bikegal from Seattle, WA on 12/21/2020 2:39:53 PM:
I rode the trail solo in early October and I felt good as a woman riding by herself. I mostly camped but stayed at a B&B one night and with a friend another. I'm sure it is different during warmer, busier times, but given that there are so many towns / parks / populated residential areas along the way, I never felt concerned for my safety. I also rode Albany to Amherst to visit family at the end, and I will say that the winds can be brutal but I'm glad I went that direction. I would recommend budgeting a little extra time though. The upside is you really get the gorgeous canal views in the second half. Have you done a solo trip before? This was my first and it was a great one.