A vacation on the Erie Canal
can provide daily recreation:
The Canal Towpaths and Rail
Lines Have Been Turned Into
Bike trails
Remnants of the 1825 Erie Canal, the first of three
versions, offers historic sites and old towpaths
where mules once pulled the boats.
If you bike the Erie Canal you can ride several off-road trails beside the canal
that connect the villages.  Some of the trails are paved bicycle trails along the
canal that run for 20-50 miles, others  are stone dust, and still others are gravel
or a combination that run along the canal and then  loop through the downtown
center of a village. At times the trail runs on a wide path set aside along the
highway that parallels the canal: Routes 5 and 5s in the east and Route 31 in the
west. This network of bike and walking trails connects Albany, New York to
Buffalo, New York,  a distance of 360 miles or so.
If you divide the Erie Canal in three sections,  you can cove 120 miles or more in
a week-long vacation and give yourself ample leisure time for history museums,
shopping , sightseeing in the villages and to enjoy the Inns and B&Bs along the
way.
The Erie
Canal's western
end is near
Niagara Falls
Equipment maintains the Erie Canal for boats passing from Albany to
Buffalo
Bike riders can use
the same
resources used by
Boats that tie up in
Fairport and other
stops for the night
Sunset over Niagara
Falls
The Tonawanda bike trail near Niagara Falls and
the western end of the Erie Canal bike trail
system, 30 miles west of Lockport
The bike trail ends at
Lockport and then is
on-road to the
Tonawanda trail at
the confluence of the
Erie Canal and
Niagara River.  You
can continue
on-road from there
to Goat Island at
Niagara Falls where
there are more bike
trails.
Modern Locks built in
1917 emptying for the
passage of a boat
bound for NY City
Erie Canal Inn to Inn Vacation
Vacation on the Erie Canal:
Go from Inn to Inn,  B&B to
B&B
History, Museums,
Recreation, Barge Tours and
Off-Road Bicycle Trails
From Albany To Buffalo,
Multi-use trails
along the Erie
Canal total nearly
300 miles
Or you could take an
extreme Vacation and
join the 500 riders
who make the annual
400-mile group trip
each July to promote
awareness of this
resource
.Erie Canal Bike Trail,
Summer 8-day Tour
Buffalo to Albany
July
Take the Erie Canal in three small sections East End: Waterford near
Albany to Rome, Mid Section: Rome to Palmyra, West End: Palmyra to
Buffalo. The entire canal stretches for 360 miles; by dividing it in threes
you travel about 120 miles in a week, allowing ample time for
sightseeing.
Huge steel doors trap water
and once the level is equal they
swing open for boats to pass.
The tow paths are
now walking and
biking trails
Another way to tour the Erie Canal is to rent a barge.
You captain the boat after an introductory session.
Carry your bikes and sleep on board. Along the way
you find canal parks with slips for the night, pumping
stations, fuel and walk to the village for groceries.
Walking trail
beside the canal
Lockport to Palmyra, about 90 miles of trail for biking or walking where you can find
villages with Inns and B&Bs for nightly lodging.
Lockport is 31 miles from Buffalo and
Niagara Falls
Palmyra, home of
Joseph Smith is 63
miles west of
Syracuse
The village of
Jordan has built a
park in the old
canal bed.
Erie Canal Vacation: A Suggested Western Section
Erie Canal Inn to Inn Vacation
Bike trails along
the Erie Canal
where mules
once pulled
barges  or where
trains once ran
total nearly 300
miles
An Erie Canal Inn to Inn Vacation can include kayaking
on the canal and hiking and bike riding on several
off-road trails beside the canal.
The Erie Canal Bike trails connect the villages with paved
and gravel bicycle trails that run for 360 miles.
For bikers and walkers looking for an Inn to Inn experience the best bet is to use the info that the
bikers and boaters use for trails and lodging to cross the 400 or so miles of the Erie Canal.  
Listed below are reference books and web pages that might help.  
The annual bike trip uses local high school grounds in the villages along the way as campsites to
lodge the 500 or so participants who bike from Buffalo to Albany during the annual July trip.

http://www.canals.ny.gov/exvac/trail/index.html

http://www.canals.ny.gov/exvac/cguide/index.html  (Book for Cruising the Canal has maps and
information about the local towns)

http://www.canals.ny.gov/exvac/boating/bcmarinas.html  
(A list of the canal marinas where you can obtain local information about lodging in each area)

http://www.canals.ny.gov/maps/water-trail/index.html  (maps)

http://www.nycanal.com/bandb/bandbindex.html
(Erie Canal B&B Inns)

http://www.ptny.org/publications/
(Book with info , inn to inn sections of the canal trail)


http://www.ptny.org/pdfs/canalway_trail/inn_to_inn/albany-schenectady-montgomery.pdf
(inn to inn info for biking the canal, scroll down for inns list)
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Inn to Inn
Vacation
Reach the Erie Canal
  • Air
Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)  is a major air hub for flights to the Erie Barge Canal at the
west end. Check Auto Europe's Flights and Rental vehicles.
Albany at the east end of the Erie canal has air service from Albany International Airport (ALB)
Rental Cars Available   
  • Auto
Interstate highway 90 runs parallel to the Erie Canal from Albany to Buffalo
  • Bus
Greyhound, Trailways, and other bus lines service Buffalo and Albany.  Bikes can go aboard in the
luggage compartment
•Baggage must not exceed 62 inches when adding the total exterior dimensions of the piece (length + width + height). A charge of $30
- $40 (depending on the distance traveled) will be applied to any baggage above the 62-inch limit.
◦Packaging exceptions will only be made for the following items: bicycles, skis and ski poles must be packed in wood, canvas or other
substantial container, and securely fastened    (Excerpted from Greyhound)
  • Train
Amtrak, Albany-Rensselaer, NY, (ALB) To Buffalo,  Depew, NY,  (BUF),   $47 USD , five hours
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Erie Canal Bus, Train Travel
Erie Canal Lodging
Erie Canal History
Erie Canal Biking
Index All Canal Biking
Erie Canal Museums
Erie Canal Inn to Inn Vacation
Erie Canal Travel, Tour
Erie Canal  Hotels, Lodging  
Erie Barge Canal Biking, Lodging, Events, Sightseeing
Save On Air Travel
When traveling by air to the Erie Canal in New York State you can save on your air fare by Parking your Car for   
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Erie Canal, Mohawk River kayaking