Erie Canal @ North Tonawanda question
 

In June I am planning a loaded tour of the Erie Canal / NY Bike Route 5 from Niagara Falls to Albany then north back to Ontario. I have rode the canal from Rochester to Lockport then took Bike Route 5 to Niagara Falls a few years back.
After going over my maps and searching online I still can't tell if there is a trail to follow from the Niagara River at North Tonawanda to Lockport siutable for loaded touring or would it be better to take NY Bike Route 5 from the Rainbow Bridge to Lockport?
If the trail does accually start in North Tonawanda then is there a quiet bike route from the Rainbow Bridge to the trail?
If there are any other routes that you would suggest I would greatly appreciate your ideas.
Happy Touring!

Suitable path for loaded touring
 

Hopefully, I'm not too late with this.
There IS a trail which runs from downtown Buffalo up thru the city of Tonawanda and then out thru amherst new york terminating at New and North Tonawanda Creek Roads in Pendleton. It's paved and parralels the upper niagara (some nice views of the river)till Tonawanda and then the canal out to Pendleton.
From that point I would suggest taking N. Tonawanda Creek across the canal and taking Irish road to bear Ridge and Bear Ridge (which parralels the canal )out to Lockport.
(you'll terminate at 93. Make a right then a left onto State street which will take you right into the city of lockport.)
Hope this helps.
If you need further directions e-mail me.

OOPs..I see you're comming across the rainbow bridge.
There is a bike path which parralels the niagara river but only to the north Grand island Bridge.
From that point you have to take Buffalo Ave to Military to River Road whcih will take you into North Tonawanda/Tonawanda (the bike path is in Tonawanda).
I'm going to put you in touch (send you the e-mail addy) with someone from Niagara Frontier Bicycle Club as The City of Niagara falls NY is like Beruit with all the potholes and torn up streets and were it me, I'd definitely want to get on to the upper mountain road (gorgeous scenery, way less traffic, slight downhill all the way)which is a direct route right into Lockport.
The bike path-Buffalo ave-River Road-bike path is a good 17 miles worth of uninspiring riding (unless Love Canal is your thing)added on to your already long trip.

Thanks for the info and the PM Ranger63.
I think that I will just pick up the canal trail at Lockport. I was hoping that there was a trail system on the US side of the river simular to the trail on the Canadian side. I would of thought that the Erie Canal trail would of gone right to the Niagara River.
Your suggestion to take Upper Mountain Road is a very good idea. I had read somewhere on the web about someone having taken it. I see it goes right to the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge which I will pass on to Canadian side on my way to Niagara Falls.
I have heard that you can not cross the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge on a bicycle and their web site says it does not allow predestrian traffic. Too bad, it would be a easy place to cross. I still want to go to the falls so I will just have to find a way to Upper Middle Road from the Rainbow Bridge.
I have been to Lockport 2-3 years ago and remember the cobble stones and the steep incline at the locks.
Thanks and happy touring!

You can cross the Lewiston Queenston bridge. If you search the documents on the Niagara Falls Bridge commision's website, they tell you that to bicycle across both the Lewiston-Queenston and the Rainbow Bridge you must cross with the car traffic. I have crossed the Lewiston-Queenston bridge several times last year on my Trike. I have crossed all 3 Bridges on my Trike and the easiest to cross is the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge. It can be tricky to cross the Lewiston Queenston bridge from the Canadian side as the bike entrance is located on the North side of the bridge from the Niagara Parkway.

Also there is a nice wide (Old Robert Moses Parkway Southbound Lanes) multi-use path along the river from the Rainbow bridge to the Niagara Power Project/NU/Devils Hole where you can take to get towards Upper Mountian Dr.
One way to get there is to make a left after customs at the bridge and head towards the Shelkof Geo musem. Enter the parking lot for the musem and look for a pedistrian bridge and head towards it and you will find the path. At the Northern edge of the path you will see another pedistrian bridge across the highway. Take this bridge and head for the parkinglot exit the parkinglot and turn left towards a light. This is Lewiston Rd. Take Lewiston Rd North and go past two overpasses and go Sacred Heart Villa. either turn right on the road just past the church or turn right at the Light (Military Rd).
If you turn right after the church, take the road to it ends and turn left. This new road will end at Military Rd. Turn right on Military Rd.

The first Light you come to will be Upper Mountian Rd. Turn left at the light and take it straight to Lockport.

Good luck and have fun

Jeff
Lewiston, NY

Thanks jcostanz, that is great information.
Although the Queenston-Lewiston bridge is right on my way and even after being to the falls many times I still want to get a nice picture of me and my bike at the falls. I never tire of looking at Niagara Falls.
Happy touring!

Crossing either way, I would recommend taking Upper Mountain Rd towards Lockport.

I will be arriving from the opposite direction (Amtrak - Depew) as cyberpep. Could you suggest a route from the Amtrak station to N. Tonawanda Creek Road. Using just Google maps, I came up with the same route from there into Lockport; but could use suggestions south of there.

Thank you.