Fort Stanwix National Monument
Guide

Just outside the visitor center is a shared ride bike stand where bicycles can be rented, or you can bring your own bicycle and enjoy the many bike trails and paths that surround Fort Stanwix.

Local trails include the Mohawk River Trail and the Erie Canal Trail. Visitors can rent bicycles from the shared bike system, which is convenient, and does not require you to transport your own bicycle. You should consider bringing your own bicycle helmet as they are generally not supplied at shared bicycle stands. The trail surrounding the fort is 0.6 miles in length, and other bike paths in the area are well marked as part of the bike share system.

The Fort Stanwix National Monument provides a self-guided tour allowing visitors to wander the park, explore the reconstructed fort, and read exhibit information along the trail. There are three short interpretive trails in the park. One follows a portion of the Oneida Carrying Place, the portage originally used by people traveling by water in the area where travelers were required to carry their canoe or watercraft to get to the next water body. The other two trails are ones that highlight the events of the Revolutionary War siege in 1777. Park staff are available in the monument to provide information and answer questions.

You can also arrange to do a group tour which usually last from 30 to 45 minutes or participate in programs and events that occur throughout the year. Check at the visitor center for daily schedules.

Participate in the Junior Ranger program at Fort Stanwix. You can pick up a junior ranger booklet at the visitor center, mail ahead to receive your activity book, or download the booklet online. Complete the activities in the book by conducting online research or visiting the exhibits at the monument.

Programs for young people at the park include a “Build Your Own Fort” activity which gives kids the opportunity to construct a fort from materials provided at the visitor center with guidance from staff and rangers. These programs are a great way to engage young visitors and give them hands-on experience in historic discovery.

Hiking in the Fort Stanwix area is an exceptionally beautiful experience later in the year, during the fall season. Autumn is cooler for long hikes and there are less insects, less tourist traffic, and beautiful autumn foliage.

The trail that runs through Fort Stanzi is a small section of the North Country Trail which is part of the National Scenic trail system. This large trails system will eventually, when completed, stretch for 4600 miles, with 2100 miles designated off road. The trail links communities and natural areas across seven states. Take the trail through the monument to discover the history of the fort and continue to the east along the Mohawk River Trail or Erie Trail through scenic heavily treed sections and open recreational areas.

Delta Lake is popular for fishing during the summer and during the winter, when it freezes solid enough to allow human activity on the lake. Ice fishers must follow state regulations, in the wintertime just as they would during the warmer months.

Take warm outerwear, a wind shelter, and propane stove to make your ice fishing trip more comfortable in sub freezing weather. The lake is just 6.5 miles north of Fort Stanwix.

Just a 12 minute drive to the north, you will find Delta Lake State Park. During the winter months, cross country skiing is a popular activity on the trails along the lake. When the lake is frozen solid, skiers may even venture out onto the lake surface. Watch for previously set tracks which make this activity easier.

Glide along the snow and enjoy the crisp cool air and frost covered trees on a clear winter day for a breathtaking experience.