Reply to mapping a ride

we are looking for help in mapping out a ride app 50 miles round trip within the Syracuse Area, either east or west is fine.
Hoping for the most paved trails we can find, this is a fundraiser we are doing and will have novice riders, any guidance would be much appreciated
Bob

I am also tryimng to map this route out?
Bob
https://www.ptny.org/bike-canal/map/

That’s a good map Bob. You don’t need to follow the grey dashed lines (like the one that takes you down to Seneca Falls). Those are for camping 600 people on the annual “Cycle the Erie Canal” trip which is what that map was originally made for. I know you have novices on your trip and want paved and you’ll get some of that but don’t fear the purple colored “stone dust” parts on that map. They’re perfectly flat and smooth crushed stone. This type of surface is typical of what you on most rail-trails and canalways.

Good luck with your trip!

Hi, I want to take that move and save as PDF or get more detail for the riders to follow, the step by step are actually not very clear for a Novice
Bob

I agree they should have printable PDF maps available for download.

I saw this on the Canalway Corp web site:

“A free map of the Canalway Trail is available from the Canal Corporation. To obtain a copy, please contact us online or call 1-800- 4CANAL4.”

No idea how long it will take to be mailed to you.

You could also purchase the Cying the Erie Canal Guidebook:
https://www.ptny.org/publications/cycling-guidebooks/cycling-the-erie-canal

I have not seen the guidebook so I cannot comment on its quality but I imagine you could copy the map parts you need.

Bob Kelly:
If I am reading you correctly you are looking at 50-mile RT. That's only 25 miles one way so you shouldn't find it to be too hard to organize, but staying off a highway entirely is going to be nearly impossible in this area.

So option #1 WEST is to take off from Camillus and pedal to Weedsport. Start on the east side of town -- there is a Cosco and Tru by Hilton, so lots of parking available. Go up Hinsdale Rd to Warner (Rt 173) -- short highway with a nice apron for cycling and pick up the trail. There is also Reed Webster Park that you might choose to start from. The trip into Weedsport through Jordan is one of my friends favorite sections. Pretty much all paved.

Not too far away your will come to the Nineteen Mile Aqueduct a wonderfully refurbished section of the Canalway that utilizes a wide concrete aqueduct. It's quite cool and educational. Further down is the Erie Canal Park -- an interesting place along the pathway, the Sims' Museum, that is a replica of the original Sims' canal store.

Continuing on through Jordan and then be right at Lock 51 -- part of the historic Erie Canal with a nice small roadside park that could be a resting place. Then, nearing Weedsport, the pathway follows a fun single track that travels almost through owners back yards! After that you are on road surface in Weedsport. The pathway ends right at an Arby's parking lot, so you have a place to re-group before continuing. This is also a busy intersection to navigate.

So I'd have to know how important is the 50-mile mark? You will only be about 20-ish miles here. If you want to continue, you will go on Rt 31 straight through Weedsport. Good news here... there is a great ice cream stand right on the route OR, depending on the group... there is a Craft Brewing Company! If your intent is to continue to make the required 25 mile section, the trail takes to a pathway into Port Byron, but after that the Canalway is on State Route 31 and, quite frankly, the highway is rather busy. Know that there is a pretty decent apron but you will encounter some elevation changes as well.

Options #2 - EAST: Start on the east side of SYR -- Shoppington Mall would be ideal -- the trail is on the north side on Kinne Road and as soon as you go under I-481 you are on the Canalway Trail. Soon another historic Aqueduct, Limestone Creek, but not as significant as the Nineteen Mile. Past Green Lakes State Park and following the trail until you reach your 25-mile mark. Know that this is a much more primitive trail - some crushed gravel, but very ridable with any style bike/tires. Much of the scenery is in the woods next to the "historic" canal which is pretty much a marsh these days in most places. Going through Canastota is quite nice and if you look at the map, as you head north you might be placed on some road surface, but rest easy... they are not busy highways. Most are barely traveled and go through dinky towns (no offense to said towns)! At 25 miles, you turn around -- it would probably be a little past Durhamville.

OPTION 2 of #2 would be to start at Green Lakes State Park and end at Lock 21. This is a pretty cool option in that the end (Lock 21) is a large (current) Barge Canal lock with a lot of green space surrounding it.

If you are going on the Erie Canalway around SYR - those are probably the best options. I really like the West option better, but it has limitations on length and will require going through streets in Weedsport -- but then there's the ice cream or beer! I found the "historic" section (the eastward route) to get a little drawn out and lacked a lot of exciting scenery, but it may work out well as far as logistics for your fundraiser.