Ride The Empire State Trail from New York to the Canadian Border

The Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, or the Brooklyn Bridge, these are all places that may come to mind when thinking about the state of New York. But as a place for great bicycling? Probably not so much.

The truth is that the state hosts one of the longest multi-use trails in the United States, known as the Empire State Trail. However, it isn’t just for bicyclists but also for a lot of walkers, although if you go there, you’ll find that most users of the trail are exploring it by bike.

Background About the Empire State Trail

The Empire State Trail opened in 2017 and starts in Albany, NY. The state created the trail, as it mentions on its website, “to promote outdoor recreation, encourage healthy lifestyles, support community vitality, and bolster tourism-related economic development.“

The trail covers a large swathe of territory: 750 miles. Surprisingly, all of those miles exist in the state itself. The trail is broken up into three distinct parts.

• Hudson Valley Trail – New York to Albany
• Champlain Valley Trail – Albany to the Canada Border
• Erie Canal Trail – Buffalo to Albany

All areas of the trail welcome bicyclists and walkers of all ages. The trail was built on existing railroad routes and canal trails that ran adjacent to the canals in the state.

Cycling The Empire Trail

The Trail is primarily flat, so if you’re seeking to add a Strava segment, you probably won’t achieve that while riding the trail. Additionally, the trail is a mix of off-road (gravel and what the state calls “stonedust, a, “…compacted, finely-ground material that provides a stable trail surface…”) and pavement.

For the skinny tire crowd, the state says that many road cyclists avoid these sections of the road, although some do still ride them regardless. The trail is supposedly 10 to 12 feet wide, so plenty of room for both walkers and bicyclists to share any of the three parts of the Empire State Trail.

Just as a note of warning to potential users of the trail: while most of the trail is off-road, there are sections of the trail, specifically as it gets closer to Canada, where some on-road riding will be required.

Also of note, if you choose to take on all 750 miles of the trail, you will experience places for hotel stays, cultural attractions, and breweries and wineries. This the best way to sample all the state of New York has to offer if you have the time and resources.

Last Thoughts

The Empire State Trail looks to be an excellent way to explore New York. Whether you are out for a casual day of cycling or you want to take on the whole trail over a week, you are sure to get a real sense of the history, people, and climate of the state.

And if you are in for the long haul, chances are you’ll miss or be able to bypass a good amount of foot traffic and those casual riders out with their families for the day. So, grab your bike and a riding buddy or two and make your spring, summer, or fall a memorable event.