FLCC> Ithaca to Rochester via Erie Canal Trail

[Owen Bailey]

Ithaca to Rochester via Erie Canal and Genesee Riverway Trails

I recently rode to Rochester, NY via the Erie Canal Trail and returned
including the Genesee Riverway Trail.  I enjoyed riding along the canal and
recommend it.  The canal trail heading west starts in Newark, NY a town
about 10 km west of Lyons.  The trip to a point north of Rochester was about
180 km and took nine hours.  The trail was in good condition for cycling
being mostly packed stone dust (recent rains meant no dust).  I had 25 mm
wide tires on a road bike.

Photos of return
trip<http://picasaweb.google.com/OCBailey/RochesterBikeTrip?authkey=1ukuk_QBo8M>.


Resources
NY Erie Canal (Canalway Trail) with map
http://www.nyscanals.gov/exvac/trail/index.html
Cycling Erie Canal
http://www.ptny.org/canaltour/
Book: Cycling the Erie Canal
8 day, 400 mile bike tour July 12-19
Genesee Riverway Trail (with map)
http://cityofrochester.gov/prhs/Parks/index.cfm?action=showvenu&type=trail&id=93

I rode up 89 west of Cayuga Lake and met two cyclists out touring at the
convenience store near the north end of the lake.  I had planned to bike up
89 then get on the bike path when I got to the canal.  How hard could it be
to find the canal and path?  One of the cyclists, Peter, mentioned that
there is no path for some sections of the trail particularly around 89.  I
wasn't able to find any useful maps online before I left and didn't have a
NYS map either.  He recommended that I ride to Lyons to look for the trail.
Once there however locals said the trail was discussed but never started.

The most direct route to Lyons was 318 to 14.  318 had a good shoulder but a
lot of traffic (relatively) with a headwind and not much scenery (unless you
like transmission lines) and 14 was okay but the shoulder ran out for a
small part outside of Lyons.

On the trail I enjoyed riding along the canal, being in the forest and the
peacefulness of being away from automobile and truck traffic.  The surface
was packed hard enough to make riding on it easy.  I rode up on Thursday and
arrived in Rochester in the evening.  People were out walking and biking
along the trail, eating ice cream at canal side stores or at outside
restaurants, gathering in the parks to listen to music in Fairport, and
practicing rowing on the canal in eight person crew boats.

For the return trip I rode to Lake Ontario at Charlotte
Beach<http://rocwiki.org/Ontario%20Beach%20Park>and then along the
Genesee River trail bike path that connects to the Erie
Canal just south of the Rochester city center.  That was also a fun ride
with a good trail for much of the way.  Photos of the Genesee River section
were taken on a borrowed camera that I don't have access to at the moment.
I will post an update when I am able to add them.  The photos now posted are
from the return trip and start outside of Rochester city center along the
canal.  When the canal trail ended I rode along route 31 through
Montezuma<http://friendsofmontezuma.org/>National Wildlife Refuge.

My father mentioned that the bridge across the mouth of Irondequoit Bay was
swung open (that is, closed to road traffic) all summer.  So the canal trail
is a good alternative route for me to ride north of the city.  Thanks to
people who provided information about routes to Rochester.  Please feel free
to ask me any questions about the trip or route.
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