Our guests who purchase the Empire State Trail Bike Tour Blueprint receive the following:
The following itineraries are included in the blueprint along with digital mapping and daily summaries. Custom mapping can be purchased along with 1-hour planning consultations.
Hotel/B&B Itineraries (with approximate mileage)
Hudson Valley Greenway – 4 day (50-60 miles/day); 5 day (40-60 miles/day)
Champlain Valley Trail – 3 day (50-75 miles/day); 4 day (40-50 miles/day)
Champlain Valley and Hudson Valley – 9 day (30-70 miles/day)
Erie Canal* and Hudson Valley – 8 day (60-90 miles/day); 14 day (30-50 miles/day)
*Erie Canalway Trail itineraries are included in this blueprint. They can also be purchased separately.
Campsite and camping information is provided for all of the Empire State Trail system. Camping is easiest along the Erie Canal and Champlain Trail; be advised camping is very limited along the Hudson Valley Trail.
The Empire State Trail can be ridden throughout the year, although we recommend May-October. There is often a prevailing west-to-east wind along the Erie Canalway and recommended riding direction is Buffalo to Albany.
Trail surfaces vary across the 750-mile system but in general the Erie Canal is a crushed gravel or paved trail; the Champlain Valley is on-road and paved; the Hudson Valley is on paved bike trail.
Camping is available along the Erie Canal and Champlain Valley routes, but very limited along the Hudson Valley.
End-to-end shuttling is limited for this system but available. Amtrak is also available along the entire system. Not all trains provide roll-on bike service.
Daily luggage transfer is primarily unavailable for this trail system.
Bike rentals are limited and no e-bike rentals are available. Standard bike rental is based out of Buffalo or New York City and bikes must be returned to the rental location or shipped to their shop.
The Empire State Trail provides a bike touring experience that is unforgettable and should be on any bike tourist’s “must ride” list. It is made up of three routes which cross the state, any of which are worthy touring destinations on their own.
The Erie Canalway Trail is a 365-mile trail runs from Buffalo to Albany and parallels the historic Erie Canal along much of its length. It is an accessible trail with very little elevation change and runs primarily on bike paths. Along the Erie Canalway Trail riders can enjoy the farmlands and orchards of upstate NY, early transportation history along the canal, and views of the Mohawk River Valley as they approach Albany.
The Hudson Valley Greenway is a gorgeous 190-mile trail system that runs from the city of Albany, along the Hudson River Valley, to end at Battery Park in New York City. This section of the Empire State Trail is moderately difficult with very little on-road riding and rolling elevation changes. The majority of the route is on dedicated bike trails/paths, including the segment that runs through NYC, although there is a short section on-road between the Bronx and Inwood.
The Champlain Valley Trail runs for 200 miles from the Canadian Border to Albany is almost entirely on-road and is recommend for experienced cyclists only. For cycle tourists interested in completing the entire Empire State Trail, this section offers incredible views along Lake Champlain and plenty of historic sites.
Difficulty: The Empire State Trail system as a whole can be considered of medium difficulty with the Erie Canalway and Hudson Valley sections being the easier and the Champlain Valley section somewhat more difficult. The Erie Canal Trail is mostly flat and on bike trails but does have a good amount of on-road riding, although on secondary and rural roads only. The Hudson Valley Trail is primarily on paved bike trails, but there is a bit more rolling elevation than along the Erie Canal. The Champlain Valley Trail is essentially an on-road route and a portion (Westport to Ticonderoga) should be avoided if possible.