2023: PTNY's Summer of (Bike Tours) Love
You’ve heard of the “summer of love,” but have you heard of the summer of bike tour love?
New York State bike tours are–in general–pretty darn great… but 2023 ended up being especially epic. In addition to celebrating the 25th year of our much loved Cycle the Erie Canal tour, this year saw Parks & Trails New York expand our guided cycling options threefold.
“Bike Tour Summer” (we’re making it a thing) kicked off in July with New York’s favorite eight-day, all-inclusive, cross-state, not-to-be-missed classic: Cycle the Erie Canal. And even with some tired legs, we were ready to go again with the launch of our inaugural Cycle the Hudson Valley tour, traveling from Troy, NY to the iconic Brooklyn Bridge Park. And then (since why stop there, right?), our first ever Long Island Bike for the Greenway ride–in partnership with "Yer Old Pal Glen" and the Trust for Public Land–hit the trails in late August.
Whew! That’s a lot of fantastic, cross-state touring!
And while our tours are designed to connect with communities and promote cycle-based tourism (and, obviously, for FUN), we are so proud of the advocacy and awareness these rides have helped create about existing gaps in the NYS Greenways System.
… But if you’re interested in reading about some of the on-the-tour cool stuff, check out some of our highlights below... along with a brief look-see of what we’re planning for 2024.
Jump Ahead:
- Cycle the Erie Canal
- Cycle the Hudson Valley
- Bike for the Long Island Greenway
- PTNY Rides in the News
- Getting ready for 2024
Cycle the Erie Canal
From July 9th to 16th PTNY led close to 750 cyclists from Buffalo to Albany along 400 miles of the historic Erie Canalway Trail. This year’s ride was especially significant since it's been pedaling strong for a quarter of a century!
Cycle the Erie Canal (CTEC) is the largest cross-state, fully-supported NYS bike tour, regularly hosting riders from all over the country and world. This year we saw welcomed cyclists from 42 states and Canada.
Along the route CTEC passed through 95 different communities, receiving the best of hometown hospitality. Between the traveling community our riders create over the 8 days of CTEC (we've had multiple weddings for relationships that started on CTEC!) and the amazing history, food, entertainment, and all-out welcome our riders participants experience, it's no surprise that CTEC is celebrating it's 25th anniversary... and that our cyclists keep coming back!
Day 1 - Buffalo to Medina
Following the Shoreline Trail from Buffalo north along the Niagara River, cyclists pedaled to Tonawanda before wending east through Amherst and on to Pendleton. Many stopped for ice cream at the famous Uncle G's Ice Cream, a certified Bike Friendly New York business located right on the trail and a staple for CTEC riders.
Cyclists stopped for lunch in Lockport, receiving a particularly warm welcome including food trucks, live music, and other activities to celebrate CTEC's 25th AND Lockport’s designation as an official Empire State Trail Town.
Our sated cyclists then finished the day with 20 miles of scenic riding through Western New York's “port” villages. Rest for this evening was hosed in Medina, a charming village reminiscent of the historic era of the original canal.
Day 2 - Medina to Fairport
During the first half of the day, riders stopped in the friendly “port” villages of Albion, Holley, Brockport, and Spencerport, where unique “lift bridges” carry roads over the canal. The closure of a few of these famous bridges did not stop the canal communities from rolling out the red carpet, though.
Around 40 miles in, riders reached Rochester’s Genesee Valley Park, where a few adventurous souls took kayaks for a spin on the Genesee River while others ventured downtown to check out High Falls.
Further down the trail, riders had the chance to stop in Pittsford, visiting Schoen Place’s popular shops, galleries, and cafes. Tired and happy, our riders ended the day at Fairport’s beautiful Center Park West for some much-deserved rest and relaxation.
Day 3- Fairport to Seneca Falls
Day three was a scorcher!
Erie Canal riders traveled 51 miles from Fairport to Seneca Falls. The feel of the ride shifted, as cyclists left behind the flat, open expanses of Western New York and moved into the rolling hills of the northern Finger Lakes.
Highlights included exploring a perfectly preserved general store in Historic Palmyra, a warm welcome in Village of Newark (another new Empire State Trail Town!), and a visit to the Peppermint Museum in Lyons.
Before leaving the canal corridor to head south, the Village of Clyde pulled out all the stops to welcome tour participants to town!
Riders capped off the day in the birthplace of the Women's Rights Movement: Seneca Falls. With time to explore museums of the Heritage & Tourism Center, and enjoy a tasting of Finger Lakes wine, this was one of our riders' favorites.
Day 4 - Seneca Falls to Syracuse
Halfway there!
The end of day 4 marked riders' halfway point between Buffalo and Albany, with a 41-mile day from Seneca Falls to Syracuse.
Highlights included the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge with visible osprey nests, cycling through a lock at the Old Erie Canal Heritage Park in Port Byron, eating hot dogs and learning about history with the Jordan Historical Society & Museum, and visiting the Camillus Erie Canal Park with its Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct, a "water bridge" that carries the canal over the wide and flowing Nine Mile Creek.
This evening, riders enjoyed the best of Syracuse, including dinner at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo and a special History Happy Hour at the Erie Canal Museum.
