19th annual Cycle the Erie Canal Tour kicks off July 9

Parks & Trails New York’s Cycle the Erie Canal is returning for its 19th year this July, just in time to celebrate the kick off of the bicentennial celebration of the Erie Canal. Experience one of the country’s premier multi-use trails as you cycle across the legendary Erie Canal corridor through iconic port towns such as Lockport and Brockport and places like Seneca Falls and Rome, where history was made during the last two centuries.

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Join more than 650 cyclists from dozens of states and as far away as Australia as you enjoy spending your day cycling and visiting small towns, museums, and historic sites. Marvel at the natural beauty of the rolling farmland of America’s original frontier and experience the 19th century engineering masterpiece that includes locks that elevate waterway more than 300 feet between Albany and Buffalo. Registration for the Cycle the Erie Canal Tour begins on January 3.

We’ll transport your luggage from each campsite to the next, so all you have to plan is your daily itinerary along our fully-marked routes. Our team of SAG vehicles also provide you with the peace of mind knowing that you’ll be taken care of if you need mechanical support.

We’re pleased to offer the following updates for 2017:

Return shuttle: for the third consecutive year, we’ll be offering riders from Buffalo and points west our shuttle from Albany back to Buffalo at the end of the ride, so you have more time to discover the beauty of the Erie Canal.

Erie Canal Trailblazers: Interested in cycling the whole tour for $100? Become a Cycle the Erie Canal Trailblazer and fundraise to help PTNY Close the Gaps in the Erie Canalway Trail. Registration is only $100 and includes a free Cycle the Erie Canal jersey, guidebook, and special recognition on the tour. Trailblazer registration also opens on January 3.

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Cycle the Erie Canal Jersey: A must-have souvenir from the ride, our 2017 Cycle the Erie Canal jersey is currently in-design and is sure to be a stand out addition to your cycling wardrobe. Stay tuned for the final design!

Other merchandise options for this year’s ride include a commemorative Cycle the Erie Canal pint glass, an ECT sticker, our best-selling guidebook, and new for 2017, a Cycle the Erie Canal hat. Visit the PTNY shop for more information about these items.

Four-day and Weekend Options: If you don’t have the time for the entire eight-day tour, consider a shorter getaway on the Erie Canalway Trail. PTNY’s four-day and weekend options fit the tour to your schedule. They are also great for families with kids and inexperienced riders.

In addition to these updates you’ll be glad to know that everything our past riders love about the tour – the scenery, history, and culture of the Erie Canalway Trail and the joy and camaraderie that come from cycling across New York State with hundreds of fellow riders – is the same. That means you are bound to have a great trip along the Erie Canal!

This video, filmed two years ago along the Cycle the Erie Canal tour, helps capture the reasons why so many return to do the tour again.

Mark your calendars for July 9-16, 2017!



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