Where does the Empire State Trail start in Buffalo?

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.



People Also Ask

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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)


MORE DETAILS

Trail Overview The trail starts at the Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village in Amherst, at the intersection of New Road and Tonawanda Creek Road, and heads east along the Erie Canalway Trail.

MORE DETAILS

Popular section routes of the Erie Canalway Trail include Syracuse to Little Falls and Little Falls to Albany. Information about the many towns & attractions along these routes can be found at the handy Cycle the Erie Canal website.

MORE DETAILS

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!

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Take a Look. Last December, the Empire State Trail — a sprawling, 750-mile cyclist and pedestrian route that connects Buffalo to Albany and New York City to the Canadian border, forming what looks like a sideways T — opened to the public.

MORE DETAILS

Most of the Empire State Trail route follows “rail-trails,” which are repurposed historic railroad beds, and “Canalway trails” built adjacent to sections of the Erie and Champlain Canals. These trails are generally flat, with little change in elevation.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

We recommend visiting during our off-peak times, around 8 a.m. when we open and after 10 p.m. in the evening. If you come during these times, and it's not a peak season (Easter time/Spring Break, Summer months and the Winter holidays), it should take you about 30 - 45 minutes to get to the top.

MORE DETAILS

It is approximately 2793 feet to get from Times Square to Empire State Building.

MORE DETAILS

Continental Divide Trail Arguably the most challenging thru-hike of the National Scenic Trails, it traverses five states, ranges from 4,000 to 14,000-feet in elevation, and passes through alpine tundra, broad glacial valleys, craggy mountain peaks, and desolate desert landscapes.

MORE DETAILS

“There can be no doubt: The toughest day hike in all of the Appalachian Mountains is the Black Mountain Crest Trail (BMCT),” says Blood, president of the North Carolina High Peaks Trail Association. Lovingly named the “Death March,” this lung-bursting point-to-point summits six 6,000-foot mountains in just 11.3 miles.

MORE DETAILS

The Continental Divide Trail Considered by many to be the most challenging and remote of the Triple Crown trails, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is a 3000+ mile adventure from Mexico to Canada, traveling through five western states.

MORE DETAILS