More than 600 cyclists take part in 400-mile trip along the Erie Canal

Buffalo, New York (WBEN) – Starting this Sunday, nearly 650 cyclists will embark on a weeklong, 400-mile bike ride from Buffalo, traversing the historic Erie Canalway Trail (part of the Empire State Trail) to Albany for Parks & Trails New York’s 26th annual Cycle the Erie Canal Tour.

“This is truly an incredible eight-day extravaganza of cycling, outdoor exploration and discovery,” said Paul Steely White, executive director of Parks and Trails New York.

Cyclists, some from out of state, will ride 40 to 60 miles per day, enjoying scenic views along the Erie Canal while learning about the history and communities surrounding the canal’s historic locks.

“My favorite part of this trail is the small towns you get to see along the way — Medina, Fairport, Lockport, Seneca Falls. In the last few years, these local communities have really woken up to what they have to offer on the Empire State Trail and the Canalway,” White said. “They roll out the red carpet, local businesses have promotions, marching bands, mayors march. People are really proud of the Empire State Trail and it’s really wonderful to see local businesses benefit from it.”

The first day of the tour follows the Shoreline Trail from Buffalo along the Niagara River north to Tonawanda, where riders can admire the modern western entrance to the Erie Canal. From there, the Erie Canalway Trail winds east through Amherst and Pendleton, where many riders will stop for ice cream at Uncle G’s, one of New York’s 100 certified Bike Friendly businesses.

Around noon, riders arrive in Lockport, a 2023 Empire State Trail town, where tour participants will take a boat ride through Lockport’s iconic locks, the “Flight of Five.” The first day ends with a leisurely ride along the banks of the canal to rural Orleans County.

“We also have historians who come out every night to talk to riders about the history of the Erie Canal, the history of the Underground Railroad, and all the other rich stories that are associated with the route itself. And of course, it also highlights our work at Parks and Trails New York, to highlight the improvements we can still make to the trail to make it safer, more connected, and even get new segments of rail trails so we can connect more communities across New York State to the great Empire State Trail,” White adds.

White also notes the diversity of this year’s groups, with people young and old participating in the event, many returning looking to immerse themselves once again in the history and beauty of the trails and bringing their families along for the ride, in addition to older folks now trying out e-bikes to help them cover the last few miles of each trip.

“Don’t be intimidated by 40 or 60 miles, it’s very flat. So, you know, the fact that it’s very even terrain makes it easier, even for a novice rider. We’re also seeing more and more e-bikes on the trails, they just give you that little boost that you might need at the end of the day.”

Lockport Main Street is excited to welcome cyclists as they do every year, they will be hosting an event on Sunday with accommodations for cyclists and a reception, click here for more details.

You can follow the cyclists by following the Parks and Trails New York social media pages, and you can find information on how to plan your own trip on the Empire Trail here.