Introduction

My husband and I decided to do an Erie Canal Bike Trail vacation combining two loves of mine — biking and photography. I knew the photographs were not going to be the awe striking photos since I am shooting in broad daylight for a lot of the trip, but it was documentary photography and something I have wanted to try.  We have been wanting to do it for some time and felt it was a good time to go.


Planning

Planning consisted of checking out parts of the trail that were on roads to see how many hills there were. Also mapping out the trip to see how far to go each day and where to stay. While I like the outdoors, camping was out of the question. We were going to carry all of our things with us. We researched hotels on where to stay closest to the trail. We also needed to coordinate transportation since we planned to ride from Buffalo to Rome.  We purchased panniers for each of us, a trunk bag and I have a front handlebar bag. Since I could not find a camera bag for the bike that worked for me, my trunk bag was made into a camera case with one of my backpacks padded dividers. This worked perfectly.  


Planning the trip was actually fun. We researched and reviewed maps and compared them to where we could get hotels. A valuable resource was the Parks & Trails New York Cycling the Erie Canal. Book.    A couple of hotels were outdated, but overall it proved to be a value resource. There is also a GPS app that you can use but we were afraid of limited availability so decided to go with print. I have heard others say they used the app successfully so you can pick what works for you.  


Day 1 Buffalo to Lockport

On the hottest day of the year with temperatures in the mid 90’s and high humidity, we started at Canalside in Buffalo. Canalside is the waterfront revitalization in Buffalo. It was pleasant but we did have some difficulty finding the start of the trail. Luckily our book came in handy right at the start and we were on our way. Our daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren saw us off.  


Unfortunately, while I’m sure there is great effort on the part of Buffalo Canalway Trail, we were lost only a few minutes into our trip.  There were some random trail closings with no detour signs and no direction on where to go. We ended up on streets in Buffalo having no idea where we were. We tried a couple of times only to meet with trail closure signs. Then we totally lost the trail.  Luckily we saw a bike rider, and thought maybe he would know. It was easy to see we were trying to find the trail with our bikes loaded down as much as they were.  This gentleman was a lifesaver.  He knew the area and trail system very well. We had to ride about another 3 miles to get back on the trail. He even gave us another option if that part of the trail was not back open, although he thought it was. Under over passes and over overpasses we ended up back on the trail. A little stressful to say the least, but we made it.  

To the man who gave us directions, I wish I had gotten your name to properly thank you.  


The trail leaving Buffalo goes under the Peace Bridge that leads to Canada. 


Paved waterfront path along Peace Bridge with black railings and cloudy sky over Niagara River in New York.

You begin to bike along the Niagara River. This is a beautiful area and I never knew there were so many houses right on the river. Lined with flowers the trail is very pretty. A lot of water sports taking place on the river as well.  It is very scenic and pleasant.  


Next came the Tonawanda areas. This is a beautiful ride along the Niagara River with plenty of sights to see and terrific trails.  All of our problems getting through Buffalo were long forgotten at this point and we thoroughly enjoyed the scenery through this part of the Canal Trail. 


An old steel railway bridge spans across calm blue waters with boats and trees visible along the shoreline on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.

This rotating gear bridge was something that I had never seen before. 


Historic green steel truss bridge with concrete walkway stretches over waterway under partly cloudy sky on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.



Our first stay for the night was at Lockport Inn and Suites. We were inside checking in when a huge thunderstorm set in.  We had deliberately made our first day a shorter trip for two reasons: 1). We weren’t sure how early we could get dropped off and 2) my husband’s sister and her husband live in Lockport so we planned dinner out with them.  We have stayed at Lockport Inn and Suites several times when out visiting my sister-in-law. It is a family run hotel, always clean, and we have always had a pleasant stay. They were very accommodating with our bikes allowing us to bring them into the room. They also offered a locked place to keep them, but it was easier to bring them in the room since everything was attached to the bikes. And they still use keys! If you are ever in the Lockport area I highly recommend them. They are also close to the trail!   


Hand holding a brass key near a silver doorknob on a white painted door.

33 miles down.  


Day 2 - Lockport to Brockport


As soon as you get back on the trail in Lockport, you will go by the Flight of Five. These are locks 67-71. They are a staircase set of locks built to bring a canal boat over the Niagara Escarpment in five stages.  This was built originally in the 1840s!  Pretty ingenious idea.  A new lock replacing the flight of five sits beside them. And while the original flight of five is no longer being used, the city of Lockport is undergoing a massive restoration project of the locks.  


