Erie Canalway Trail
- 10 miles
- 3 to 5 hours
- 1 hour
- Dog-friendly
- Paved
Trail Overview
This 10-mile Empire State Trail section is a paved off-road trail welcoming bicyclists and walkers of all abilities (except the eastern one-mile section that is designated on the shoulders of busy roadways in Cohoes and Green Island). The section starts at Lions Park in Niskayuna, where parking and restrooms are available. The rail-trail heads east into Colonie, providing stunning views of the Mohawk River and passing by woodlands, wetlands, and residential areas. This section is also part of the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail. The off-road trail ends at a small parking area in the City of Cohoes, at the western end of Alexander St. From there, the EST route continues east for one mile on the shoulders of public roads, ending at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Drive and Cannon Street in Green Island (the on-road section is appropriate for experienced bicyclists comfortable riding next to vehicle traffic). Here, trail users turn south toward Albany, or north toward Peebles Island State Park and Waterford. There are many pull-off parking areas along this 10-mile section, as well as a large parking areas at Lions Park and the Colonie Town Park. While there are no visitor services directly on the trail, services are available a short distance off the trail in Cohoes and Green Island.