The original Erie Canal which was finished in 1825 connected Lake Erie and the Hudson River. It was abandoned in the early 1900's and a modern Erie Barge Canal was built in 1928. This follows the same general route and is still in use; now only for pleasure boats. In the eastern part it uses the Mohawk River with dams and locks instead of being a separate canal, except between Cohoes and the Hudson River where a separate channel by passes the Cohoes Falls. There are three separate bike paths which hopefully will be connected all the way across New York in the future. In the eastern part of the state, the bike path which is called the Mohawk Hudson Bikeway follows the Mohawk River for 35 miles. In the central part of the state there is a 35 mile bike path between Rome and Syracuse which follows the original Erie Canal and is now contained in the Erie Canal State Park. In the western part of the state there is an 80 mile bike path along the Erie Barge Canal.

The state of New York has marked a bicycle route (bike route 5) following roads near the Erie Canal across the state from Buffalo to Albany. Click on New York Bicycle Routes 5, 9, 17 for an address to order a free map. This could be used to connect the path segments for a longer ride. There are also regional bicycle maps for some locations that the path goes through which could be used to plan loop trips using the path one way and roads the other way. Addresses to send for maps ae given here.

The New York Canals website has information on all the New York canals. It gives historical and general information and has an address to obtain a free map.

These paths provide an enjoyable ride for older cyclists like us or for people wanting leisurely trips with a lot to see.
For pictures and descriptions of a bike ride on the eastern bike path click on the green rectangle or here.
For pictures and descriptions of a bike ride on the central part of the bike path click on the red rectangle or here.
For pictures and descriptions of a bike ride on the western part of the bike path click on the blue rectangle or here.