Erie Canalway Trail

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Day 1: Arrive Niagara Falls

The tour begins with orientation at our hotel in Niagara Falls where we’ll make introductions and review what’s ahead for our exciting adventure on the historic Erie Canal.

Day 2: Highlights of Niagara Falls & ECT to Lockport (34 Miles)

Our tour begins with incredible cycling as we take you on a guided tour of the highlights of Niagara Falls where we’ll visit the very best viewpoints of the Falls. From the Falls, we cycle along the beautiful Niagara River heading for Tonawanda where the Erie Canal engineers gouged out the riverbank to “water” the canal. We’ll stop for a trailside picnic before kicking out our last 16 miles taking us to lovely Lockport where you’ll have time to explore the famous Flight of Five Locks, the engineering marvel of its time, visit the Erie Canal Discovery Center and grab some ice cream before we make the quick shuttle to our hotel.

Day 3: Lockport to Brockport (45 miles)

Today we head out setting our course for charming Brockport. Along the way we’ll cycle through several small canal towns, and across many of the beautiful, iconic Lift Bridges designed by the canal engineers well over 200 years ago, and which continue to operate as designed to this very day. The cycling and scenery are both outstanding as we make our way to Albion for a lovely trailside picnic. After lunch, you’ll want to stop at Holley Falls Park and take the short walk to see the waterfall that flows under the canal. We wrap up the day in Brockport where you’ll enjoy a great dinner and strolling lovely Main Street.

Day 4: Brockport to Newark (56 miles)

Brockport is in the rearview mirror as we chart our course for Newark. Let your thoughts roam as you pedal along the canal enjoying views of the canal and the towns along its banks, surrounded by green farmlands. You’ll skirt the city of Rochester (NY’s 4th largest), and where we have our morning check-in. Back in the saddle we’ll cycle through the charming town of Pittsford, with great coffee shops, before reaching Fairport where you’ll grab lunch and take time to pop around in the charming shops. After lunch we’ll cycle to the top of super cool Lock 29, (fingers crossed that there will be a vessel “locking” through),  and through super quaint Palmyra, before reaching Newark, our stop for the evening.

Day 5:  Newark to Syracuse (40 or 60 miles)

Leaving Newark we’ll cycle to our first stop in the tiny village of Clyde where you’ll have the option of jumping in the van for a 15 mile shuttle over the hilly road section which drops the day’s mileage down to 45. But whether you take the jump or cycle the hills, we all regroup at super cool Port Byron Erie Canal Heritage Park. The park has great interpretive exhibits, and boasts the largest drydock that existed along the Erie, which has been wonderfully restored.  From Port Byron we continue on cycling past several canal parks including Jordan Aqueduct Park and Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct which has been historically reconstructed to its original beauty. We end the day in Syracuse, where a visit to the Erie Canal Museum and historic Clinton Square are a must.

Day 6:  Syracuse to Rome (48 miles )

There’s plenty of great cycling between Syracuse and Rome as you cruise effortlessly along the trail reaching Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum in 17 miles, and definitely worth exploring. From the Landing we continue on, cycling past and over many aqueducts and awesome Lock 21, before stopping for a trailside picnic lunch. In Rome we’ll visit remarkable Fort Stanwix before cruising the last few miles to our hotel.

Day 7: Rome to Little Falls (40 miles)

It’s easy, beautiful cycling as we venture out for charming Little Falls. Along the way, we’ll stop for a picnic lunch at beautiful Fort Herkimer Church Historic Site. After lunch we’ll knock out the last 7 miles to reach Little Falls where we’ll make a quick stop to change to street clothes before dashing off for a fun and informative Erie Canal Scenic Cruise. Onboard you’ll get to experience the Erie from the “canawlers” perspective, inclusive of excellent and witty narration. After the cruise we return to our hotel where you’ll enjoy a great dinner and a walk about town.

Day 8: Little Falls to Schenectady (60 miles)

Don’t be intimidated by today’s 60 miles, the downhill is in your favor! Enjoy the easy glide as we cycle to Schenectady offering beautiful natural scenery as well as Revolutionary War History. Very short distances from the bike trail are Oriskany Battlefield, Herkimer Home,  and Schoharie Crossing Historic Site. We’ll stop at a local farm and produce stand for lunch and ice cream, before reaching historic Schenectady. In the evening we’ll gather for our Au Revoir Erie dinner social where we can look back on and share experiences from our fabulous adventure on the Erie Canalway Trail.

Day 9: Schenectady to Albany (30 miles)

It’s our last day on the ECT as we cycle through the Capital Region stopping for a quick visit to beautiful Cohoes Falls before dropping the kickstand in Albany, the end of this incredible adventure!