Inaugural Cycle the Hudson Valley kicks off July 29
Cyclists on the inaugural Cycle The Hudson Valley bike tour will gather in Troy, N.Y. on July 29, 2023 and wend their way 200 miles south along the Empire State Trail, ending in the Big Apple a week later. This seven-day fully-supported tour is limited to the first 300 cyclists who sign up.
Daily routes average 30-50 miles/day with additional mileage options for riders wanting more. The route is 63% paved and 13% crushed stone dust trail, with 24% on road, and and will take bicyclists through the cities, villages, countryside, and parklands of the beautiful Hudson River Valley.
On the second night of Cycle the Hudson Valley, the tour rolls into bustling Hudson, with its many cafes, interesting shops and great people watching. When the British Navy clamped down on early American whaling along the Atlantic, two whalers set sail looking for an alternative location. Surprisingly they found such a perfect place 100 miles from the ocean! With a deep river harbor and plenty of surrounding land they established a town that would ultimately have everything a whaler desired, and in 1785 it was the very first city chartered in the brand-new United States of America.
Cycle the Hudson Valley will spend two nights in Kingston since there’s so much to see and do in this city on the river. Kingston was the first capital of New York State, and George Clinton was sworn in as the first Governor almost 246 years ago to the day that we’ll be in town. On our lay-over day cyclists can explore the area by biking an optional loop or strolling through the Kingston Stockade District, (on the National Register of Historic Places) or visiting the Hudson River Maritime Museum.
Day four lands the tour in Poughkeepsie, with a ride over the famous Walkway Over the Hudson, an elevated multi-use park that spans 1.28 miles. Soaring 212 feet above the Hudson it provides amazing views of the river valley. Shuttles will be available to the FDR Home and Library and the renowned Culinary Institute of America.
The next day's countryside ride ends in the cute Hamlet of Carmel.
The last overnight brings the tour close to NYC, as riders get ready to experience the Big Apple by bicycle. Riding along the Hudson River Greenway offers full-on river views most of the way. The tour ends at Battery Park, with a lovely view of the Statue of Liberty. Cyclists can visit the 9/11 Memorial Pools. And, of course, there are so many things and places to see along the way in Manhattan!
Registration opens January 18. Visit Cycle The Hudson Valley for more information, or email HudsonTour@PTNY.org.
If you’d like to explore further, our other fully supported Cycle the Erie Canal features the east-west leg of the Empire State Trail and travels 400 miles from Buffalo to Albany. Cycle the Erie Canal registration is open.
