June 08, 2018 Healthy Living

Get Out There: Where to Take Your Wheels

If you’re looking to swap your hiking boots for a bike helmet, New York state has a web of bike trails ranging from perfectly paved to ruggedly wild.

Whether you’re looking to just bike in for a pleasant picnic or spend a day traversing hills and valleys, there’s plenty to choose from in the Capital Region and beyond. Spend an hour or a whole day exploring the area on two wheels. It’s healthy, fun, and there’s no telling what you may discover.

Paved bike trails in New York = Paved bike trails in New York

Dirt bike trails in New York = Dirt bike trails in New York

Varied surface bike trails in New York = Varied surface bike trails in New York

Gravel surface bike trails in New York = Gravel surface bike trails in New York

Bike Trail Area Distance Material Trail Use Amenities
Allegheny River Valley Trail Allegany and Cattaraugus counties – St Bonaventure 5.6-mile loop Asphalt Multi-use
Auburn Trail Ontario County – town of Victor 9 miles one way Asphalt Multi-use Some sections feature shoulders and sidewalks
Ballston Veterans Bike Path Saratoga County – Ballston Lake 3.5 miles Asphalt Multi-use
Corning Preserve Capital Region – Albany and Watervliet along the Hudson 8.6 miles Asphalt Multi-use
East Ithaca Recreation Way Tompkins County – Ithaca 2.2 miles Oil and stone surfaces Multi-use
Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville Rail Trail Fulton County – Johnstown and Broadalbin 9.5 miles Asphalt Multi-use Dog friendly
Mohawk-Hudson Bike Trail Capital Region – Schenectady and Albany along the Mohawk and Hudson rivers 86 miles Asphalt Multi-use
Mohonk Preserve Ulster County – New Paltz 30 miles, connected to 80-miles of carriage roads Gravel Multi-use
New York State Bicycle Route, Route 5 Extends across New York state from Niagara Falls to Massachusetts 365 miles Roadway Biking (shared roadway)
Spring Run Trail Saratoga County – Saratoga Springs 1 mile Asphalt Biking and walking Wheelchair accessible
TR Gallo Waterfront Park Ulster County – Kingston .5 miles Paved Multi-use
Uncle Sam Bikeway Capital Region – Troy and Lansingburgh 3.5 miles Asphalt Multi-use Wheelchair accessible
Vestal Rail Trail Broome County – Vestal 3.8 miles Asphalt Multi-use Playground, picnic tables, and pavilion
Warren County Bikeway Warren County – Glens Falls to Lake George Village 10 miles Asphalt Multi-use Wheelchair accessible

Bike Trail Area Distance Material Trail Use Amenities
Catskill Scenic Trail Delaware County – Stamford 26 miles Trails in and out of small hamlets and villages Multi-use
Flume Trails Essex County – Wilmington 10.5 miles Trails across wetlands and through woods; elevations vary and some portions are challenging and hilly Multi-use
Grafton Lakes Park Trail Rensselaer County – Grafton 25+ miles Trails are on a forest mountain ridge that also has a lake with sandy beach; the trails are hilly and unpaved, with lots of rocks and roots Multi-use
Marbletown O&W Rail Trail Ulster County – Marbletown 8.7 miles Off-road trail through wooded area Multi-use
Tannersville Bike Path Greene County – Tannersville, Northern Catskills 2.3 miles Dirt and gravel Multi-use
The Albany Pine Bush Trail Albany County – Albany 18 miles Off-road path Multi-use
The Thacher Park Trail Albany County – Voorheesville 30 miles, single and doubletrack mountain bike trails Trails across miles of limestone cliff faces, rock-strewn slopes, woodlands, and open fields Multi-use Restrooms, picnic areas, and excellent views of the Helderberg Escarpment
Wilber Park Otsego County – Cooperstown 3 miles Wooded mountain biking trails Multi-use
Tallman Mountain State Park Bike Path Rockland County – Palisades 2.1 miles Partially paved biking trails through wooded uplands overlooking the Hudson and Piermont marsh Multi-use

Bike Trail Area Distance Material Trail Use Amenities
Champlain Canalway Trail Warren and Washington counties 62 miles, 22 of which are undefined and/or under construction Crushed stone Multi-use Historic towpaths and community attractions
Dutchess Rail Trail Dutchess and Ulster counties –
Poughkeepsie		 18 miles Paved with some sections of packed dirt Multi-use
Heritage Trail (aka Orange Heritage Trail) Orange County – Goshen 15 miles Mix of paved and unpaved trail Multi-use Wheelchair accessible
Hudson River Greenway Trails Hudson River 147 miles Mix of paved and gravel trails Multi-use Wheelchair accessible
Lake Placid to Saranac Lake Bike Trail Essex and Franklin counties – Lake Placid, Saranac Lake 8.6 miles Mix of paved and off-road mountain bike trails Multi-use
Mohonk Preserve Ulster County – New Paltz 30 miles connected to 80 miles of carriage roads Mix of paved and gravel trails Multi-use
Mountain-Coast Connector Essex County – Westport, Wadhams, and Elizabethtown 28 miles Roadway Primarily vehicular, watch for traffic on Routes 22, 9, and 9N
Onondaga Creek Walk Onondoga County – Syracuse 2.6 miles Paved Multi-use Wheelchair accessible
Onondaga Lake Park Onondaga County – Liverpool 7.5 miles Paved and off-road trails Multi-use Visitors center and dog park
TOBIE Trail Hamilton County – Inlet 12 miles Mix of paved and unpaved trail Multi-use
Verona Beach State Park Rail Trail Oneida County – Verona Beach and Oneida Lake 2 miles Mix of pavement, dirt, and grass Multi-use Picnic areas and camping

What are some favorite bike trails near you?

CDPHP® is committed to helping members stay strong and healthy—for life. Has cycling changed your life and health for the better? Share your journey, favorite moments, or any bike trails near you that we may have missed in the comments section below.

Kristin Schultz
About the Author

Kristin came to CDPHP in 2018 and is a communications specialist. She writes and edits content for use in internal and external communications. She has a background in journalism, and most recently worked for a local daily newspaper. Kristin has also been a staff writer for a monthly food and beverage magazine in the Midwest. She loves learning new things and trying new food. She will never turn down a bowl of noodles or falafel. Kristin likes to travel and explore with her husband and two children.

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