The “Cycle the Erie Canal” bike tour is an eight day, 400 mile ride along the Erie Canalway Trail from Buffalo to Albany. An annual event, this year’s tour was held July 9-16, 2023. The tour is fully supported and organized by Parks & Trails New York (PTNY). Activities along the ride include shopping, theatre, museums, parks, historical landmarks, locally sourced food, wine and beer, all accessible from the trail.
The event is referred to as, “One Trail…Endless Adventures.” The tour rides along the Erie Canalway Trail, and is a cycling destination for riders, of all abilities. Following one of the world’s most famous man-made waterways, it spans New York State between Buffalo and Albany. Whether enjoying a leisurely ride from one village to another, or spending a week completing the entire 400 miles, the Erie Canalway Trail offers endless adventures exploring the charming towns, living history, scenic beauty and cultural attractions of New York State, region-by-region.
This year was the 25th anniversary of the Cycle the Erie Canal tour. The event is New York’s biggest multi-day bike tour which departed from Buffalo on July 9, and arrived in Albany on July 16. There were 750 cyclist from 40 states, Canada and around the world who participated.
Riders spent the eight nights of the tour camping in Buffalo, Medina, Fairport, Seneca Falls, Syracuse, Rome, Canajoharie, and Schenectady, before finishing on Sunday, July 16 at Corning Preserve in Albany.
“It’s more than just a tour. Like a magic loom, Cycle the Erie Canal weaves people and experiences together as they move through the landscape. We’ve seen grandparents riding with their grandkids. We’ve celebrated weddings of folks who have met on the tour. Riders come back again and again, bringing more friends and family to experience the tour with them. Every year we’re not only welcoming upstate New Yorkers, we’re hosting folks from all over the United States and the world,” said Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Parks & Trails New York.
Each morning participating cyclists are given an itinerary for the day detailing points of interest, suggestions for breaks at historic sites, and recommendations for shopping and dining spots.
Cyclists experienced many welcoming community members from the towns and villages along the tour who are anxious to share the beauty and history of where they live. This year’s stops included many places where history was made including:
•Lunchtime in Lockport with the opportunity to take a boat ride through Lockport’s iconic “Flight of Five’ locks.
•A scenic ride through western New York’s “-port” villages.
•In Rochester, an opportunity at Genesee Valley Park to take an excursion along the Genesee Riverway Trail into downtown Rochester, or a kayak ride in the Genesee River.
•A ride through farmlands and rolling hills, with an overnight in Seneca Falls and a visit to the Women’s Rights National Historical Park.
•A ride past the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.
•A visit to Erie Canal Museum with a concert, a blacksmith demonstration, food trucks and a cash bar.
•A ride along the peaceful Old Erie Canal State Park with stops at Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum and Canastona Canal Town Museum.
•Exploration of the glacial potholes of Moss Island, a National Natural Landmark and a visit to the Arkell Museum.
•A ride along the Mohawk River to Waterford where the Erie Canal ends.
•A stop at Peebles Island State Park, with a finish at Albany’s Corning Preserve.
For more information on registration for next year’s Cycle the Erie Canal event including costs, how to prepare, FAQs, services and volunteer opportunities visit
www.ptny.org/cycle-the-erie-canal
About Parks & Trails New York:
Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) is New York’s leading statewide advocate for parks, trails, and public lands. Since its founding in 1985, PTNY has been fighting to improve our health, economy, and quality of life through the use and enjoyment of green space. In collaboration with members, supporters and partners from across the state, PTNY is a prominent voice for the protection and expansion of New York’s magnificent state park system and multi-use trail network, including more than 1,500 miles of greenways, bike paths, and river walks. Learn more at www.ptny.org.
One Cyclist’s Experience
by Barbara Burke
Westside News staff photographer and Production Department manager, Karen Fien, participated in the Cycle the Erie Canal tour this year. Karen found out about the event when she had the opportunity to photograph the cyclists for a newspaper article last year when cyclists passed through Brockport. “I thought that it would be so much fun to participate, but wasn’t sure if I could do it,” she said.
Karen volunteered as a riding staff member with the tour. Riding volunteers work four days and ride four days, alternating riding and working days. Work days consisted of an assortment of jobs including assisting cyclists with day to day needs, preparing camp sites, staffing information booths and, in general, providing information and answering questions for the cyclists. “I really enjoyed working with, and meeting all of the cyclists. It was a well organized event, that made sure all of the cyclists needs were met. Everyone had a wonderful time, I didn’t hear any complaints from the people on the tour. It was so much fun meeting all of the people from all over the country, and the world. Everyone had a story, and everyone was so nice.”
On her riding days Karen encountered all of the same experiences as the full time cyclists. She said, “I learned so much about New York State. I didn’t realize that you could bike across the state following the Erie Canalway Trail. It was so impactful to experience the visuals along the way. The boats, the peaceful water, the different bridges, the wildflowers along the trail, and all of the history and historic sites that we visited. We are so fortunate to live in New York State, and we have so many beautiful places to see and experience.”
Karen’s most memorable experience was the day the cyclists visited the Bryan M. Place Memorial Garden in Memphis, NY. The marker at the garden says, “Never To Be Forgotten.” The garden was started by Bryan’s mother in memory of her son who passed away in January of 2010 at the age of 39. Bryan was well known in the community as a financial expert, coach of youth sports, and athlete. Through the years, community members have helped with maintenance of the garden, which today is a beautiful remembrance of a young life lost. “It was such a beautiful place. The mother greeted each of the cyclists and passed out freeze pops to us. It was truly a positive memory that I will never forget.”
Karen’s favorite part of the tour was her feeling of self-accomplishment. “I wasn’t really sure that I would be able to do it. I never in my life rode 60 miles in one ride. When I got to Genesee Valley Park it came over me that I am able to do this, and that was huge for me,” she said.
To sum up her eight days biking along the Erie Canal Trail with 750 other cyclists that she never met before, Karen said, “It was the experience of a lifetime. All along the way the people in the towns and villages were so welcoming and anxious to share everything with us. I made friends from all around the country and other countries too. Friendships that will last a lifetime, all centered around this beautiful experience of riding along the historic Erie Canal.”
