Erie Canal Forum

Discover Niagara now offers a shuttle from Niagara to Lockport that includes bike racks, https://www.discoverniagarashuttle.com/. A ECT round trip from Niagara Falls to Albany using Amtrak is possible without street riding from Buffalo Depew to a hotel and riding streets from the hotel to North Buffalo where the bike trail starts. The ECT trip would start at Lockport. This trip could include a side trip ride on the bike trail on the Canadian side from the falls to Niagara on the Lake. Much of this path is along the Niagara River Gorge and is stunning. It is also exposed so it's hot on a sunny day, bring water and sunscreen. Bicycles can cross at the Rainbow Bridge but you have to cue up with the cars, so go early in the morning to avoid the congestion. Niagara-on-the-Lake is a pleasant but pricey place to overnight, have a good dinner, and maybe catch a play at the Shaw Theater.

I read about the shuttle from Lockport to Niagara. I am curious as to riding my bike on Rt. 62 from the Tonawanda area to Niagara Falls. Any suggestions from folks familiar with this part of the trail?

The Canadian border is still closed. You wouldn’t be able to go to Niagara - on - the -Lake.

Darn, had my hopes up for the border reopening June 21.

It will be opening on 7/21?

HaHa! Don't hold your breath!

Newbie rider preparing for my first overnight ride. Can someone tell me if overnight parking is allowed at the Old Erie Canal State Park? Is this a safe location to park? If not allowed/safe, any suggestions? Reading these posts is so encouraging, thanks.

Not sure exactly where you are referring to. If it is a State Park - you should be able to find a phone number online and ask them if you can. Generally you can find a safe place to park at a local "chain" hotel if you ask really nice and let them know what you are planning.

Planning on riding along the canal this summer. Are there shuttle services available so you can get back to your car?
Pretty flexible. I am originally from western NY so we thought we would do a good stretch there. also am interested in doing some of the trail east of Syracuse
Robinsonrm49@gmail.com

RMR - there really are not any shuttle services. You can search this site for previous info -- most suggest that you rent a car for return trip. Of course, Amtrak is an option, but takes forward planning to secure a "rack" for your bike to avoid selling out of the limited racks available.

Hi All,

Looking to do 4 days of roughly 40-50 miles/day. I'm looking for suggestions on the nicest, most interesting section to do.

Thanks.

S

I completed the Buffalo to Albany trip recently and enjoyed the section from Lockport to Syracuse the most (probably about a 150 mile section). There are many small towns along the way with the places to stop, rest, eat, drink, etc. We were riding 50 miles a day and I can say that I would have stopped at more places if I had been travelling with my wife instead of a buddy. However, I actually enjoyed the entire ride, each section seems to have its own personality, so I don't think I can suggest avoiding a section during your 4 days.

I agree, Lockport to Syracuse.

As far as avoiding sections, there isn't much of any particular interest from east of Syracuse to Rome, IMO.

Is it OK to pitch a tent at this park?

Contact the Village of Newark for permission well in advance of your planned trip for permission to camp at T. Spencer Knight Park. There is also a campground near the Port of Newark which offers tent camping for about $32.00/night: Whispering Winds https://www.whisperingwindsrv.com They are located at 2 Country Club Drive
Newark, NY 14513, about 0.6 miles from T. Spencer Knight Park--Travel east on Van Buren St., make a left on Murray St., right onto Country Club Drive
Contact Number:
TEL: (315)331-0786

5 of us finished the ride all the way yesterday. We found a closed bridge in Tonawanda with no detour sign. Many place we stopped to eat were either closed or opening later than we arrived. When we got to the tunnel near Watervliet yesterday we found construction and were routed onto Broadway and some other off main roads to where the trail was open. many new sections recently repaved. Some stone dust sections the dust was very deep

This is the best, shortest trip report ever. Perfectly matches our experience three days ahead of him.

Have been riding the Canalway Trail for 3 days . Sadly I'm finding many of the restaurants aren't on the maps on this sight. I think businesses should be more aware of this map service. It would surly bring them more business. And help the riders as well.

