600 cyclists ride from Buffalo to Medina on 400-mile tour

Celebrating bicentennial of Erie Canal, ‘Cycle the Erie Canal’ travels from Buffalo to Albany July 12-20

Parks & Trails New York Press Release & Photo

The state’s largest multi-day bike tour traveled 48.8 miles from Buffalo to Medina on Sunday, July 13. Organized by Parks & Trails New York (PTNY), the 27th annual “Cycle the Erie Canal” bike tour brings together cyclists from 37 states between the ages of 8 and 84. Six-hundred cyclists will travel 400 miles from Buffalo to Albany from July 12-20, visiting historic towns along the Erie Canalway Trail. This year, the tour celebrates the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal.

Day 1 of the tour followed the Shoreline Trail from Buffalo along the Niagara River, north to Tonawanda, where cyclists could view the modern western entrance of the Erie Canal. From there, the Erie Canalway Trail winded east through Amherst and into Pendleton. where many riders stopped for ice cream at Uncle G’s, a PTNY certified Bike Friendly New York business. Around lunchtime, cyclists arrived in Lockport, a 2023 Empire State Trail Town, where tour participants had the opportunity to take a boat ride through Lockport’s iconic “Flight of Five” locks.

In 2023, Lockport was selected by PTNY and the New York State Canal Corp. as an Empire State Trail Town. The program recognizes and supports New York’s exceptional trailside communities for their demonstrated commitment to improving safety and experience for trail users. The 2025 trail towns include Canajoharie, Clyde and Cayuga County canal communities. As part of this designation, PTNY provides technical assistance to improve the trail user experience, attract more visitors, drive economic growth, and enhance recreation in these communities.

Leaving Lockport, cyclists traveled through Western New York, stopping in Middleport and finishing the day in the historic community of Medina. After setting up camp at Medina Central Schools, cyclists could take the shuttle downtown to sites like the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame or State Street Park.

View the full route.

The New York State Canal Corp., a subsidiary of the New York Power Authority, has partnered with Parks & Trails New York on “Cycle the Erie Canal” since its inception in 1998. The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is the premier heritage sponsor of the event. Ten regional tourism agencies also sponsor the ride.

Parks & Trails New York is New York’s leading statewide advocate for parks, trails and public lands. Since its founding in 1985, PTNY has fought to improve the health and wellbeing of all New Yorkers through the enjoyment of statewide green spaces. PTNY is the leading voice for the protection and expansion of New York’s incredible state park system and multiuse trail network, including more than 1,500 miles of greenways, bike paths and river walks. Learn more at www.ptny.org.