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FJP from Utica on 4/22/2023 8:48:12 AM:

What sections of the trail are paved.

Statsanalyst from Rome on 4/22/2023 12:21:03 PM:

As I recall from my 2022 trip:

Everything from Buffalo (Naval Park) to Lockport is paved as is the stretch from Rochester to east of Fairport. You'll be on the road for about 10 miles prior to reaching Weedsport. After that, and points in-between, it's stone dust. Once you hit Syracuse, it's paved through to Cicero. Be mindful of signage on that stretch or you'll miss the trail around SYR and travel through downtown SYR. After Cicero, it's stone dust all the way to the Marcy lock with the exception of navigating the miserable traverse on surface streets through Rome. (signage sucks!!). It's paved from the Marcy lock through Utica. There's ~3 miles of road travel just east of Utica. From there it's all stone dust until Schnectady where it's fully paved to downtown Albany. You'll hit surface streets in Cohoes. This isn't an exhaustive list of paved sections since the trail is also paved through each small town or you're on surface streets through those towns. Recommend 32mm tires at a minimum for the ride. Wide 650B's are overkill. Thirty-sevens are perfect. Sign up for the 360 challenge. Ride it. Enjoy it. Hope this helps.

Statsanalyst from Rome on 4/23/2023 12:03:16 PM:

Correction: Paved from Naval Park through N. Tonawanda. Stone dust from there to Lockport.

Lancaster Cyclist from Lancaster NY on 4/24/2023 8:49:11 AM:

Referring to Statsanalyst's correction, the trail is indeed paved from North Tonawanda to Lockport with some limited roadway segments. It is a great ride with a handy ice cream stand along the way. One has to be careful at some roadway crosses near Lockport; traffic seems to be blind to the presence of these features and move fairly fast without yielding to cyclists.

Bill in Houston from Houston on 4/24/2023 9:48:39 AM:

this map shows trail surface.
https://www.ptny.org/cycle-the-erie-canal/trail-map

Reply to What sections are paved