We usually use Google Maps in each town to identify businesses that aren't shown here. I agree that more businesses should make an effort to get listed here.

Anybody have any heads up I should know about? I am an experienced biker, but have never ridden the Erie Canal Trail. doing this one solo. Seems pretty straight forward from all my research and entries in this forum.

The cities are the challenge. Detours. Trail closures. Repairs. I’m on the trail now and got lost in Buffalo, Tonawanda, Rochester, palmyra, and Syracuse. It’s maddening. Trail sigh s where you don’t need them and no trail signs where you do! Keep the ptny.com site handy on your phone to consult their map. I also downloaded to my Garmin the entire trail, but there are changes and detours that will throw you off

I'm on this site now. Where on the site should I be looking to get the best information? I'm riding to Syracuse tomorrow.

I want to ride tomorrow but it is showing rain. if the rain stops, is the trail still safe to ride? I don't want to ride in mud all day.

Hello, June 21, 2021

I am from Syracuse and still own a home and have family and friends there, I live in central Florida now.

My fiance and I want to rent bikes when we come up to Syracuse near the end of summer/beginning of fall to ride a segment of the Erie Canal Trail. Do you rent bikes and how much is the fee (s)

THankyou and look forward to your reply and advice.

David Weston, 1136 Rue De Dore, Tavares, Fl 32778
email - birddetect@yahoo.com

I was looking for a bike to rent in early May, and was not able to find any in Syracuse or Rochester. There are shops that normally rent, but they all said there is a post-pandemic bike shortage due to supply chain issues, and they were having a hard time getting bikes to sell, much less rent.

That was over a month ago; hopefully the situation has improved by now. Here are the places that I know of, that normally rent bikes between Syracuse and Rochester - try giving them a call:

Syracuse Bicycle 315-446-6816
Mello Velo Bike Shop, Syracuse 315-307-3104
Towpath Bike, Pittsford 585-381-2808
Tryon Bike, Rochester 585-413-4444
Bert's Bikes, Rochester 716-837-4882

And here is a list of all the bike shops I know of along the whole Empire State Trail (Erie Canal plus Albany-NYC and Albany-Canada). The web page has an indicator next to the ones that offer rentals:

https://bikeempirestate.com/bike-shops.aspx

Having said that, the bike shortage did not seem to be an issue further down state or in NYC. I ended up renting a bike from Leisure Ride in Poughkeepsie and riding it to NYC. I had also called a few shops in NYC, who all had rentals available.

Good luck - hopefully the bike shortage and lack of rentals is no longer an issue along the Erie Canalway.

Happy trails!

This map is NO HELP ! ! ! It is blank except for a line for Tonawanda Creek Road & The Canal No land marks or side roads to identify where it is located. DO you know how long Tonawanda Creek IS? And it looks as if park is off the road - any signage? We often drive this area and have NEVER EVER seen a Veterans Canal Park nor a sign for it. Complete waste of time. I could do better with an "Old-fashioned paper map" But oh yeah computers are SOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER! (When I still worked I could run out to my car, grab a road map get back into office and locate the street we were discussing faster than office manager could find on her Smart ????? phone ! ! )

I used google maps when I didn’t see any signs.

Sorry, maybe even a few miles west of Camilllus, NY. Thanks.

Looking for overnight parking a few miles west of Syracuse. Riding to Newark and back the next day. Thanks.

It looks as though the trail between Lyons and Port Byron is largely on the road. (Roads). Is that true? If so, how are they?

I just finished the ride from Buffalo to Albany yesterday, and you are correct, much of the ride between Lyons and Port Byron is on the road. As I recall, most of the road had a nice shoulder and not too much traffic. Most passing cars/trucks provided a wide berth, so it didn't feel too dangerous to me. As a side note, we had planned to stop at Hejamada campground during this segment (in Montezuma), but the campground did not meet our basic requirements so we moved on. Ended up staying in a Days Inn in Weedsport.

