Erie Canal Bicyclist Hiker Tour Guide (2nd Edition, 2008 Revision)

Travel from the western terminus of the Erie Canal at Tonawanda (11 mi. (18 km.)) from either Niagara Falls, NY/ON or Buffalo to the eastern terminus of the Erie Canal at Waterford near Albany. As the wheel goes it is about 370 mi. (595 km.) Assuming you don't divert on to either the Seneca Cayuga Canal, or the Oswego Canal. From Albany you can use this Tour Guide to travel to Montréal, QC via the Lake Champlain Canal and Chambly Canal. The bicycle routes on both the NYS & VT sides of Lake Champlain are included in the maps and text. Or tour the historic lower Hudson River Valley by cyclotouring to New York City, NY from Albany, NY! Both the eastern and western shores of the Hudson River are fully mapped and described in this one Tour Guide! Any way you cyclotour (the text contains directions in both directions) its a scenic, historical and wonderful trip. The total romping distance included in this Tour Guide is 1175 mi. (1890 km.) on the tow paths and parallel rural roads of the Erie, Lake Champlain, Seneca/Cayuga, and Oswego Canals in NYS; the Chambly Canal in Québec; and now in the 2nd Edition, the lower Hudson River Valley routes from New York City to the Albany (Waterford) intersection of the Erie & Champlain Canals. Side Trips: 80 mi. (130 km.) Top O' the Finger Lakes; 70 mi. (110 km.) round trip to Lake Ontario via the Oswego Canal; and 156 mi. (251 km.) Vermont side of Lake Champlain. The New York side of Lake Champlain is included as the main route to Montréal. Approximately 25% of the Erie Canal tow path is best traversed on Mt. bikes with well touring patterned tires but not knobby tires. Perfect for Mt. bikepackers! Have no fear road cyclists! This Guide is complete. The described route provides road cyclotourists with lightly trafficked parallel rural roads to glide upon when the tow path has a dirt or rough gravel surface. You'll easily return to the tow path when it has a paved or stone dust surface.