Northeast - Erie Canal Trail

Anyone here ride the Erie Canal Trail? I'm looking for a multi-day trip for next year, but I can't find much good information on the Erie Canal. I rode the C&O/Gap this year with plenty of info on the internet I was able to plan the whole trip with surprising accuracy. I can't seem to find similar information about the Erie Canal Trail. If anyone has good internet links they would be greatly appreciated.

You might try:

http://www.nycanal.com/recreation/hikebikemain.html

There is a guidebook available as well.

http://www.ptny.org/guidebook/index.shtml

I'm fortunate in that part of the Canalway is my daily commute. (Except in winter since they don't plow it.)

Parks & Trails runs a fully-supported tour every July. http://www.ptny.org/canaltour/ It's always the hottest week of the year, but lots of folks like it anyway.

Thanks for the replies. I'll check out the web sites.

Good books I like in preparation of my ride next spring.
Louis Rossi, "Cycling Along the Canals of New York State" (Vitesse Press)
Roth and Walters "Backroad Bicycling in the Finger Lakes Region (Backcountry Guides)

Heya Rochesterarians,

Do they keep any of the trails plowed during the winter? I seem to remember it being more snowy after the new year.

I live in Rochester and ride the canal trail several times a week. I usually stay on the smooth paved portion from Pittsford, NY, to Long Pond road on the west side of Rochester. Either east or west of this section the trail is packed gravel, fine for a cyclocross bike but rough for 1/2 inch 90 psi road tires. The trail is not plowed in winter and parts of it will be ice covered due to warming/cooling cycles (sunlight). There are a lot of other users on the trail; dog walkers, runners, skaters, etc. Because there is no fear of large metal objects (cars) running over you, many serious bikers use it to train although it is very flat.

I'll just be tooling around when I visit my bro. Not too concerned about some snow since I'll have a mtb.

There are a few places where you have to dismount and go up/down stairs. Footing on those could be a challenge.

I'll just be tooling around when I visit my bro. Not too concerned about some snow since I'll have a mtb.

If that's the case, and you're here on a Tuesday night (October through March only), join us on the Tuesday Night Urban Assault (http://www.fullmoonvista.com/rides.html#tnua). We ride in all conditions, all winter long, usually for at least two hours. The ride meets at 6:00 at the Adams Street Rec Center in Corn Hill. We ride out at 6:15 sharp.

There are a few places where you have to dismount and go up/down stairs. Footing on those could be a challenge.

There are grade-level crossings at those two places. During rush-hour it may be a while waiting for a hole in traffic. That's the only time I use the stairs. One of them (Lock 32 at Clover Street) is being reconstructed to replace the stairs with a long ramp.

I'm planning a multi-day, loaded tour in April/May 2009. A trip around Adirondack State Park - starts and ends in Schenectady. I purchased the maps from Adventure Cycling.

Schenectady to Lake Luzern, to Port Henry, to Lake Placid, to Saranac Inn (after going up and over Whiteface Mountain), to Long Lake, to Speculator, to Caruga Lake, back to Schenectady.

Without detours, the trip is 396 miles.