cccorlew

Thanks for posting this! My wife and I have years of supported tours, but will be doing a short section of your ride on our own. It will be our first unsupported effort. We hope it's a tune up for our planned C&O unsupported adventure later. I love that you posted so may photos!

Papa Tom

This is the line that convinced me not to choose this option for a mid-October ride. I'm not a big fan of rail trails on which you can see the end of the trail from the point at which you make your first pedal revolution.

Is there another portion of the Empire State Trail you'd recommend?

Windsore

The Maybrook section is not arrow straight and it has some elevation, it is fairly new, the blacktop is smooth and sweet. I saw a bobcat while riding it. As for what section of the Empire State Trail to ride? What are you looking for? The trail is paved in different grades from NYC to New Paltz, A gravel railtrail to Kingston, A rolling hill road ride from Kingston to Hudson. Mixed gravel and road, with hills to Albany. West from Albany you are on mostly sections of various iterations of the Erie Canal. The North leg of the EST is a road ride with elevation.

PedalingWalrus

From Albany to the Catskills is more hilly and definitely winding and twisting. You may enjoy it. All the way to Kingston or Manhattan if You have the time.

Prowler 

I cannot help much here. The section from Brewster to New Paltz is the only one I'm familiar with. There's been plenty written about that.

Papa Tom

Hmmm...thanks, all. I have ridden many portions of this trailway over the years, but it seems the newer portions are not going to be worth the two-hour drive up there for me. I don't like bobcats or bears!

arsprod 

I don't know what it'll be like in October, but the Erie Canal trail was a really nice trip. One really nice thing is that most of it is close to Amtrak so one could ride almost any section then take the train back to the starting point.

Papa Tom

Yep, I did part of the Erie Canal in the Rochester area, and I've also done the feeder canal that runs through Glens Falls. Loved both of those rides.
I will only have Saturday and Sunday, 10/16 and 10/17, though, and I'll have to drive up all the way from Long Island. The Erie Canal will be a little too far..

Windsore

Park your car on the correct Metro North line, pick your distance, take the train back to the car. Poughkeepsie has the bike/ped bridge over the Hudson and a train station.

indyfabz

Rode the Hudson walkway a few days ago while heading south from Hyde Park to Cuddebackville. It’s nice that they have extended the trail to New Paltz.