Water flows over a lock gate at a canal with stairs and railings on both sides, while a control building stands above on the Erie Canal Bike
Canal lock chamber with concrete walls and metal railings beneath a stone bridge overpass along a waterway on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.


In the above picture you can see three of the flight of five locks. The best viewpoint to get a picture of all 5 locks was from the middle of the canal. Since that wasn’t going to happen, this is the best I could do. 

A scenic canal path with a stone bridge and historic lock gates along the towpath on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.


Above is the flight of five. 


Leaving Lockport you start to run into beautiful farm country. And did I mention the Niagara region is also wine country?  You will pass fields of grape vines and of course apples! There are still several homes along the canal trail when first leaving Lockport. The canal is calm and pretty here.  


Lakeside homes with wooden docks sit along the calm water's edge surrounded by mature trees on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.
A narrow boat is moored along a tranquil river bank lined with trees and greenery on a calm day on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.

The trail so far is flat and easy riding. Around towns and locks the trail becomes paved.  Otherwise it is like below _ very fine crushed stone. The trails have been impeccable so far and I can’t stress enough how easy they are to ride on.  


A paved walking path runs alongside a calm canal with green grass and trees lining both sides on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.

Remember that storm that we just missed yesterday? Here is some damage from it. But we got around it by walking the bikes through that little opening 


A dirt path curves along a lake shore with overhanging tree branches and a distant bridge visible in the background on the Erie Canal Bike
A fallen tree branch blocks a dirt trail through lush green woods after a storm on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.


More farmlands, pleasant communities and peaceful riding along the canal trail for a lot of the day today.  


Old red barn with weathered wood siding stands on a grassy lawn beside a rural road on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.
A dirt road runs along a riverbank with agricultural fields and trees visible in the rural landscape on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.

Medina Culvert

The Medina Culvert is the only road in New York State to go under the Erie Canal. The

Tunnel was built in 1823 as a cheaper solution than building a bridge across the canal.  


Stone railway tunnel entrance with 7 foot 6 inch clearance sign and yellow-black hazard markers on sides on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.

In the above picture, the Erie Canal and bike trail is on top of this road. If you look in the picture below, you can see the road extending out from under the canal.  


A calm waterfront scene with trees lining the shore and a paved path visible in the distance on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.

Past the culvert is more farm country and beautiful scenery.  


A blue and gold historic marker sign stands among green foliage indicating the northernmost point of the Erie Canal Bike Trail.
Historic red brick mill building along a serene canal with footpath and bridge in the background under blue sky on the Erie Canal Bike Trail
A white truss bridge spans across calm waters during sunset with purple skies and buildings visible in the background on the Erie Canal Bike


Arriving in Brockport we made our way to Dollinger’s Inn and Suites - about a mile and a half away. They were another hotel very accommodating in providing a first floor and allowing us to bring our bikes into the hotel room.  


Day 2 44.5 miles


Day 3 Brockport to Fairport


Today is another shorter ride. Our daughter lives in Webster with her husband and 2 children. This helps tremendously since we will be able to wash our clothes. And of course having a short riding day so we can play with the Grandkids is always a plus.   


The trail leaving Brockport is again beautiful. Yet another 95+ degree day and high humidity so we start early again.  


A paved walkway along a peaceful canal with boats and buildings visible on the opposite shore in summer on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.

We ran into more murals. In an effort to preserve history, many canal communities have painted on buildings. This one is right on the bike trail painted on an overpass. It was difficult to take a picture of it since you can’t back up too far without going in the canal!


Mural along the Erie Canal bike trail.

Going through the city of Rochester is a huge change from the scenic countryside. But trails were well marked and it was easy traveling.  


Overlook in Rochester, NY of the train tracks on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.

In Genesee Valley Park, the Erie Canalway Trails meets up with two other trails: the Genesee Riverway Trail and the Genesee Valley Greenway.  This is a huge beautiful park. There were a lot of bikers there.  


A scenic river view with tree-lined banks and a lone kayaker paddling through calm waters on a partly cloudy day the Erie Canal Bike Trail

Riding into Fairport:

A waterfront dock with boats moored along a canal, featuring parked bicycles and covered seating areas on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.
Restaurant patio with wooden deck and railing surrounded by trees and landscaping outside a commercial building.

Day 3: 36 miles


Day 4 Fairport to Weedsport


This is our longest biking day. And there are some roads to ride on with today’s trip.  But first coming into Newark we are greeted with some beautiful murals.  


A vintage mural depicting a retro-style cityscape with a clock tower and red letters spelling 'NEW YORK”' against a purple background.
Concrete walkway mural along a canal with a small bridge and pink bicycle parked near the water on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.

