John W. from Pittsburgh,PA on 3/23/2021 9:11:04 PM:
Jen, check out this map from Parks and Trails New York:
https://www.ptny.org/bike-canal/map/
Look for the Map Display (legend) and click it to reveal the trail colors. You basically don’t want grey “on-road” lines. Looks like anywhere on either side of Amsterdam is paved trail.
No hills other than the little dips up and down the areas near the locks. I would go towards Buffalo (west) first, get the little lock hills out of the way and turn around and come back east towards Albany and enjoy those small little plunges.
Sounds like a fun ride!