Erie Trail West
A Dream Quest Adventure
In 1836, an eleven-year-old New York farm girl travels the Erie Canal westward — a vivid picture of early canal life for elementary readers.
Erie Trail West is a historical adventure that follows eleven-year-old Clarissa as she travels from New York to the Michigan Territory in 1836 via the Erie Canal. Written for younger readers, it offers a simple but engaging glimpse into what canal travel looked like in its early days — long before modern navigation, engines, or marina amenities.
Through Clarissa’s journey, readers experience the challenges and uncertainties of traveling west during that time, from crowded canal boats to the realities of daily life along the route. It’s an approachable introduction to the history of the Erie Canal, helping bring to life a waterway that still plays a central role in the Great Loop today.
Thoughts from a Looper:
This was a really fun one to read while actually traveling the Erie Canal. There’s something about moving through the same locks and towns while reading about how it all worked in the 1800s that makes the history click in a different way.
For kids, it helps bridge that gap between “this is just another stretch of the Loop” and “this was once a major, life-changing route west.” And for adults, it’s a reminder of just how much (and how little) has changed. You’re still following the same path, just with a bit more comfort along the way.
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