Did you buy the guide book from the NY State Parks Dept? That just about covers it. There are Trail sides along roads when the towpath isn't availble for riding. I've done the western half, from Buffalo to just before Syracuse. I didn't really see any great places to stealth camp, but there are campsites along the trail in some towns for use by bikers & boaters. Lots of open farmland along the trail, but I wasn't really seeking out those places to camp. After Syracuse (heading east), the "trail" actually does a far amount of road riding and isn't too near the open canal from what the guidebook shows. Also, the towns in that section didn't seem to have lots of services. The trail from Schenectady to Albany is very interesting, riding along the Mohawk River then along the Hudson. I've ridden the section the joining of those rivers, south, and its a nice ride, but very busy on weekends with all the Albany folks out riding & enjoying the parks.