BikeErieCanal vs. PTNY Trail Route - Differences at Syracuse

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John&Judy from Anchorage, Alaska on 8/4/2021 12:28:08 PM:

Been carefully studying the ECT route map from BikeErieCanal website versus the PTNY website. Noticed that there is significant difference in route on the west side of Syracuse.

PTNY shows a route up and along Onadaga Lake (which is the route on the avalailable PTNY GPX file and PTNY 5th Edition book) but the BikeErieCanal map shows a route traveling E-W on mostly the 'Erie Canal Blvd W' through the western section of Syracuse.

For trip planning (and mapping) purposes, what is the best/lowest traffic route on the western side of Syracuse?

John W. from Pittsburgh, PA on 8/4/2021 4:18:04 PM:

John&Judy: There are others who know the trail better than me but I do know the PTNY event has to get 650 people to camping grounds and that is usually a school or a park. The PTNY does deviate from the trail each night. I also know the PTNY tour exits the trail at Clyde and goes to Seneca Falls for a nights rest and reconnects back at Montezuma the next day so you miss quite a bit of the trail. That’s the reason for the differences in the two maps.

John

Bill in Houston from Houston on 8/5/2021 8:15:03 AM:

Regarding the trail west of Syracuse, the route on this site is an older route. The newer route is shown on the PTNY site.

Apparently they did some work on the trail just west of the city that makes the new trail the official preferred route.

When you ride, all of the signage directs you to the new route. Apparently the new route can be a bit confusing at the fairgrounds, so look for a security guard to help.

We rode the old route, and it was fine too.

John&Judt from Anchorage, Alaska on 8/6/2021 6:00:08 PM:

Thanks for the help, everyone. I’ll bring maps on my Kindle for the newer PTNY route. Looks nicer with the lakeside route instead of riding with traffic.

wnybubba from Bflo/ROC on 8/6/2021 10:57:33 PM:

There was some significant work done to route the trail away form going directly through downtown. The new trail is signed fairly well, but (as is often the case) one sign with an arrow would help. This is true coming out of the Fairgrounds area where a left hand turn is required to stay on the trail -- and there is not a prominent sign to direct you. The rest of the way in and around town was nicely marked and an enjoyable ride.

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