Posted in New York July 03, 2020 by Lea Monroe

Few People Know You Can Drive Underneath The Erie Canal In New York’s Small Town Of Medina

As much as we love to take the time to explore places like our state’s natural wonders, there are plenty of other exciting reasons to get outside and adventure through New York. If you’re ready to go on an adventure quite literally through history where you’ll even find yourself in the middle of a destination that’s been featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not, then it’s time to start making your way out to Orleans County!

Stretching all the way across New York, the Erie Canal covers more than 362-miles in our state.

Throughout the hundreds of miles that make up the Erie Canal, you'll be able to find all sorts of bridges spanning over this piece of New York history but you'll only find one road that allows you to drive *underneath* the canal.

That's right! In the small village of Medina out in Western New York, Culvert Road allows travelers to drive through a damp tunnel that takes them under the Erie Canal.

Right on what many refer to as the Medina Culvert, you'll find a plaque that informs travelers of how this unique tunnel was completed back in 1823 and has been featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not.

With only a clearance of 7-feet, 6-inches, this trip through New York's history is, needless to say, most ideal for residents with smaller cars.

If you happen to be wondering why exactly only one of these unique tunnels and roads exists underneath the canal, the answer is quite simple. At the time, building the tunnel was a significantly cheaper solution than building a bridge across this area of the canal.

So, if you happen to find yourself out in Orleans County or the small village of Medina, be sure to go for a drive underneath New York's Erie Canal in the only place you can do so!

To get a better view of what it’s like to see the only road that runs underneath the Erie Canal, check out the incredible aerial footage captured by william tilton below!

If you’re ready to explore more of the Erie Canal’s unique history, then you’ll want to take a look at how The Ruins In This One New York Park Will Take You On A Trip Through History!