Northumberland – Hudson River and Canal Heritage

Northumberland borders the Hudson River to the east. The town’s history also includes the Champlain Canal and structures from different eras. If you’re planning a stay, you can focus on river scenery and trails, recreational activities on the water, or the history of the bridges and canal.

River Views and Trails

Stark’s Knob offers views of the Hudson River and Vermont’s Green Mountains. The site is also connected with the history of the Revolutionary War: General Stark is said to have used Stark’s Knob as a lookout in the fall of 1777. The phrase “is said to have” reflects this account; the connection to the year and person is therefore presented as uncertain.

Knox Trail Pocket Park has picnic tables and informational signs. It is also home to the original “The Train of Artillery” sculpture. Convenient parking is available at the park; Stark’s Knob is a short walk from there. This lets you enjoy the scenery and spend time at the park without having to plan a longer hike.

Crossings and Access to the Hudson River

Dix Bridge allows cyclists, pedestrians, snowmobilers, and skiers to cross the Hudson River. It is also the local crossing of the N.Y.S. Canalway Trail. This distinction may be useful when planning: the bridge links a river crossing with a designated trail crossing. From the parking area at Dix Bridge, an easy walking trail of just over a mile leads to Eagle Point.

Another connection to the river is at the Alfred Z. Solomon Kayak Launch, which provides canoes and kayaks with direct access to the Hudson River. Dix Bridge and the Kayak Launch therefore represent different activities on the water: crossing on foot or by the modes of transport listed above, or accessing the river by canoe or kayak. You can plan your time in Northumberland around whether you’d like to cross the river or get out on the water yourself.

Traces of the Champlain Canal

Eagle Point is home to Stratton’s Shanty, a reconstruction of a lockkeeper’s hut at the site of the Champlain Canal’s original Lock 10. It offers a glimpse into working and living along the canal. Original stones from the Champlain Canal lock wall are also located at Eagle Point. Here, a historic reconstruction stands alongside surviving canal structures.

The canal also shaped the development of the hamlet of Northumberland: after it opened in 1823, the community became an important transshipment point for goods. The hut and lock stones offer a tangible connection to work on the canal, while the hamlet’s history also reflects the freight traffic associated with the waterway. The site of Burgoyne’s Bridge of Boats is also associated with the year 1777, adding to the region’s historical connections.

Historic Structures and Local History

Clarks Mill Bridge and Northumberland Bridge represent two different construction years. Clarks Mill Bridge is a three-span iron through-truss bridge. It was built in 1899 by R. F. Hawkins Iron Works. Northumberland Bridge is an iron structure dating from 1906. Together, the dates provide a timeline for the two bridges, while their design and construction differ considerably.

Other historical sites include Bacon Hill Dutch Reformed Church, which dates to around 1820 and is now known as Bacon Hill Church. The site of John Harris Grist and Saw Mill is associated with 1832; it was first used as a mill site in 1772. For travelers interested in architecture and local history, these sites complement the bridges and Champlain Canal landmarks with further aspects of Northumberland’s development.

Farmers Market

The Farmers Market takes place on Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. at Veterans Park, at the intersection of Leonard Street and Wilton Gansevoort Road. If you’re planning to visit the market, check the schedule before you arrive.

Discover more destinations: Clifton Park, Ballston Spa, Waterford, Saratoga Springs, Mechanicville, Malta.

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