journey.