Watching ships pass through a lock is a striking way to experience St. Lawrence. From the observation platform at the Seaway Visitor Center, visitors can watch this moment at the U.S. lock. Eisenhower Lock also represents cooperation across borders: it is regarded as a monument to American and Canadian engineering and collaboration. Robert Moses State Park can be reached through a tunnel beneath Eisenhower Lock. Another vantage point is the Hawkins Point Visitors Center, whose platform overlooks the New York Power Authority’s St. Lawrence FDR Power Project.
Locks, Architecture, and History
Beyond the major engineering works, buildings and their stories also shape how the region is viewed. Trinity Church was completed and consecrated on August 7, 1836. Fort de la Présentation brought together American, Canadian, Indigenous, French, and British cultures—a historical connection that puts multiple cultural perspectives in focus.
Architecture’s history is tangible in Potsdam sandstone: in the region, the stone was used for homes, churches, foundations, walls, sidewalks, and commercial buildings. To explore this building material further, visit the Potsdam Public Museum’s website for an interactive Sandstone Map. Its map interface can be updated.
Singer Castle offers a look at a single building, too: the 45-minute tour takes visitors through four floors of the castle on Dark Island. The TAUNY Center offers another way to explore regional history and culture. Its gallery features changing exhibitions, and what is currently on view may change. TAUNY is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also an official site on the “Path Through History” program.
The TAUNY offerings also include educational programs with workshops, residencies, and accompanying performances focused on traditional art forms for all age groups. Specific dates may vary. The TAUNY Folkstore provides a sales platform for the work of more than 200 artists and craftspeople from the North Country; participation may change over time. At the North Country Children’s Museum, interactive play areas and maker spaces sit alongside exhibitions on art, culture, engineering, technology, and the sciences.
Experience the Water and Landscape
Water shapes the landscape on many scales. St. Lawrence County has more than 200 rivers, ponds, and lakes. Black Lake alone covers almost 11,000 acres and extends for more than 20 miles. The Grasse River lies entirely within the county. Black Lake and the Grasse River are examples of the county’s diverse waterscapes.
For a closer look at habitats, the Beaver Pond Nature Trail in Higley Flow State Park passes six different habitats. The trail highlights their ecological features. This sets it apart from the observation platforms: rather than focusing on a single structure or project, it explores different habitats and their characteristics.
Get Active
For hiking, the “Great 8” program includes trails for all ages and ability levels. Cycling routes connect small communities via quiet country roads, rolling farmland, river views, and scenic byways. Cycling highlights the varied landscapes along the routes, while “The Great 8” describes a selection of hiking trails.
Other activities span different seasons and ways of getting out and about: in St. Lawrence County, fishing is possible from shore, by boat, from docks, and on the ice. The county also has 710 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. These are distinct from the St. Lawrence County Multi-Use Trail System, which has 153 miles of multi-use trails for off-road activities. The 710-mile network of groomed snowmobile trails is separate from the 153-mile multi-use trail network for off-road activities.
Explore More Destinations
Explore more destinations: Norfolk, Potsdam, Gouverneur, Ogdensburg, Massena, Brasher Falls-Winthrop, Fulton, Oneida.
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