Joe Z— hejamada is where we are headed. What basic requirements weren’t met? Thanks for the heads up re the route.

Patricia R: Out of respect to the Hejamada owners and long-term residents, I'd rather have this discussion through email. You can send me an email at josephzierer@gmail.com and I'll provide some feedback.

I like visiting cool stores like record and book stores. Are their any along the ride. I'm riding from Pittsford to Syracuse.

Kee Kee Run Cafe in Clyde is a great stop. Delicious food, good music and very bicycle friendly. We had sandwiches but they also have breakfast all day and lots of ice cream choices.

I wholeheartedly second Dan's recommendation. I've just completed the Erie canalway trail from Buffalo to Albany (Colonie.) Kee Kee Run Cafe in Clyde is a warm, friendly place with excellent service, good coffee and great breakfast. It's right on the trail. I also rate the restroom 1A! It was my top choice over all.

Hi, We are thinking of riding from Buffalo to Albany in September. I'm not super athletic but think I will be ok as long as the hills aren't awful. We only have 6 days. We would be taking Amtrak and starting from a hotel nearby the station and ending at the Albany Amtrak. Any helpful hints? Any hotel recommendations along the way. Is this doable? Tell me the good, bad and the ugly please!
If I had to cut out a section, which would you cut out? Which are the most scenic and least scenic parts?

We are starting our trip today - Buffalo to Syracuse. Will post how the train and hotel worked out in Buffalo.

Very interested in your followup re train & hotel. We are making this same trip in August. Am concerned about riding thru city to get to Depew.

Kim from Long Island: Most of your questions will be easily answered if you scroll through the pages of other threads on this forum. All of these questions have been asked and answered many times before, you just have dig through a few pages. I think once you understand the trail towns, elevations, hotels, train connections, food options, etc, you will be much better informed to decide if this ride is possible for you. That said, this trail is doable for anyone as long as you have a few days in the saddle behind you and the appropriate gear and planning so you’re not miserable. : )

John

I live in Amherst which is about 10 miles from Depew. There is no easy way by bike to get from Buffalo to the train station. The canalway trail which goes thru Lockport is about 25 miles north of the amtrak station.

I rode the ECT end to end 2 years ago and love it. My wife and I are driving to Lockport in 2 weeks and riding about 100 miles East and then back to Lockport (4-5 days)…. She does ride but not real long distances . I remember this being one of the more interesting sections…Am I right or perhaps a different section might be better…Any input is appreciated. Thanks…

We just got off the trail last week, Buffalo to Albany--great time (I am 61, female). Starting in Lockport is easy because that is where you will follow the canal in earnest--riding along side of it on crushed limestone for MANY miles--flat as can be & no shade. The canal is clean & pretty and there are some lovely homes with nice docks along the way.

No water or restrooms on trail--need to go into little towns and even then plan ahead. Some places we thought were still in business were boarded up.

Out of Medina, be sure and check out where the Canal runs over a road, down a steep hill but do-able--just go on foot.

We went to Albion for lunch (Village House Restaurant--great service, many food choices & pies). I could have explored Albion more, they had plenty of historical plaques around to read.

I also highly recommend in Fairport, The Village Inn Restaurant--met the owner and some regulars, very nice group of people.

One other tip is to avoid riding on Mondays, so many restaurants/bike shops are closed.

The canal runs over a road somewhere near Medina? Where?

Bill, the below article coincidentally just popped up in my newsfeed.

I went ahead and added this to the website as a "Point of Interest" - you can see it mapped on this page: https://bikeeriecanal.com/medina-culvert.aspx
----------------------
There’s Only One Place in New York You Can Drive Under the Erie Canal

The Medina Culvert, built in 1823, is the only spot along the entire historic waterway where traffic can drive under the Erie Canal. It's located in Ridgeway, New York in Orleans County if you want to take this scary trip.
...

