It took us over 2 weeks to complete our self-guided bike tour and we enjoyed (almost) every minute of it. Who else has completed the Empire State Trail and how long did it take you? Or if you’re still planning, how long do you think it will take you?
We just completed the Empire State Trail from Albany to Battery Park yesterday. Despite some rain on the first day (an all day soaker), the weather was excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed the trip with a nice mix of on road and on trail riding thru rolling countryside, apple orchards, Carolinian forests, rivers and streams. We stayed in hotels and AirBnB's each night so no tenting. Thank you for your inspiration and video that got us going.
@@kvprahman1 Not sure we can help in that regard. We did the trail in 4 days and you are planning on doing it in 3 days. The places we stayed at will be different from your experience. Have fun though, great time to do it. Lots of fall colours.
Early in the video is Whaley Lake, in Pawling. The closer you get to the city the noisier the trail becomes, even with it being completely separate. I have ridden from Albany to the tip of Manhattan except for the short on road section between Yonkers and the GW bridge. But I did it in short sections over several years. We are blessed to have this gem.
These videos are great. Thank you! I’m planning to ride the 230 miles from Albany to NYC over 2 days in May. Your videos are super helpful in preparing to do this!
lodging as in hotels/motels ? is camping an option at all? maybe its just me but I find it harder to plan these long rail trail trips than random road/gravel road trips. started planning the Empire State a couple times but could not figure out camping or hotels so I ended up just doing the GAP/C&O out and back. @@D-Ski-Bike-Kayak-Etc-cv5tm
Tks for the video. I'm SO psyched to do this trail. Ive only seen this video, the final leg of the trip. Noticed you carried no " stuff" . No, camping gear. Not even a change of clothes 😮. You are lucky to have had a support vehicle. I won't be so lucky 😢.
I was wondering if you have ever considered the Illinois Prairie Path. Although it is another "Y" shaped trail, you can form a semi loop using the Fox River Trail. They claim it's the first rail trail in the country, converted in 1963... I grew up next to it and thought everyone had a bicycle highway running through their town, we didnt know how lucky we were. I'm riding the entire thing in spring of 2022, because I never have before... keep making great tours.
What did u do for lodging in NYC? Did u have a support vehicle in NYC? Traditional touring cyclists (unsupported) wont have a vehicle, so need to research lodging/ food.
Totally awesome. I just read about this trail this past fall and then you toured it. Great coverage, entertaining videos. Cant wait to see what your next project is...
Great video's - thank you for sharing ! We are riding from Albany to NYC this summer. Do you have any advise or instructions for any specific areas that we need to be aware of ? For example, you note in your video that the start of the "on-road" section going into NYC can be a bit challenging. Any specific advice on that section ? Also, how specifically did you get across the Harlem River ? The routes we see are not specific and a very vague about that. Any help and advice you can give would be GREATLY appreciated !!! THANK YOU !
It will be a great trip! We tried to provide general insights in our FAQ videos. I found the mapping on the Empire State Trail website to be the best for following their preset routes into Manhattan. We should have a tour blueprint available for purchase this spring at our website.
You cross the Harlem river on the Broadway Bridge. I did this route into / out of Manhattan this weekend and thought the Empire State Trail signage would be more predominant. I got lost a few times (did not have a map). I did have a flashing rear taillight and I was surprised how courteous the drivers were for the most part.
Hey so I’m planning a bike tour and I’m debating if to go from Toronto to Montreal or from New York to Montreal I see that you’ve done most of the Montreal to New York trip do you have any advice is it mainly bike trails do I have to share the road a lot with cars where can I find this information I am looking for a spot where it’s mainly bike trails especially for friends were coming with me who our first Time by tourist
I have not ridden much of the Canada section, just from the border to NYC. There is a lot of road, yes. If you rode from Buffalo to NYC there would be more trail. It's mostly road from Toronto to Buffalo however.
