Hundreds of participants of the Cycle the Erie Canal tour made their way through Niagara County on Sunday as they traveled from Buffalo to Medina.
Riders traveled 48.8 miles, following the Shoreline Trail from Buffalo along the Niagara River, north to Tonawanda. From there, the Erie Canalway Trail winds 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.
The Empire State Trail Town 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 Medina. After setting up camp at Medina Central Schools, cyclists could take a shuttle downtown to sites like the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame or State Street Park.
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. 600 cyclists will travel 400 miles from Buffalo to Albany July 12-20, visiting historic towns along the Erie Canalway Trail. This year, the tour celebrates the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal.