Niagra & Finger Lakes moderate (blue) mountain trails

[flyingjack]

Greetings. This year we're taking our RV/ebikes to NE; last several years touring NW for 2-3 months. Looking for suggestions for moderate (blue) single track or mountain bike trails around Niagra Falls and Finger Lakes or even scenic flat trails. I "try" to use TrailLinks; but, thought I'd ask actual users.

Probably looking at September unless good reason to go Aug or Oct; retired and very time flexible (notice I specifically said "time" flexible).

Also, if you have any suggestions for adventures/sites to see; please let me know; Niagra Falls top of list. From CO and traveled most western states but don't know squat about upper midwest and NE.

Thanks for any and all responses.
Jack

 

[HumanPerson]

Check out https://www.onxmaps.com/

 

[flyingjack]

Thanks, sent them an email

 

[major masingil]

Upstate New Yorker here. The Canadian side of Niagara Falls is superior. It has better amenities in every category I can think of, except being in the USA. If you want the most colors of fall in the Finger Lakes, the 2nd or 3rd week of October would be about the best time. If you come earlier, you'll still see fall colors, there will just be more green. If its a cold fall it will step up these timelines a bit. I don't know much about the riding in the western side of the fingerlakes region, but if its anything like the eastern side you won't have to look far for some riding. New York has a ton of places to do things outside. I hope you enjoy your time here. It's not a rugged as you're used to seeing, but the ice age worked some magic on the land. If you can find yourself a good length section of the Erie Canal Trail near where you are, I highly recommend spending some time riding on it. Its one of my favorite places to ride in the fall. I know there are sections of it in the Buffalo area. The best parts are outside of the metropolitan areas. The trail passes through a lot of old towns. You'll see some good history.

 

[flyingjack]

Appreciate info, thank you.

 

[jobtraklite]

I'll second the Erie Canal Trail.

My wife and I are both 82 and we just finished Rochester to Utica. In my earlier days we did Depew (SE Buffalo to Albany). The trail has improved considerably over the years.

Two features I especially like are

1. NY state highways all have excellent bike lanes so you don't have to worry about incomplete sections of the trail or taking a side excursion.

2. Amtrak accompanies the trail from Buffalo to Albany and carries bikes ($20). The Long distance Lakeshore Limited runs from Chicago to NYC and stops at Buffalo Depew (not downtown Buffalo Exchange Street), Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and Albany. The shorter distance trains stop at Buffalo Exchange Street, Rome, and Amsterdam, in addition to the above mentioned stops. In our most recent trip we traveled from Chicago to Rochester; and then Utica back to Chicago via the Lake Shore Limited.

We hate planes and driving; but have bicycled all over the country using Amtrak. Its bike service has greatly improved in recent years. I'm amazed that a thread dealing with retirement, travel, and biking acts as if Amtrak doesn't exist.