Newark is really pleasant. It was a great place to stop and take a break.  


A scenic waterfront walkway with a stone path leads to a metal railway bridge crossing over calm waters on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.
Purple petunias bloom beside a white bench near a peaceful waterfront on an overcast day on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.

At the end of this park under the bridge is a series of incredible murals. It is very hard to take pictures of them unless you are in the water.  


Two flags wave mural above an arched wooden doorway entrance set in a grey stone fortress wall on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.
Mural painting of a figure in overalls looking into an old cellar or storage room with wooden barrels and crates on the Erie Canal Bike Trai
A wooden flour barrel mural with a basket of red apples on top sits against a stone wall background on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.
A decorative painted wall mural of a British redcoat soldier looking at a window against a stone wall background on the Erie Canal Bike Trai
Curved concrete staircase with stone walls and green vines climbing up the sides leads upward on a sunny day on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.
Patriotic mural depicting American flag and historical scenes painted on outdoor wall along wooden boardwalk on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.
A tote bag with an illustrated map of the Erie Canal and its locks and routes drawn in turquoise ink on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.

Mural in Lyons:


A mural depicting people by a bridge is painted on a concrete wall beneath American and Canadian flags on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.

Probably one of my favorite farm scenes was on the road after leaving Clyde. It was about as picturesque as you can get.   


A winding rural road leads through rolling green hills with red barns and white farmhouses dotting the pastoral landscape.

About the halfway point on the Erie Canal - not the bike trail — the actual Erie Canal Trail. 


A blue historic marker sign for the Old Erie Canal stands against autumn trees in New York State.

Here you are riding along the Old Erie Canal. The bike trail is narrower and the canal is stagnant water.  But as you ride along, you come to a beautiful memorial right on the trail. Someone has put a lot of work and time into this. It is beautiful. It is so large my pictures do not do it justice.  Again, I can only backup so far.  


I did a little research. Bryan McNeill Place appeared to be an exceptional individual who, along with a lot of other interests loved long distance running.  He died at 39 and left a loving family. Rest in peace Bryan. While I never knew you, I can see you are remembered in this incredible memorial.  


Memorial plaque and historic photo display surrounded by purple wildflowers in a peaceful garden setting on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.
A winding garden path bordered by lush perennial flowers and green foliage leads through a sunny summer landscape.
A colorful woodland garden features perennials and flowering plants including iris, hostas and orange daylilies in dappled sunlight

Camillus Erie Canal Park includes the seven mile stretch of the Erie Canal known as Camillus Landing. This part of the Canal crosses Nine Mile Creek over a 144 foot long aqueduct.  It is a pretty area and there were a lot of people taking advantage of this area walking, biking, and running.  


An old wooden boathouse with red roof reflects in a calm rural pond surrounded by green trees and vegetation on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.
A red barn sits atop a rolling green hill with mowed paths cutting through tall grass in the rural countryside on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.

We stopped here for the night at our son and daughter in laws house. It was nice to have a short day with the mid 90’s weather and the longer bike ride yesterday.  


Day 4: 15 miles


Day 5:  Syracuse to Rome


Leaving DeWitt there is another really scenic aqueduct complete with another farm scene.  Living in upstate New York, I do have a passion for red barns.  


A scenic rural canal with stone lock walls amid rolling farmland and a red barn in the distance on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.

The trail got a little narrow here.  


A cyclist crosses a metal footbridge surrounded by lush green trees in the forest on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.

Day 5: 44 miles


So if you have read all the way through this, here is something very important. When you are on the road portions, look for these signs painted on the road.  


trail direction markers on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.

They saved us more than once because they will point which direction to take.  


The ride was incredible and my husband still calls it one of our best vacations. Just so you know, we have travelled extensively.  I particularly liked the trail from Tonawanda to Newark. The trail is nice, very kept up, really clean so thank you to all that carry in and carry out like we do.  The trail is predominately flat and easy riding.  I will definitely do it again.  By the way, we are in our 60’s. If we can do this, many of you can too!! I hope you get to enjoy it as it is a really beautiful ride.   I am splitting this into two parts since it is getting long. Part 2 of the Erie Canal Trail ride is here.


Debbi Marquette Photography is located in Upstate New York at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. Debbi is an award winning and published travel, landscape and bald eagle photographer specializing in artistic, authentic, and memorable landscape and wildlife photography. She travels frequently, lives near the mountains and constantly has a camera in her hand to capture photographs so others can see the beauty of our world.


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