The Empire State Trail Town program recognizes and supports New York’s exceptional trailside communities that have–through a competitive application process–demonstrated a singular commitment to embracing the Empire State Trail as a core asset around which future planning and investment should be oriented.
The popular program, now entering its fourth year, is designed to build capacity and guide communities through the process of identifying ways they can capitalize on their location along the longest single-state, multi-use trail in the nation–the Empire State Trail. The goals of the ten-month program are twofold: to increase opportunities for residents to access high-quality recreational opportunities and to create trail-friendly destinations where visitors want to stay, explore, and spend.
Throughout the year, PTNY will assist the selected communities, with developing a network of local partners committed to the Trail Town initiative. Additional assistance will include an assessment of current conditions, strengths, and areas for improvement, public workshops to educate business owners, community leaders, and others about the needs of trail users, trail use research, and promotion of the selected communities as must-visit destinations along the Empire State Trail. The year will culminate with a final set of recommendations for each community to use as a road map to guide future Trail Town work.
This year, PTNY will work with three communities along the Erie Canalway Trail that are looking to build on existing planning efforts and coalitions of partners that are invested in enhancing their communities as walkable, bikeable trail-friendly hubs. Meet our newest towns!
Canajoharie
Canajoharie is a welcoming Mohawk Valley trail town that offers a perfect blend of outdoor adventure and local amenities for trail users. The Empire State Trail runs directly through the heart of the village, with easy access to downtown businesses where trail users can stop for a pick-me-up coffee or burrito for lunch. The village also boasts high-quality parks that offer scenic views, hiking trails, and picnic areas. Visitors can explore cultural sites such as the Arkell Library and Museum, and enjoy seasonal events like Cycle the Erie Canal and the Canajoharie Street Fair. Canajoharie is focused on enhancing its trail-friendly environment through thoughtful planning and development, ensuring that new developments integrate green spaces with direct access to the trail system. With these exciting projects underway, Canajoharie continues to position itself as an ideal destination for cyclists, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
Clyde
Clyde is a vibrant trail town, inviting cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts to stop and explore. The trail runs directly through the downtown that boasts a charming village park, and popular food and drink options like ice cream, pizza, and diner fare. Lauraville Landing Park offers restrooms, a drinking fountain, and camping facilities at Lauraville Loop. Clyde also offers bike racks throughout the village, and a local fire department with showers available by request for cyclists. Each July, Clyde becomes a favorite stop for Cycle the Erie cyclists, who enjoy live music, free snacks, bike services, and a friendly community atmosphere. The village hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the River Rock Music Festival and the Clyde Festival, making it a prime destination for trail users.
Cayuga County Canal Communities
The 12-mile stretch of the Empire State Trail in Cayuga County connecting Montezuma, Port Byron, and Weedsport is a thriving hub of trail services and amenities, offering cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts easy access to a variety of businesses and historic sites. The trail runs directly through the charming business districts of these three towns, where visitors can enjoy farm-to-table dining, local breweries, coffee shops, and local attractions, all without leaving the trail. Along the route, trail users can explore significant canal history, including biking through a lock at the Erie Canal Heritage Park or explore the remains of the impressive Richmond Aqueduct. With welcoming accommodations including both hotels and local campgrounds, this stretch of the trail has everything a visiting trail user might need. The communities along the route are committed to preserving their rich canal heritage while enhancing the trail experience, making it a model for collaboration and sustainable development for trail towns.
Since the completion of the Empire State Trail in 2020, the Erie and Champlain Canalway Trails have only grown in popularity, attracting visitors from all over the nation and the world. Trail use figures from 2023 estimate that the Canalway Trail system now draws nearly 4 million visits per year. And with these visits comes a massive economic impact, especially from visitors who stay overnight in trail communities. A 2014 economic impact study of the Erie Canalway Trail reveals that the trail generates over $250 million in annual economic impact. The Trail Town program helps communities leverage the trail for sustainable economic development through strategies that elevate the trail as a destination and that entice visitors off the trail and into these communities.
By being selected to participate in the Empire State Trail Town program, Canajoharie, Clyde, and Montezuma-Port Byron-Weedsport are joining a network of communities along the Empire State Trail that recognize the value of the trail as both an enhancement to quality of life for residents and driver of economic growth.
To learn more about Empire State Trail Towns, visit ptny.org/ESTT