EXPLORE THE EMPIRE STATE TRAIL
Cycle the Hudson Valley follows the route of the Hudson River Valley Greenway, now a part of of New York’s 750-mile Empire State Trail, between Troy and New York City. Riders cover about 50 miles a day on mostly flat terrain. About 85% of the ride is on off-road trail, with the remainder on public roadways with good shoulders. The ride generally follows former rail corridors with gentle grades, although as the route winds through the Hudson Valley there are numerous gentle hills, and some of the on-road riding includes some rolling hills. Along the way, the route passes through larger cities, scenic smaller villages, and rural farmland before ending with breathtaking views of New York City.
Turn-by-turn routes are typically released a week before the tour begins, in order to provide the most accurate route and account for any last-minute construction or trail changes. NOTE: provided routes can change depending on trail/road conditions. Riders should always follow official route markings and cue sheets.
DAY BY DAY PREVIEW
Monday 8/3/26
GATHERING & CHECK-IN DAY
Hudson Valley Community College
80 Vandenburgh Ave, Troy
- Optional “choose your own adventure” pre-ride downtown Albany along the Hudson River and beyond on the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail
- Enjoy our welcome reception featuring a wine tasting, live music, a community dinner and our opening welcome and orientation program
- Camp for the night to get rested for the week’s ride!
Tuesday 8/4/26
Troy to Hudson
Columbia Greene Community College
4400 Route 23, Hudson
- To start the tour we head over the Hudson River and pick up the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail.
- Roll along the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail stopping at the North Chatham Trolley Depot and the historic village of Kinderhook.
- Take in a spectacular view of the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains from Olana State Historic Site, estate of Frederic Edwin Church, one of the major figures in the Hudson River School of landscape painting.
Wednesday 8/5/26
Hudson to new paltz
New Paltz Middle School
196 Main Street, New Paltz
- Leaving our overnight site we travel through quaint towns, past Clermont State Historic Site, the former estate of seven generations of the Livingston family who lived on the site for more than two centuries. As well as through the campus of Bard College.
- Pass through one of New York’s newest state parks, Sojourner Truth State Park on the banks of the Hudson River north of Kingston
- Feel the cool breeze from mines used in the production of Rosendale cement, which helped build the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and U.S. Capitol Building, while riding on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail
Thursday 8/6/26
New Paltz to Carmel
Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park
Gipsy Trail Road, Carmel
- Departing New Paltz, we follow the route of the Hudson Valley Rail Trail.
- Cross the iconic Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, with stunning views up and down the Hudson Valley as you cross into Poughkeepsie.
- Stop at the Hopewell Depot Museum in Hopewell Junction to get a feel of the history of the former railway we follow for much of the day.
- On the Maybrook Trailway we’ll cross the Appalachian Trail on our steady climb over the ridge of the Appalachian Mountains.
Friday 8/7/26
Carmel to Dobbs Ferry
Masters School
49 Clinton Ave, Dobbs Ferry
- Ride across bridges that span the reservoirs that provide New York City with more than a billion gallons of water daily.
- Relax as you arrive in Dobbs Ferry for an end-of-ride social under the Pavilion at Mercy College.
- You’re only a short walk away from downtown Dobbs Ferry where you can experience local crafts and art museums.
Saturday 8/8/26
Dobbs Ferry to NYC
- Roll from Dobbs Ferry as you make your first entry into NYC via the Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx
- Cross the Broadway Bridge into Manhattan, where a short trip on surface streets will put you on the West Side riding down the length of Manhattan along the Hudson River
- You’ll see all the sites ending the Empire State Trail at Battery Park on the bottom of Manhattan with a view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island