Empire State Trail

The Empire State Trail is now complete! This historic project connects New York City with the Canadian Border via the Hudson River Valley Greenway and Champlain Canalway Trail and Albany with Buffalo via the Erie Canalway Trail. The initiative, a vision of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced in 2017, not only created the nation's longest multi-use trail, but is also bringing substantial health, economic, and environmental benefits to the millions of New Yorkers who live along the trail.

Explore the Empire State Trail

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Note that current route information, including route location, trail status and surface type, represents PTNY's best understanding at this time. Always pay attention to on the ground conditions and follow all posted rules governing trail use.

Camping

The Empire State Trail offers a selection of camping opportunities for those seeking proximity to nature and the opportunity to socialize with fellow travelers. Camping is most plentiful along the Erie Canalway Trail, with the Hudson and Champlain Valleys having more limited options.

EXPLORE MORE

More Empire State Trail Info

HUDSON VALLEY GREENWAY TRAIL

ERIE CANALWAY TRAIL

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY TRAIL

Champlain Canalway Trail

Empire State Trail News

Exploring Abolition Along the Empire State Trail
Posted on 7th February, 23
Discover the challenging history of slavery–and the movement to abolish it in NYS–through the lens of the Empire State Trail....
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Two Rides on the Hudson Valley Greenway
Posted on 8th August, 22
Last month, Dylan Carey, PTNY Greenway Trail Program Director, took two days to bicycle two sections of the Empire State Trail’s Hudson Valley Greenway Trail....
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Trails Blog: Small Town Charm on the Zim Smith Trail
Posted on 6th May, 22
From history to nature to top-notch eats, this rail-trail off the Empire State Trail from Mechanicville to Ballston Spa has it all!...
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A Story Map: Discover Syracuse via the Onondaga Creekwalk
Posted on 1st April, 22
Explore the 4.5-mile Onondaga Creekwalk, hitting some of Syracuse's most famous landmarks along the way....
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Enjoy a local beer along the Empire State Trail
Posted on 11th March, 22
Check out some of the great local craft breweries to explore along the Empire State Trail!...
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PTNY Awarded Funding to Launch Hudson Valley Bike Tour
Posted on 3rd February, 22
A grant from I LOVE NY helps to usher in a great new cycling experience for the Empire State Trail....
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Get in Gear! Registration Open for 24th Cycle the Erie Canal
Posted on 21st December, 21
Parks & Trails New York's popular bike tour is back for another year. Registration is now open, so make sure to reserve your spot for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure!...
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TrailsBlog: Albany-Hudson Electric Trail, Part of the Empire State Trail
Posted on 13th May, 21
From rushing waterfalls and historic villages to apple orchards and horse farms, the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail, part of the Empire State Trail, is calling you for an awesome summer adventure!...
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Empire State Trail complete and open!
Posted on 7th January, 21
Nearly four years after Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed a 750-mile trail between New York City and Canada and Albany and Buffalo, the dream is now a reality. The Empire State Trail, the longest multi-use trail network in the nation, is officially complete and open to the public....
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From Paper to Pathway: The Life Cycle of the Greenway
Posted on 8th June, 20
Take a look back at three greenway trails and how they came to life after more than 10 years of dedication and persistence....
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Reimagine initiative to give new life to old canals
Posted on 13th January, 20
Reimagine the Canals Task Force report calls for $300 million investment to boost tourism, mitigate flooding, and enhance irrigation and recreational fishing and restore wetlands....
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With new plan, New York's trails future is brighter than ever!
Posted on 20th November, 19
New York’s trail-friendly future is looking good. On Wednesday, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed important legislation (A.5035B/S.4416B) that directs the Office of Parks and Recreation and Historic Preservation to develop a blueprint for future trails development......
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TrailsBlog: Wallkill Valley Rail Trail showcases Hudson Valley scenery
Posted on 14th November, 19
Along its run from Gardiner through New Paltz to Kingston, the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail runs along scenic lakes and rivers, provides beautiful views of the Shawangunk Mountain Range, and serves as a major spine of its regional trail network....
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TrailsBlog: A stretch of tranquility in downtown Syracuse
Posted on 7th May, 19
PTNY's new monthly TrailsBlog feature kicks off with a look at Syracuse's Onondaga Creekwalk, a 2.5 mile long trail linking downtown and the recently remediated Onondaga Lake...
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Trails Get a Boost
Posted on 8th January, 19
Trail projects from around the state received an early holiday present in December with the announcement of $2.7 million in state grants....
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Empire State Trail Rolls Towards Completion
Posted on 8th November, 18
As 2018 winds to a close, a number of projects in the Hudson Valley and along the Erie Canalway and Champlain Canalway Trails are moving forward in advance of the Empire State Trail's 2020 completion date....
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Another Gap Closed in Erie Canalway Trail
Posted on 9th October, 18
PTNY joined officials and trail advocates on October 3 to cut a ribbon on a new five-mile stretch of the Erie Canalway Trail....
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Capital Region Trail Crossroads Host Events
Posted on 9th October, 18
Waterford and Cohoes played host to the annual Bicylists Bring Business Roundtable and Bike-a-Round....
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The Empire State Trail: One Year In
Posted on 7th March, 18
It's been almost one year since the NYS Legislature approved $200 million for to complete the nation's longest multi-use trail by 2020. All across the 750-mile Empire State Trail route planning and design, and even construction, is well under way....
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Work continues on Empire State Trail
Posted on 10th November, 17
The temperatures may be cooling down, but the work to complete the Empire State Trail by 2020 is only beginning to heat up....
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Empire State Trail Taking Shape
Posted on 11th September, 17
Check out the Empire State Trail Draft Plan which includes maps of the proposed route from New York City to Canada, and from Buffalo to Albany. Get ready for the nation’s largest state trail network! ...
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