FULL ARTICLE:
https://wibx950.com/theres-only-one-place-in-new-york-you-can-drive-under-the-erie-canal/

I'm hoping to do a short three day trip from Little Falls to Albany with my son, going 30-40 miles each day. It looks like there isn't really much official Canal Lock camping that could help us out but I'm wondering how easy it is to just pitch a tent near the trail. We can certainly ask permission and should be able to bring most of the food and other amenities with us. Hoping to stop in Auriesville and maybe Scotia/Schenectady

Should not really be a problem. I believe that you are welcome to use grassy areas for setting up tent without issue -- either unofficially or with some degree of permission. Before my recent trip, I spoke with Canal Corp personnel and decided that "Better to Ask for Forgiveness than Ask Permission" policy made more sense -- but I never had issues with finding an acceptable place to tent on my travels (whether on Canal Corp land or not). In any event... there are plenty of places along the trail or near intersections that are ideal for pitching camp. Suggestion I got and will pass along -- have a sign that states who you are and what you are doing and hang it on your tent or gear. (I put my cell number on my sign so if any one had any issue they could call me to talk it over.)

Lastly, there are so many easy places along the trail for food that it's almost unnecessary to carry anymore that a night's food -- and that just in case you decide to camp away from services.

When you get to into more planning detail, post a message and I'll try to give you some info about space and what's available, etc.

Not sure what your thinking is, but this is certainly doable:

Little Falls -> Lock 12 @ Fort Hunter/Tribes Hill is excellent. Deli just up the road (and up the hill) Left and next block.

Lock 7 -- Looks like there are perfect picnic grounds there good for setting up tent. (My ride took me from Lock 12 to Lock E2, so I didn't make a overnight in this area.) I use Google maps and go to Street View to scope out areas - that's what I just did here. Lock 7 Road.

Then Lock E2 for sure -- it has a nice area to set up tent. There is even an electrical outlet on the telephone pole in the corner (as well on the outside of the building), picnic tables, etc. Several food options just a couple blocks away - I hit Mr. Subb and it was good.

Then it's a fun ride into the Capital. Just 10 miles.

That sounds like great advice, wnybubba. I will definitely check out your suggestions and try to post before we take off in a few weeks. Looking forward to it!

Finally getting around to doing this trip with my son this weekend. We hope to make it from Little Falls to Lock 12 (about 40 miles) and hope to camp there, and then get into Waterford the next day. I stopped at the Waterford visitor center and chatted with the nice guys stationed in the office. Looks like a great place to spend the night and then a quick jaunt south into Albany.

Anyone else have experience camping at Lock 12 in Tribes Hill?

As I stated in my original post above, Tribes Hill (Lock 12) is an ideal spot -- highly recommend. It's quite scenic and the waterway sound will lull you to sleep. The Lock is also fun to explore up close and see the hydraulic system that is easily visible. The only downfall (compared to some other Locks) is that there are not any close-by facilities. I mentioned that there is a deli up the hill with restrooms.

Save this great resource for the morning: Evolve Eatery in S. Amsterdam. The food is healthy and delicious and will start your day off with a smile and full stomach. They are recently listed as some kind of affiliation with the Canal (not sure exactly what). They are located literally a few hundred feet off the Canalway bikepath (look right as you come into town at Bridge Street). It's a fairly short ride form Lock 12.

Lastly - for your comfort in staying at Lock 12, call them and ask them for confirmation. Last year when I stayed the Canalway was not open, so no-one was around upon my arrival. I thanked them in the morning. Here is the Lock 12 phone: (518) 829-7331

Waterford, BTW, is another great place to camp. There is a live outlet on the telephone pole in the far corner (and an out-building next to the grass area had a live plug as well.) You are also only a few block to Main Street business with convenient store, pizza places and others. Enjoy your ride!

thanks very much for the information. i will definitely call ahead to the Lock 12 staff to make sure we're good to go.

