Stratford, CT to Northern Tier

[tsk]

Hi,

Next year I'll do the Northern Tier (and part of the Pacific Coast), but I'll start off by staying with friends in Stratford, CT for a couple of days. Any advice on the best route to take to get from there to the Northern Tier would be greatly appreciated.

The trip will start in early May. Thanks in advance.

[JayH]

Well, the Atlantic Coastal Route pretty much goes along northern CT (I've done this section) and Stamford is right off I-95 in the southern CT.   I assume you want to go west on the Northern Tier as the Atlantic Coastal route actually connects to the Northern Tier, but in Maine which I would assume would be out of your way if you're going west.  

ACA has an Adirondack (ADK) loop that goes from Schenectidy, NY and passes the Northern Tier, I'm guessing near Plattsburgh, NY and also somewhere out west (I'm simply looking at the route maps which doesn't state cities so I'm just approximating).

So, basically, it looks like you should find a route from Stamford to Schenectedy.  

Once you go north of Stamford and away from NYC, you really shouldn't have a problem with picking any county road and you should check out CT's DOT as I believe they have a bicycle suitability map for the whole state.  NY does too, in a way, but they publish specific routes and some routes are actually signed with a bicycle sign and a number below signifying the route.   But I've done some riding in and around east hudson and CT/MA border and you really can't go wrong other than staying off the interstates (I-95, I-87, I-84, I-91), etc. etc.  Northwest CT, Columbia, Dutchess counties in NY are very nice places to ride and you'll find a lot of good places.

The one caveot is you'll have to find a way around Albany but I think that should not be hard.  Outside Stamford itself, Albany would be your next major urban environment between Stamford and Schenectady...  

Check this ConnDOT website and get the map:
http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?a=1380&q=259662

Let me know if this is helpful and if there is anything I can help you with...  

Jay

[FredHiltz]

Hi tsk,

I'd use the Hudson and Mohawk river valleys from near Poughkeepsie to Rome, then northwest to pick up the N.T. route westbound. The main roads between the cities take most of the traffic off the local roads, which are plentiful but might require some zig-zagging.

The straighter route through northeast Pennsylvania and central New York is seriously hilly, quite rural and pretty, but rarely spectacular.

Most campgrounds will not have opened in early May. Call ahead if you are camping.

Fred

[Peaks]

I suggest that you get the New York State bike maps from the State DOT.  Follow the Hudson Valley north to Albany, and then go west, either on the bike route, if you want to stay on pavement, or the Erie Canal tow path if you want to get off pavement and away from cars.