Where does the Empire State Trail begin and end?

The Empire State Trail is a trail system spanning the state of New York from New York City to the Canadian border, as well as from Albany to Buffalo. At 750 miles, the Empire State Trail is the longest multi-use trail in the country.



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12 of the Best Places to Stop Along the Empire State Trail
  • Old Erie Canal State Park (Finger Lakes/Central NY)
  • Milton J. ...
  • The Met Cloisters (New York City)
  • Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruises (Greater Niagara)
  • Munson (Central New York)
  • Arkell Museum at Canajoharie (Central New York)
  • Old Base Museum Campus (Adirondacks)


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The 750-mile Empire State Trail showcases New York's special places, diverse history, and iconic landscapes.

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In Albany, the trail splits into two continuations of the Empire State Trail: the Champlain Valley Trail and the Erie Canalway Trail. The former heads from Albany to the Canadian border, terminating in the village of Rouses Point, while the latter connects Albany to Buffalo and Lake Erie.

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Cycle the Erie Canal This 142-page guidebook, updated in 2021, includes 38 full-color maps of the 350-mile trail route from Buffalo to Albany, plus information about nearby lodging, bike shops, visitor centers, parks, and tourism attractions.

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Trail Overview This 8-mile Empire State Trail section starts at Buffalo Harbor State Park on the shore of Lake Erie, where there is ample free parking, visitor services, and a formal “Gateway” marking the beginning/end of the Empire State Trail.

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Perhaps one of Minnesota's most standout trails is the 115-mile Paul Bunyan State Trail, which is the longest continuously paved rail trail in the country. The route starts in Brainerd and ends up north in Bemidji, which just so happens to be the home of the Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues.

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How hilly is the Empire State Trail? Different sections have very different elevation profiles. The Erie Canal section is mostly flat because it mostly follows the canal and rivers. The Champlain Valley section is more hilly because it mostly uses roads.

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There are limited locations along the Empire State Trail route where overnight camping is available: As depicted on the trail segment maps, in some areas state and private campgrounds are located within 5 miles of the Empire State Trail route.

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It's rarely anything other than busy but you can avoid long waits and jockeying for position on the observation decks by visiting early in the morning or late in the evening. For families with young kids, the best time to visit the Empire State Building is in the mornings before around 11AM.

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The views from the Empire State Building have a lot going for them, including clearer views of southern Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, but when it comes to staring down at the green lung of the city that is Central Park, Top of the Rock's views are far superior.

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WINNER FOR THE BEST VIEW: Depends on what you want to see/ or have on your picture: The Top of the Rock has more impressive views of Central Park and the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building is higher and has better views of Manhattan and Statue of Liberty, and of other US states on the clearest days!

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The most dangerous mountain bike trail in America is the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park, Utah. It's a 100-mile loop that winds through some of the most remote and rugged terrains in the country.

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The great state of Minnesota has made huge strides in its effort to become a world-renowned bike destination. The state is home to over 4,000 miles of paved biking trails — plus plenty more that are quite literally off the beaten path. Minnesota is home to two official United States Bicycle Routes (USBR).

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Raleigh, North Carolina, has more bike trails than any other city in our study, with 4.6 bike trails per 100,000 residents. That's more than 2.5x the studied city average (1.8).

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Enter the Trans-America Trail. The TAT is a 4×4 vehicle route that stretches 5,000 miles across the lower 48 while avoiding paved roads as much as possible.

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Shoreline Trail Description The trail traverses the west end of Buffalo and is located just south of the famed Niagara Falls and near the Canadian border. It ends in Tonawanda, where you can pick up two more trails for more riding: the Two Mile Creek Greenway and the Tonawanda Rails to Trails.

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