LITTLE FALLS, N.Y. — Riders taking part in Parks & Trails New York’s 28th annual Cycle the Erie Canal tour passed through Little Falls on Friday, July 17, as part of the fully supported eight-day, 400-mile trek along the Erie Canalway Trail from Buffalo to Albany.
More than 500 cyclists from 37 states and Canada, ranging in age from 8 to 86, are making the trip this year, riding 40 to 60 miles a day and camping in canal communities including Medina, Fairport, Seneca Falls, Syracuse, Rome, Canajoharie, Schenectady and Albany.
Friday’s leg carried riders from an overnight stay in Rome toward Canajoharie, with Little Falls serving as one of the historic canal towns along the way.
“That trail love”
Dylan Carey, Director of Policy and Planning for Parks & Trails New York, said the ride had been going well by the time it reached the Mohawk Valley.
“We’ve got about 500 riders coming through from Buffalo. This is their sixth day riding, so they’ve put some miles under their tires so far, but everyone’s in really great spirits, especially since it’s such a beautiful day,” Dylan said.
“Folks have really expressed how much they’ve been excited to explore the communities along the way, and how much they appreciate it when the communities come out and welcome them in. They’ve really felt that trail love from the canalway communities.”
Smoke from wildfires had drifted into the region over the preceding days, but Dylan said it didn’t dampen spirits.
“Honestly, the smoke was a nice respite from the heat. The heat was rough, but everybody’s kind of taken it in stride,” Dylan said. “We made sure everybody was safe — we had masks available for those who wanted them. If somebody didn’t feel comfortable riding, we were able to shuttle them to the next campsite. Safety was our first priority for the riders.”
Dylan pointed to Thursday night’s block party in Rome as another highlight, and said the warmth of this year’s welcome stood out.
“I think we just continue to see the community stepping it up another notch, being more and more welcoming, more and more excited for riders to come through,” Dylan said. “Every year you can ride the trail 20 times, and every time you do it, it’s a different experience.”
Returning riders find something new each year
For Marshall, a rider making his fifth trip through Little Falls, the appeal of the ride lies in both the people and the history.
“It’s incredibly fun every year. I love the scenery, I love the people, I love meeting new people,” Marshall said. “The history is amazing, and it’s great to stop in towns like Little Falls and just get a sense of what things are all about here.”
Marshall said the Canal Side architecture in Little Falls left an impression.
“I just love the buildings right next to the water, and the amount of history that goes into putting up a building that was the place to be back in the day,” he said. “The effort made to restore those buildings and keep them up gives me a lot of appreciation for the folks who do that.”
Elsewhere along the route, riders got a look at history in the making. A volunteer effort to restore a ship at Erie Canal Heritage Park in Western New York caught several cyclists’ attention early in the week.
Zora, another returning young rider, said the tour keeps drawing her back for the people as much as the exercise.
“It definitely gets a lot better the farther you go, and it’s interesting to see the different towns come out to welcome you,” Zora said. “I’ve done it a few times now. I keep coming back because it’s fun to meet the people, and also because it’s good exercise.”
Asked about the most memorable sight along the trail, Zora recalled a ship under restoration.
“Definitely the giant ship they were building — I think on the third day, they were building this big red and white ship, maybe at the PM rest stop,” she said.
The rest stops that keep riders going
For Carolyn, riding alongside Zora, the rest stops are what make the long mileage manageable.
“It’s definitely the rest stops, because once we’re at a rest stop, I regain all my energy and feel like I can just do the rest of the ride and enjoy it,” Carolyn said. “But then, when I hear that there are two more miles, I get so happy that we’re almost there. At the same time, the last couple of miles always feel the longest, because you’re just waiting in anticipation for it all to be over.”
The ride continued through Canajoharie, Schenectady, and finished Sunday, July 19, at Quackenbush Square in Albany.
According to PTNY, the Erie Canalway Trail — now part of the 750-mile Empire State Trail — generates an estimated $1.87 billion in annual economic activity for the communities it connects.
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