Tour the Towpath Adventure Quest is a real-life adventure journey that takes place along the Erie Canalway Trail in the beautiful Old Erie Canal State Historic Park. Gather your family and friends to help you solve the mystery and unlock treasure!
The Quest typically takes a half day to complete, but the event is open for the full month of August (through September 1st) so begin any day and return as often as you would like to complete the quest.
The Quest is best enjoyed by bike but can also be completed on foot. Along your journey you will travel along the historic Erie Canal waterway – the most famous canal in the world - and encounter scenic views, stone-arch aqueducts, and quaint canal-side communities.
The Adventure Quest is good for all ages.
How the Adventure Quest works:
1. Read the backstory to the mystery!
2. Register – once you register, you’ll be emailed a map that will help you along the adventure.
3. Gather your team and head to Lock 21 to read the first letter and start the quest! You can come to the canal anytime during the month of August to find the clues. Participants should go to each of the 5 letters in the order listed, heading in an east to west direction. Note that the location of the letters is known and directions to each letter is provided as part of the backstory. The 5 letters are on display in plain sight in windows of buildings along the trail/just next to the trail - so very little to no extra travel is needed - just travel along the Erie Canalway Trail and you’ll reach each letter in order. Read each letter to find the clues.
4. Once you have found all the clues and the cipher, head to the treasure chest to open it! The treasure chest is located at Zem’s Ice Cream in Canastota, NY. Adventurers should head to Zem’s once they have found all the clues. Please note, you will only be able to access the treasure chest when Zem’s is open. Zem’s is open 7 days a week from noon – 9 p.m.
5. Enter the Photo Contest for Grand Prize: submit photos of your experience during the Quest, the top photo will win a $100 visa card.
Check out FAQs here!