Kingston had just opened a number of bike lanes when we were there. We were primarily on those routes and only had a very short section of road entering Kingston and then leaving it just before the Wallkill. It was an enjoyable ride:)
Noble is correct. This is my home turf. Kingston has a new bike lane section on Broadway, very nicely painted. It is a combination in the city of paved road and trail, bike lanes, and then small smooth gravel completely off road where it is called the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail.
How many miles is the Buffalo to Manhattan section ? And where can I get info on that ? I ride about 8mph average. I've never bikepacked before. I'm trying to figure out if I should take Amtrak closer to Albany
Buffalo to Albany is about 340 miles, Albany to Manhattan is about 175 miles. If you are new to bike touring, we typically recommend being conservative and starting with a short section of a long trail system. Then you can return to complete the system in the future. I would recommend the Erie Canalway (Buffalo to Albany) to newer riders.
Just a general comment about using trains on this route. The Albany Rensselaer Amtrak station is particularly convenient for bicycles, as it has high level platforms and elevators, so you can roll your bike on or off the train easily. It is also very well served by trains that are equipped to carry bikes. You can also take Metro North (NYC commuter train) or Amtrak to Poughkeepsie, which also has high level platforms. Those trains only carry bikes outside of rush hours. Poughkeepsie is the location of the Walkway Over the Hudson bridge. Access to the trail is a short ride (5 to 10 minutes) from either station.
It took us over 2 weeks to complete our self-guided bike tour and we enjoyed (almost) every minute of it. Who else has completed the Empire State Trail and how long did it take you? Or if you’re still planning, how long do you think it will take you?
We just completed the Empire State Trail from Albany to Battery Park yesterday. Despite some rain on the first day (an all day soaker), the weather was excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed the trip with a nice mix of on road and on trail riding thru rolling countryside, apple orchards, Carolinian forests, rivers and streams. We stayed in hotels and AirBnB's each night so no tenting.
Thank you for your inspiration and video that got us going.
I plan to do this in mid October. How many days did you take? My plan is to do over 3 days. Can you make some suggestions on places to stay?
@@kvprahman1 Not sure we can help in that regard. We did the trail in 4 days and you are planning on doing it in 3 days. The places we stayed at will be different from your experience. Have fun though, great time to do it. Lots of fall colours.
Early in the video is Whaley Lake, in Pawling. The closer you get to the city the noisier the trail becomes, even with it being completely separate. I have ridden from Albany to the tip of Manhattan except for the short on road section between Yonkers and the GW bridge. But I did it in short sections over several years. We are blessed to have this gem.
These videos are great. Thank you! I’m planning to ride the 230 miles from Albany to NYC over 2 days in May. Your videos are super helpful in preparing to do this!
Hi Dennis. I am looking into doing this too from Albany. How did it go for you?
@@hamburger6154 I wasn't able to do it, but plan to this summer. Everyone I've talked to said it was great. But lodging is a challenge.
@@D-Ski-Bike-Kayak-Etc-cv5tm same problem. Hard time finding lodging.
lodging as in hotels/motels ? is camping an option at all? maybe its just me but I find it harder to plan these long rail trail trips than random road/gravel road trips. started planning the Empire State a couple times but could not figure out camping or hotels so I ended up just doing the GAP/C&O out and back. @@D-Ski-Bike-Kayak-Etc-cv5tm
Very cool. I'm hoping to ride this trail this summer. Thanks for heads up. 👍
Wow, that cool. I wish I can make it through
I start next week. Flying to Buffalo. Riding to NYC and back. Depending on legs…may hop train from Albany back to Buffalo.
Great job
Awesome. Thank you so much.
Getting ready to do this next month on my e-bike. I live in Albany. Thanks for the video!!!
Tks for the video. I'm SO psyched to do this trail. Ive only seen this video, the final leg of the trip. Noticed you carried no " stuff" . No, camping gear. Not even a change of clothes 😮. You are lucky to have had a support vehicle. I won't be so lucky 😢.
Awesome adventure!
