New York’s 750-Mile Empire State Trail Is Open and Ready for You to Ride
Your next bike adventure across New York could be sooner than you think. On December 31, New York state opened the Empire State Trail, an ambitious 750-mile trail project that connects hundreds of communities across 27 counties.
The trail system is divided into three sections: the Hudson Valley Greenway, the Erie Canalway Trail, and the Champlain Valley Trail. When put together, the trail system forms a sideways T, connecting Manhattan all the way north to the Canadian border at Rouses Point, and running from Albany out west to Buffalo.
“There’s no trail like it in the nation—750 miles of multi-use trail literally from Manhattan to the Canadian Border, from Buffalo to Albany,” New York governor Andrew Cuomo said in a press release. “Not only does it provide an opportunity to experience the natural beauty and history of New York, but it also gives New Yorkers from every corner of the state a safe outlet for recreation as we continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In 2017, Cuomo announced a commitment to finish the trail and invested $200 million dollars into the trail system; according to Andy Beers, Director of the Empire State Trail, this is the largest trails investment that has occurred in the United States to date.
The trail system is made up of off-road sections of stone dust (pulverized stone, which is road-bike friendly) and asphalt, as well as road sections (also asphalt), which are generally shoulders of low-trafficked roads; it’s approximately 75 percent off-road sections to 25 percent on-road. Using the robust mapping system available online, you can also find options for parking, camping, state parks, and points of interest.
Not only is the Empire State Trail beneficial for helping people get outside, but it will also have a positive economic impact. Current users of the two main trails—the Hudson Valley Greenway and the Erie Canalway Trail—already generate $274 million every year for the state’s economy. An estimated 1,920 jobs will be created by the trail, and now that it’s completed, upwards of 8.6 million visitors per year are expected to visit the Empire State Trail, per the recent press release.
Beers points out the tourism opportunities that exist along the way. In partnership with the New York State Brewers Association (NYSBA), Cuomo launched a virtual passport program that showcases the 200 craft breweries closely surrounding the Empire State Trail. The Empire State Trail Brewery Passport, made available through the NYSBA’s New York Craft Beer App, will encourage New Yorkers to visit breweries within 10 miles of the Empire State Trail along the 750-mile route that spans the state.
At each brewery along the trail, visitors can digitally check in on the app, earning a stamp on both the Think NY, Drink NY Passport and the Empire State Trail Brewery Passport. Visitors earn points that can be used to earn rewards such as neck gaiters, shirts, backpacks and more. By checking in at 200 breweries and completing the Empire State Trail Brewery Passport, visitors will receive a branded cooler backpack and a tshirt stating, “I completed the Empire State Trail Brewery Passport.”
In case breweries aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other activities within 10 miles of the trail, such as picnicking and camping spots, and cultural attractions like museums. Additionally, hikers, cross-country skiers, and shoeshoers, to name a few, are welcome to use the trail.
“During this unprecedented and challenging time, this new partnership will make it even easier for New Yorkers to experience both this great state’s natural beauty and world-class craft beverages,” Governor Cuomo said in an October press release. “Tourism and recreation are at the foundation of our local economies, and as we near the completion of the Empire State Trail by the end of this year, this program will both benefit local residents and spur economic activity in communities across the state.”
Winter might not be the best time to visit the Empire State Trail, because sections outside of urban areas are not snow plowed. Beers feels the months between May and October are ideal.
If you are interested in a bike trip across New York state, but don’t know quite how to plan for it, Parks & Trails New York Organization, the leading statewide advocate for parks and trails in New York State, has previously led 650 cyclists on an eight-day, 400-mile journey along the Erie Canalway Trail. Due to COVID-19, the 2020 tour was virtual, but 2021 registration is tentatively set to open on March 1.
In case you want to do a car-free visit to the trails, or want to leave your vehicle at one point and grab it later, there are Amtrak train stations in 20 cities and towns along the statewide Empire State Trail route; station locations are identified on the trail map. Some Amtrak trains allow bicycles to be wheeled right onto passenger cars for storage on special racks; for a small extra fee, bicycle transport can be reserved. Just note that there is limited bike capacity on each train, so plan ahead as much as possible.
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