Just a quick ride report. Nice camping at Lock 12. Trains until 11 pm on Saturday night but otherwise very peaceful. The trail just east of Little Falls was some pretty deep stone dust. I’m not sure if they are laying it on heavier so it spreads and dissipates but it was a little slippery fully loaded. It was only for about 3-4 miles. Deli in Tribes Hill makes a nice sub but not open on Sunday morning and the Evolve eatery in South Amsterdam was also closed Sunday. I need to plan food options better! Made it from Tribes Hill home to South Albany County today but it was hot!

Well, glad you had a good trip, Eric. Sorry you missed out on Evolve Eatery -- it is very special and quite hip. Lock 12 - yep, pretty good stuff. Did you get in touch with the Lock operator prior?

Called the Lock 12 operator on Thursday and asked about camping on Saturday night. He said "How many?" I said, "Just two people, one tent." He said, "Oh sure, no problem!"

I think he initially thought me and my entire biker gang were coming. ;0)

When we arrived and introduced ourselves, they were more than friendly and even offered us the chance to refill our water from their bottle water cooler, which was very cold and very welcome on a 90 degree day.

It's a wonderful life! Glad it all went well.

I did the Lockport to Pittsford ride this past Saturday. I'm planning to now ride the Pittsford to Syracuse section the last Saturday of the month.

Any tips or suggestions on riding the trail and sight seeing.

I'm looking for the best way to get back to Pittsford. That's where my car will be.

I plan on biking from Lockport to Pittsford in June. Are their any closures or detours I should be aware of? I plan on leaving at 6:00AM.
Also, are their any certain supplies I should bring with me?

It's a piece of cake! You'll enjoy the ride.

No closures that I am aware of, however, I will admit that I find following the trail through Genesee Valley Park in Rochester to be a bit confusing. I don't think I've done it right (or the same) yet! LOL

Best part is getting to Pittsford and enjoying a treat at Pittsford Dairy -- just off the trail. Yum!

[Obviously take some water and your cell phone. There are plenty of places to re-fill along the way. I generally have sun protection and a small spray bottle of insect repellant -- just in case.]

I made the ride this past Saturday. Great ride except when I arrived in Rochester. Not very good signage. FYI, I ran out of water has I entered Greece. I had one water bottle and two 20oz bottles. I would have been nice to have two more of the 20 oz. I might ride it again sometime in August. Who knows, I might do it next Saturday 6/12. Took some good pics on the ride has well.

There's a water fountain at Spencerport near the gazebo on the east side. There may be one between the two lift bridges at Brockport. Not certain on this.

There's a gas station, store on Long Pond Rd, where you cross the canal by bridge. Just a few tenths of a mile north on Long Pond.

The interesting people you meet on the trail....

I joined my son a couple weeks ago for the last 100 miles of his Niagara Falls - Albany - NYC oddyssey. Along the way, we crosssed paths with Ken Burke of Buffalo, who was following the Empire State Trail route to RUN from NYC to Buffalo. 565 miles. On foot. With a target of 50 miles per day. And self-supported. Really!

If that's not incredible enough... he is a kidney donor from last year, and he shattered his leg 3 years ago and was told he would never run again.

Ken succeeded, arriving in Buffalo on May 31 after 11 days of running.

I was so impressed by Ken's story that I put together a web page with some photos, links, and additional details:
https://bikeempirestate.com/ken-burke-nyc-to-buffalo.aspx

WoW! That's crazy, incredible and heartwarming! Thanks for sharing and creating the interesting page, Ray. I can't imagine pushing a jogging cart all that way.

Wow! This is an amazing feat! It's like running 2 marathons a day for 12 days in a row! I can't wrap my head around it. I respectfully take my hat (ok, my bike helmet!) off to Ken! He's not only an excellent athlete but a wonderful human being. My wife is also a kidney donor (46+ year ago) but can't run even 1 mile. I'm a polio survivor but cannot hike 25 miles a day let alone run! Ken will be my inspiration when I start my Bflo-Albany ride next Monday. Ray, thanks for the forum and the story.