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“Cycle the Erie Canal” Bikes Through the Finger Lakes Today

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The state’s largest multi-day bike tour will be passing through the Finger Lakes today. The 26th annual “Cycle the Erie Canal” bike tour kicked off on Sunday in Buffalo and will arrive in Albany on July 14. Organized by Parks & Trails New York (PTNY), the tour brings together cyclists between the ages of 2 and 85. More than 520 cyclists from 37 states will travel 40-60 miles per day, visiting historic towns along the Erie Canalway Trail.

Today’s tour includes 50 miles of cycling from Fairport to Seneca Falls. Riders will leave behind the flat, open expanses of Western New York and move into the rolling hills of the northern Finger Lakes, where they will travel through the canal communities of Palmyra, Newark, Lyons, and Clyde. Along the way, riders will stop at local museums and businesses.

In 2023, Newark was selected by PTNY and the New York State Canal Corporation as an Empire State Trail Town. The Empire State Trail Town Program recognizes and supports New York’s exceptional trailside communities for their demonstrated commitment to improving safety and experience for trail users. The 2024 Trail Towns include Little Falls, Amsterdam, Schuylerville, and Fort Edward. As part of this designation, PTNY provides technical assistance to improve the trail user experience and attract more visitors, drive economic growth, and enhance recreation in these communities.

After lunch, cyclists leave the canal corridor and head south and will end the day in Seneca Falls, the birthplace of the Women’s Rights Movement, where they will set up camp for the night and enjoy dinner at local restaurants. On Wednesday, they will travel from Seneca Falls to Syracuse.

For a rundown of the full tour, visit the interactive story map. Riders will spend the eight nights camping in Buffalo, Medina, Fairport, Seneca Falls, Syracuse, Rome, Fort Plain, and Schenectady, before crossing the finish line on Sunday, July 14 at Corning Preserve in Albany

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