Trail Sections
Explore the different sections of the trail. Plan your trip with our lodging guides and day trips.
About the trail:
In total, the Empire State trail spans over 750 miles and is the longest multi-use trail system in the United States. What began as a seemingly impossible project, after three years and 293 million dollars of state, local, and private funding; 350 miles of new trail had been created to connect a preexisting 400 miles of trails across the state. With the teamwork of a variety of state entities, local governments, and nonprofit entities like the New York State Canalway, the trail was completed in December of 2020.
Pick Your Section:
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Hudson Valley Greenway Trail
The Hudson Valley Greenway trail is a roughly 200-mile trail through the heart of upstate New York. Starting in lower Manhattan, it meanders through the historic Hudson River Valley, and ends in the state capital in Albany.
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Erie Canalway Trail
The longest section of the Empire State Trail is the 340 mile Erie Canalway trail. Following the canal, the trail cuts through central and western New York’s many “port” towns that grew alongside the canal. The Erie Canalway ends at Canalside Park in Downtown Buffalo surrounded by great food and entertainment.
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Champlain Valley Trail
Going north from Albany the Champlain Valley Trail climbs and runs 187 miles along the edge of the Adirondack Park, and skates along the edge of Lake Champlain before ending at the New York border with Canada.
Read what our community has to say about the different Trail segments:
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Dylan Rees
“I’m right near the T of the Empire State Trail at the junction between sections - so I’ve explored three directions of the trail.”
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Brendan V.
“I grew up along the Hudson River, so of course I wanted to start with the Hudson Valley Greenway Trail.”
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Jen
“My goal is to complete the entire Erie Canalway Trail from Buffalo to Albany.”
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Cameron Stepule
“I take smaller trips, a few hours at a time. Living in Albany now I usually hop on the trail from Jennings Landing at the Corning Preserve, or take the short drive to Waterford if I want a gravel run.”