I was wondering if you have ever considered the Illinois Prairie Path. Although it is another "Y" shaped trail, you can form a semi loop using the Fox River Trail. They claim it's the first rail trail in the country, converted in 1963... I grew up next to it and thought everyone had a bicycle highway running through their town, we didnt know how lucky we were. I'm riding the entire thing in spring of 2022, because I never have before... keep making great tours.
Thanks for the recommendation, we'll take a look at that:)
Wow, 13 days...great job!
Study up on where to buy food if camping. I'll need to research if trail has primitive camping trailside Albany to NYC.
What did u do for lodging in NYC?
Did u have a support vehicle in NYC?
Traditional touring cyclists (unsupported) wont have a vehicle, so need to research lodging/ food.
No legal camping trailside, past Brewster stealth camping becomesharder as the landscape becomes suburban.
Totally awesome. I just read about this trail this past fall and then you toured it. Great coverage, entertaining videos. Cant wait to see what your next project is...
Glad you enjoyed it!
Would you please post the entry point for this part of your ride. Is there parking available?
Great video's - thank you for sharing ! We are riding from Albany to NYC this summer. Do you have any advise or instructions for any specific areas that we need to be aware of ? For example, you note in your video that the start of the "on-road" section going into NYC can be a bit challenging. Any specific advice on that section ? Also, how specifically did you get across the Harlem River ? The routes we see are not specific and a very vague about that. Any help and advice you can give would be GREATLY appreciated !!! THANK YOU !
It will be a great trip! We tried to provide general insights in our FAQ videos. I found the mapping on the Empire State Trail website to be the best for following their preset routes into Manhattan. We should have a tour blueprint available for purchase this spring at our website.
You cross the Harlem river on the Broadway Bridge. I did this route into / out of Manhattan this weekend and thought the Empire State Trail signage would be more predominant. I got lost a few times (did not have a map). I did have a flashing rear taillight and I was surprised how courteous the drivers were for the most part.
Hey so I’m planning a bike tour and I’m debating if to go from Toronto to Montreal or from New York to Montreal I see that you’ve done most of the Montreal to New York trip do you have any advice is it mainly bike trails do I have to share the road a lot with cars where can I find this information I am looking for a spot where it’s mainly bike trails especially for friends were coming with me who our first Time by tourist
I have not ridden much of the Canada section, just from the border to NYC. There is a lot of road, yes. If you rode from Buffalo to NYC there would be more trail. It's mostly road from Toronto to Buffalo however.
Did you cycle completely through Kingston?
Some are asking how the route was through Kingston. Any bike trails or all road through Kingston?
Kingston had just opened a number of bike lanes when we were there. We were primarily on those routes and only had a very short section of road entering Kingston and then leaving it just before the Wallkill. It was an enjoyable ride:)
@@NobleInventionBikeTouring thank you
Noble is correct. This is my home turf. Kingston has a new bike lane section on Broadway, very nicely painted. It is a combination in the city of paved road and trail, bike lanes, and then small smooth gravel completely off road where it is called the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail.
How many miles is the Buffalo to Manhattan section ? And where can I get info on that ? I ride about 8mph average. I've never bikepacked before. I'm trying to figure out if I should take Amtrak closer to Albany
Buffalo to Albany is about 340 miles, Albany to Manhattan is about 175 miles. If you are new to bike touring, we typically recommend being conservative and starting with a short section of a long trail system. Then you can return to complete the system in the future. I would recommend the Erie Canalway (Buffalo to Albany) to newer riders.
Just a general comment about using trains on this route. The Albany Rensselaer Amtrak station is particularly convenient for bicycles, as it has high level platforms and elevators, so you can roll your bike on or off the train easily. It is also very well served by trains that are equipped to carry bikes. You can also take Metro North (NYC commuter train) or Amtrak to Poughkeepsie, which also has high level platforms. Those trains only carry bikes outside of rush hours. Poughkeepsie is the location of the Walkway Over the Hudson bridge. Access to the trail is a short ride (5 to 10 minutes) from either station.
@@roastawk Great stuff, thank you!
Where’s your gear/clothes? You have no bags. Lol
Audio is pretty bad. I can't hear you, but the music is way loud