Canalside, Buffalo to North Tonawanda (15.8 miles)

Once the historic juncture of the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes, Canalside has transformed Buffalo’s waterfront into a year-round destination. Visit Explore & More Children's Museum, the Canalside Longshed, Buffalo Heritage Carousel, or Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park, take a stroll along the boardwalk, or enjoy a bite to eat at Clinton’s Dish. Picking up the Canalway Trail here, cycle east along the scenic Niagara River to the junction with the Erie Canal, which starts in the twin cities of Tonawanda and North Tonawanda.

Tonawanda and North Tonawanda

The “Tonawandas” are the western gateway for today’s Erie Canal. You'll find good coffee at Pulp 716 Coffee or lunch on the waterfront at the Dockside Bar & Grill or Remington Tavern & Seafood Exchange. Visit the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, where wooden horses were carved, constructed into carrousels, and shipped around the world from the late-1800s through the 1960s. Along the canal, Gateway Harbor Park offers live music, food trucks and special events on weekends throughout the summer.

North Tonawanda to Lockport (14.4 miles)

As you continue cycling east, a perfect halfway stop is Uncle G’s Ice Cream at 8.8 miles. From here, the trail to Lockport is paved. Follow it to Canal Street and the Lockport Locks District. Park your bikes here to walk to nearby restaurants and attractions. The Erie Canal Discovery Center offers a terrific orientation to Lockport’s famous locks. Continue walking to the Lockport Flight of Five historic locks and massive double locks 34 and 35. Plenty of dining options are also within walking distance, including local favorites: Scripts Café, Tom’s Diner, Lake Effect Ice Cream, Shamus Restaurant, and Lock 34 Bar and Grill.

Lockport to Medina (17 miles)

Today’s ride travels along the Erie Canal the entire way. You’ll cycle through farmland and orchards with big open skies and pass through several canal villages. In 12.2 miles, cross the Middleport lift bridge. Make an immediate right to take a water/snack break at Middleport Canal Park, which includes a public restroom. There are several eateries on Main Street. Stop in the village post office to see the impressive mural painted during the Works Progress Administration (WPA) era. Back on the trail, continue for five miles to reach Medina. Cross the canal on the Prospect Avenue Bridge and take your first left on Commercial Street to reach Main Street. Look for Medina’s impressive sandstone architecture and find good lunch options, including Avanti’s Pizza & Wood Fired Kitchen, Zambistro, and Rudy’s Soda Bar and Café.

Medina to Holley (20.8 miles)

Head back to the Canalway Trail. In 11.5 miles you’ll reach the Village of Albion, another charming village with distinctive architecture. Cross the lift bridge to take a spin through the village. Restrooms and showers are available in the small park on the village side of the canal. In 9.7 miles, cross the lift bridge to visit Holley Canal Park, on your left after crossing the lift bridge. Restrooms/showers are also available here. Follow local trail signs for one of the canal’s hidden gems: Holley Canal Falls.

Holley to Brockport (4.6 miles)

Ride the day's final miles to Brockport and cross the Main Street lift bridge into the village. This “Victorian Village on the Erie Canal” offers lots of charm and plenty of restaurants and shops. Start at the Brockport Welcome Center to get oriented or pick up a self-guided walking tour brochure. Sit canalside to sample local craft beer at Stoneyard Brewing Company, 48 Merchant St., or head south on Main Street for a burger at Bill Grays, a local favorite, and dessert at Abbotts Frozen Custard. Both are about a mile south of the lift bridge.

Brockport to Spencerport (7.7 miles)

Start on the Canalway Trail and cycle east. In 5 miles, you’ll reach the picturesque lift bridge which marks the tiny hamlet of Adams Basin. Continue to the next lift bridge at Union Street, which marks your arrival in Spencerport. Cycle across to explore this quintessential canal village. The Spencerport Depot and Canal Museum (just east of the lift bridge) is a visitor center and small museum housed in a restored 1908 Trolley Depot. Just behind is a supermarket and nearby Union Street Coffee Shop offers excellent fuel for the day ahead.

Spencerport to Pittsford (18.9 miles)

This next stretch of trail transforms from rural to urban as you enter the city limits of Rochester. Crisscrossing the city’s transportation network of railyards, airport, highways, and canal, follow the trail markers under, over, around, and through. In 12 miles, you'll reach Genesee Valley Park, a nice stop for a break or snack. Pay attention to trail markers here, as the Genesee Greenway Trail heads north into the city and the Canalway Trail/Empire State Trail continues east. It’s another 7.1 miles to Pittsford. You’ll pass Lock 32 along the way.

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Pittsford to Fairport (5.7 miles)

With the bulk of the day’s cycling done, take time to relax and enjoy the lovely and vibrant Village of Pittsford, where you’ll find shops, cafes, restaurants, and breweries just steps from the Erie Canal. Schoen Place offers delicious lunch options. Back on the trail, you'll pass the historic hamlet of Bushnell’s Basin (on the south side of the canal) and arrive in the Village of Fairport. Stroll along the canal promenade to see boats from near and far. Three local breweries, several ice cream shops, and plenty of restaurants and bars offer many dining options.

Fairport to Palmyra (12 miles)

Cycling east, the current and historic canal routes diverge. As a result, you’ll see historic stone locks, bridges, and aqueducts dating back to the 1800s alongside canal structures in use since 1918. At 7.8 miles, Macedon Canal Park at Lock E30 offers a glimpse of a lock in action. Continue for 0.5 miles to the intersection at O’Neil Road and take a short detour to see the impressive Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 60, built in 1841. Recommended for those with cross-breed or mountain bike tires (not recumbents or hand cycles), look for Lock 60 trail signs and follow the rugged grass path. Cycle back to rejoin the Canalway Trail at O’Neil Road and continue to Palmyra.

Palmyra Pitstop

The Erie Canal transformed Palmyra from a cluster of cabins along Ganargua Creek into a bustling village. Stroll along E. Main Street and browse shops, museums, and restaurants to enjoy the local flavor of this "Queen of Canal Towns." The Historic Palmyra Museum Complex at 124 Market Street includes a fascinating collection showcasing the canal’s influence on the town. Palmyra is also the epicenter of Mormon history. Joseph Smith discovered the golden tablets that became the Book of Mormon in 1823 at Hill Cumorah, only a few miles outside of town. Check out Muddy Waters Café, located at the Port of Palmyra, or try a heaping ice cream cone at Chill & Grill, 616 E Main St. The Village of Newark offers excellent food options as well.

Palmyra to Newark (8.7 miles)

Largely shaded and rural, the trail from Palmyra to Newark passes Wide Waters, an artificial lake created during the enlargement of the canal in 1918. It continues to T. Spencer Knight Park at the Port of Newark. Don't miss the beautiful murals under the bridge overpasses along the canal. An outstanding spot for coffee, lunch, or ice cream is Erie Shore Landing, run by The Arc Wayne, opposite the park on Van Buren Street. Cross the East Avenue bridge to explore the village. Try Craft 120 overlooking the canal to toast the completion of your trip with a local craft beverage.

For a longer ride on Day 4, continue another 5.7 miles to Lyons.