There seems to be some confusion about who actually manages the trail. Is it Parks and Trails New York (PTNY) or is it the Canalway Corp?. I’d love to know!
Knowing who to contact and provide feedback to may lead to an improved trail, better camping options, maps, etc.
I love the Buffalo to Albany portion (I did the “Cycle the Erie Canal” event organized by PTNY so I can’t comment on NYC to Canada). The trail surface is great, the scenery, history, old locks, lovely small towns. But I agree with the comments here about the signage being poor as well as no paper maps online. I always found it strange that there are zero mile markers from start to finish (there were some blue and yellow old-school canal ones for the boats for about 10 miles out of the Tonawanda’s but then they disappeared). No signs saying you reached the eastern/western terminus in Buffalo and Albany. No one truly knows where they they start and end (although I believe it’s Canalside in Buffalo and Jennings Landing in Albany).
The camping situation really needs to be improved. Where are all of the Hiker/Biker primitive camping sites? There are only 5 sites (4 locks and a visitor center) across a 380 mile trail. There aren’t even that many paid sites, maybe two right along the trail? If you don’t get one of the five sites, they say you must contact a lock operator to get permission at other sites to see if camping is “permissible”. Not super helpful if you’re trying to plan your nightly stops. Why not just open them up?
Our local rail trail (Montour Trail) has three separate campsites and much of it was built by Eagle Scouts doing their projects. Mulched tent pads, picnic benches with covers, Adirondack shelters at each site, hammock posts, and fire pits. The trail kicks in with the rentals of the chemical toilets and also organizes fire wood to be stacked at the sites. I’m not saying this is the only way to do things but with engagement in local communities, things could be improved.
I think the Empire State Trail/Erie Canal Towpath should engage in some sort of “trail towns” program like they’ve done on the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) - Pittsburgh to Cumberland. Restaurants, hotels, paid campsites with showers, B&B’s, ice cream, bike repairs, etc. all listed on GAP yearly “Trail guide” (but up-to-date!). These places actively court cyclists passing through because it in their interest to court them. I often wonder if some of these towns along the trail realize what a recreational gem they have in their backyard, not just an historic one.
Here’s two good example of PDF maps they could emulate:
GAP:
https://gaptrail.org/system/resources/W1siZiIsIjIwMTkvMDYvMjUvMTUvNTQvNTIvNDUyL2dhcF9tYXBfd2ViLnBkZiJdXQ/gap_map_web.pdfC&O Canal:
https://gaptrail.org/system/resources/W1siZiIsIjIwMTkvMDYvMjUvMTUvNTMvMTIvMTc3L2Nfb19tYXBfd2ViLnBkZiJdXQ/c%26o_map_web.pdfThis trail could and should easily rival the GAP/C&O but it needs to build up some of the infrastructure to make it a better experience.
John
