Erie Canal Bike Trail Forum

Scroll down to see the discussion

All submissions are reviewed for appropriateness. We reserve the right to remove or edit any comment that we consider incorrect, misleading, or inappropriate, at our sole discretion. Please remember that this is a family-friendly website.

Subject:

Reply to Buffalo to Tonawanda section?

Your Name:

This does not have to be your real name. It could be a "screen name", your initials, or just leave blank.

Your Hometown:

Optional - it's just interesting to know where people are from

Comment:

So we know you are a human, please answer this easy math quiz:

1 + 3 =

John from Cobleskill from Cobleskill on 9/14/2019 2:28:54 PM:

I just met a couple that were doing the Buffalo to Albany trip and they said that the only thing they would change on the trip is that they would NOT start in Buffalo but rather at the start of the Erie Canal itself in Tonawanda. They didn't offer details but they were less than thrilled by this section.

Does anyone have insight to this section? Is it "bad"? I've thought about starting in Tonawanda but I'm not sure. Please advise.

Chris from East Aurora, NY on 10/1/2019 3:09:12 PM:

This 1st part pertains to part of the EC trail leaving downtown Buffalo, along the Niagara River heading North:

The part of the Shoreline Trail that was closed since spring for water line repairs at the GM Tonawanda Engine plant has reopened to walkers and bicyclists.

The project's general contractor informed Erie County officials Thursday that they've refilled and paved over where crews had worked and they've removed the fencing that cut off the trail.

The lengthy construction period frustrated users of the Riverwalk section of the trail that runs along the Niagara River and Lake Erie.

This is a another piece of recent good news:

A 2.1-mile gap in the Erie Canalway Trail was closed this year with the construction of a trail along East Canal Road in Pendleton, from Tonawanda Creek to Feigle Road.

The completion of the $4.5 million project will be marked with a ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Feigle Road trailhead parking lot.

Chris from East Aurora, NY on 10/1/2019 3:35:38 PM:

John,
Canalside is downtown Buffalo is a beautiful recently restored area with lots to see and do, including the adjacent Naval Park with a couple large Naval ships and WW II era submarine. The trail leaving Canalside winds through some downtown parks and townhome developments along the Lake Erie Harbor to the beginning of the Niagara River at the Peace Bridge where there is a brand new scenic ramp taking bikers and walkers from one grade to another. From that point there are some not great sections along Niagara Street for less than a mile, and then that wind around various roads and hwy on/off ramps for another mile or so. You have to be on your toes to follow the trail, as it is pretty choppy in this section. Eventually the dedicated path resumes and follows the edge of the Niagara River, which is beautiful, even though a highway runs next to the path but is well separated by a fence and landscaping. The trail then passes by some older industrial areas on the way toward Tonawanda, but over all this section is good to go.

John from Cobleskill on 10/14/2019 9:10:50 AM:

Thank you for the information!!

Reply to Buffalo to Tonawanda section?