Cycling the Erie Canal

The Rome Family YMCA is proud to support Cycling the Erie Canal by providing breakfast, shower facilities and a rest stop during their trek through Rome.

The Ride

You'll cover 40 to 60 miles per day, about half on asphalt or compact stone dust on completed portions of the Canalway Trail, the rest along public roadways with good shoulders. This is a great tour for riders of all abilities. Most days, the route follows the canal along level ground. There are a few rolling hills and two long, gradual climbs in the Mohawk Valley. Overnights will be at Buffalo, Medina, Pittsford, Waterloo/Seneca Falls, Syracuse, Rome, Canajoharie, and Schenectady

The Erie Canal

In 1825 it was called the "Eighth Wonder of the World," a man-made waterway that stretched into the western wilderness to touch the Great Lakes. This tour will follow the towpath along sections of the original Erie Canal and the "canalized" Seneca and Mohawk Rivers through historic villages, rural pastures, old locks and abandoned aqueducts. Today, the Erie Canal and the villages along it are being rediscovered as a unique and easily accessible corridor with a rich role in the history of Colonial America, the American Revolution, commerce, and women's rights.

Volunteer - Ride for Free!

By volunteering to join the ride crew, you can get a partial to full fee waiver and still be able to do some riding. If you are a non-riding partner, volunteering might be a great way to spend the week. For questions about volunteering, call 607-423-2769.