Day 5 - Syracuse to Rome.
The fifth day was another hot one, but neither the heat nor the afternoon thunderstorm could dampen our riders' spirits!
The Syracuse to Rome stretch was one for the books (the history books!). Starting with a guided tour led by Erie Canal Museum's Educator, riders got to experience the Canastota Canal Town Museum, Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum, AND an overnight on the grounds of historic Fort Stanwix.
Landing in the City of Rome, riders received the star treatment in this newly-minted Empire State Trail Town! Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, Senator Joseph A. Griffo, and Mayor Jackie Izzo all came out to meet and cheer on the riders, not to mention the greeters at the Rome Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Fantastic info table provided by the Rome Chamber of Commerce.
Day 6 - Rome to Canajoharie
On day six riders traveled a whopping 60+ miles(!) from Rome to Canajoharie... not to mention the infamous "Canajoharie Climb." Their hard work was rewarded with a much deserved rest at Canjo Central Schools where they camped for the night.
The sweeping views of the Mohawk River, beautiful trail-side wildflowers, and extra time to explore the history and charm of Little Falls helped power cyclists through CTEC's most challenging day.
Day 7 - Canajoharie to Niskayuna
There was plenty to see, do, and eat on CTEC's penultimate day, including a visit to Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, lots of ice cream opportunities, and a cook-out courtesy of the Pattersonville Volunteer Fire Department. Cycle Schenectady even set up a bike corral so cyclists could explore the historic city on foot before heading off to camp in Niskayuna.
Riders capped off CTEC's final evening with a much-loved tradition: our talent show and award ceremony. As a special highlight, riders and staff recognized the critical contributions of CTEC's 100+ volunteers, without whom our tour would not be possible, let alone half as magical as it is.
Day 8 - Niskayuna to Albany
Celebrations abounded as close to 750 cyclists crossed the finish line at the Corning Preserve Boat Launch in Albany. With gorgeous Hudson River views, it was a great spot to celebrate our 25th ride, not to mention the 400 miles our traveling cycle community accomplished. Many riders recognized their historical achievement by snagging "End-to-Ender" swag and taking great selfies. We couldn’t be more appreciative of all the riders, volunteers, partners, and communities that make our "traveling village" such a huge success!
Cycle the Hudson Valley
Interested in some great food, beautiful sites, fantastic history, and being in a really, really great community? Well, we suggest you check out the summary of our inaugural year of Cycle the Hudson Valley (CTHV)!
For an inaugural ride, CTHV was definitely a success. From July 31st to August 5th, over 300 riders took to the southern leg of the Empire State Trail, traveling from Troy, NY to Brooklyn Bridge Park through the iconic Hudson Valley.
Together we made history—while experiencing history—as we rode along the beautiful, historic Hudson River, passing New York State’s oldest city (Albany), New York’s newest state park (Sojourner Truth State Park), past New York State’s first capital (Kingston), over the world’s longest pedestrian bridge (Walkway Over the Hudson), and ending in New York City’s most populous borough (Brooklyn Bridge Park).
Through the 200 mile/7-day tour, riders experienced rolling farmland, historic sites, delicious food, entertainment, and (figurative) red carpets at host sites and community stop overs. To get a little taste of our first CTHV, check out our recap below.
Day 1 - Troy to Hudson
Nearly three hundred cyclists took to the trail in Troy, NY, heading south toward New York City on the inaugural Cycle the Hudson Valley bike tour.
To start the tour riders left Hudson Valley Community College and headed over the Hudson River to pick up the Hudson River Section of the Empire State Trail before taking the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail. Next, participants got a chance to take in the North Chatham Trolley Depot and the historic village of Kinderhook for some snacking and shopping—or just a little rest—before traveling on to the foodie and art lovers paradise of Hudson.
Along the day's route riders had ample opportunity to take in the spectacular views of the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains—and for those who took the optional detour to Olana State Historic Site, the vistas were absolutely glorious.
Day 2 - Hudson to Kingston
Day two took riders on a slow wend from Hudson to Kingston, NY. Highlights included beautiful scenery and charming towns in Columbia and Dutchess Counties, a rest stop at Clermont State Historic Site, and the gorgeous campus of Bard College.
With two route options available, participants could "choose their own adventure." Some opted to follow a 35-mile route along the Empire State Trail, while others chose an expanded 42-mile ride including the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum and Downtown Rhinebeck.
Regardless of route, riders all crossed the Hudson on their way to Kingston, where they camped for two nights at Hutton Brickyards--a new event venue on the west bank of the Hudson River. The overnight spot on the Hudson was, in a word, pretty magical.
Day 3 - Layover Day in Kingston
Day three included even more opportunity for riders to explore on their own, with multiple PTNY-provided options.
Kingston served as the homebase for participants to explore more of the Hudson Valley, with suggested routes including a tour to the Ashokan Reservoir, riding the historic O&W Rail Trail, or a shorter path to Kingston's historic downtown, replete with great eateries and great small-town shops.
For those ready for a break from two-wheeled transportation, relaxing and luxuriating at the beautiful Hutton Brickyards, or checking out Kingston's historic past on foot, were both great ways to gather their "sea legs."
Day 3 finished with “Kingston Rocks the Trail,” a celebration of the Empire State Trail, the community of Kingston, and the inaugural launch of Cycle the Hudson Valley. The event was supported with an ARPA grant from the City of Kingston.
The evening kicked off with presentations from New York State Legislator Sarahana Shrestha (Assembly District 103), Kingston Mayor Steve Noble, Ross Levi (Executive Director of the New York State Division of Tourism/ I Love NY) Remy Schwartz (Executive Director of the Palisades Parks Conservancy), and PTNY's own Paul Steely White (Executive Director) and Linden Horvath (Sr. Director of Development, Communications, & Marketing). All the speakers highlighted the importance of equal-access to public lands and the importance of greenways as a driver of economic development for New York's trail-side communities. PTNY speakers pushed for collaborative advocacy to close the gaps in, and create greater connectivity to, the southern leg of the Empire State Trail.
The night culminated with a free concert and dancing welcoming riders and Kingstonites alike featuring award-winning band The Whiskey Treaty Roadshow. What a glorious way to celebrate our beloved green spaces and greenway trails!
Day 4 - Kingston to Poughkeepsie
This morning, cyclists left Kingston and continued south down the Empire State Trail, following the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and crossing over the iconic Rosendale Trestle. While there, riders met up with Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. Together, they celebrated Ulster County's fantastic trails, riding to the morning rest stop at the trailside Bradley Farm for farm-fresh snacks.
A few more miles of smooth sailing brought tour participants to New Paltz, where optional detours included Open Space Institute's River to Ridge Trail or travelling more miles on the Wallkill Trail to Gardiner.
The day finished out with a ride on the Hudson Valley Rail Trail to the iconic Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, which dropped cyclists off in Poughkeepsie.
Having now traveled over one hundred miles by bike on the Empire State Trail, this day was the halfway point on the journey to NYC!
Day 5 - Poughkeepsie to Carmel
Today, the Dutchess Rail Trail took riders to the Hopewell Depot Museum, where they were greeted by volunteers and learned about the history of the former Dutchess railway corridor.
After, participants transitioned to the Maybrook Trailway for some super-scenic miles, past wetlands and lakes, before crossing another famous long-distance trail: the Appalachian Trail.
Travelling down to Brewster, the CTHV route connected to the Putnam County Trailway, bringing riders on home to Carmel hamlet where they spent the night.
Day 6 - Carmel to Dobbs Ferry
On the second-to-last day, Cycle the Hudson Valley covered 40 miles of the EST from Carmel to Dobbs Ferry. Riders continued along the Putnam County Trailway and Westchester's North and South County Trailways.
On this section of the ride, participants got to cruise downhill through pleasant woods, pass over the Croton reservoir, and explore more charming Hudson River towns. Some even took an optional ride to check out the Mario Cuomo/Tappan Zee Bridge and its pedestrian/cycle walkway's gorgeous views.
After a long day of riding, cyclists finished at Mercy College for camp... but not before celebrating with a NYS craft beverage happy hour, closing dinner, award ceremony, and other festivities to commemorate CTHV's last night on the road.
Day 7 - Dobbs Ferry to Brooklyn
CTHV's last day finished the epic two-hundred mile trip with a 32 mile ride from Dobbs Ferry to Brooklyn.
Crossing into the Bronx at Van Cortlandt Park, participants hopped onto the Hudson River Greenway, travelling all the way down the west side of Manhattan to the very tip of the island at Battery Park.
After taking in views of the Statue of Liberty, riders got back on their bikes one last time to ride over the iconic Brooklyn Bridge to the finish line at the storied Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Congratulations to all tour participants and a big thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors who helped make this incredible bike travel experience possible! Here's to many more years, miles, and smiles.
Bike for the Long Island Greenway
August 26, 2023 saw another new NYS ride. PTNY, working with partners Trust for Public Land and "Yer Old Pal Glen," hosted "Bike to the Brewery" to draw attention to the need to complete the Long Island Greenway... and enjoy some amazing nature, food, and drinks on the way. Riders traveled approx. 60 miles from Queens to Patchogue.
Parks & Trails New York’s Executive Director Paul Steely White was there for it all. Check out his recap below:
Warm Muscles & Cold Oysters for the LI Greenway
PTNY Rides in the News
Interested in even more info on our Summer of (Bike Tours) Love??
Check out these highlights of our 2023 tours in the news.
And on to 2024 (and next year’s rides)!
Now to start planning for 2024!
I’m sure you’ve heard it before (and will again) but 2024 is the Centennial of the New York State Park System. And you know we’ll be celebrating with some epic rides!
We've already announced our dates for Cycle the Erie Canal 2024: Saturday 7/6/2024 to Sunday 7/14/2024. Registration will open in January.
(We’ll let you know about the others as soon as we can. If you’re not yet on our mailing list, sign yourself up–be "in the know!")
We are grateful to our partners and sponsors for helping to bring you a summer of epic rides. In addition, thanks to the riders, volunteers, staff... not to mention our friends and supporters.
We can’t wait to see you back on the trail next year!