Anyone here ever biked from NYC to Canada on the Empire State Trail? Sitting at a coffee shop and my edible just kicked in. Thinking it would be fun to do, staying at hotels along the way.
Nervous-Design437 on
any comments on these for a beginner? would love to get into bike packing this year.
bb9977 on
I live right near the Minuteman trail in Massachusetts and have rode it within the last week. It’s one of the two best trails in the state IMO. But you aren’t seeing much of any history unless you get off the trail. The Minuteman is a classic example of the “green tunnel” rail trail. You don’t really see anything from it, you have to stop and get off it.
What it does do really well is provide access to a bunch of different town centers (Somerville, Arlington, Lexington, Bedford) so it is very nice for locals as it’s actually a very fast way to get around or to commute. I have never really done a comparison but the path is so direct it might be faster to bike than take a car between some of these town centers… even before you consider our crushing traffic. Then it’s definitely faster, and way better for your mental health. If you visit Boston and are biking you can take the T to Alewife and then spend a very very nice day visiting all these towns by bike. You can also then take the (dirt) Reformatory Branch trail to Concord and it will drop you right off at the Old North Bridge, which makes it very easy to visit the site of the Battle of Lexington and then the Battle of Concord. Both of these trails can get you fairly close to the Minuteman National park, which is a very nice dirt ride along Paul Revere’s path, with tons of excellent historical markers on the trail.
Reynolds531IPA on
I’ll throw the pine creek rail trail in the mix. It’s a 62 mile track through Pennsylvania’s “Grand Canyon” gorge. I’ve done it many times. It’s beautiful.
Nodak70 on
Can’t believe they left out the Route of the Hiawatha; then again I guess he already one in the coeur d ailene area Andy didn’t need another one. Really an awesome trail with multiple original bridges and tunnels, including one very memorable 7000 foot long tunnel.
jlusedude on
Banks Vernonia is a really great trail system. I’ve ridden it multiple times and absolutely love it.
Ripacar on
New life goal unlocked!
Thanks for the inspirational article
Likeabalrog on
Can’t believe they include the highline. This is a nice trail for it’s length in a metro area. But it’s not good if you want to get on the bike and just get in a groove and go for several hours. There are way too many road crossings, lots of clueless pedestrians.
Checked_Out_6 on
What? No Mickelson trail? Elroy-Sparta?
mattfeet on
Ohio to Erie
albertogonzalex on
The fact that this doesn’t include the Union Pacific Rail Trail that takes you from relatively central Las Vegas all the way to Hoover Dam for some beautiful scenic southwest HS dessert landscape is a crime against humanity
11 Comments
Anyone here ever biked from NYC to Canada on the Empire State Trail? Sitting at a coffee shop and my edible just kicked in. Thinking it would be fun to do, staying at hotels along the way.
any comments on these for a beginner? would love to get into bike packing this year.
I live right near the Minuteman trail in Massachusetts and have rode it within the last week. It’s one of the two best trails in the state IMO. But you aren’t seeing much of any history unless you get off the trail. The Minuteman is a classic example of the “green tunnel” rail trail. You don’t really see anything from it, you have to stop and get off it.
What it does do really well is provide access to a bunch of different town centers (Somerville, Arlington, Lexington, Bedford) so it is very nice for locals as it’s actually a very fast way to get around or to commute. I have never really done a comparison but the path is so direct it might be faster to bike than take a car between some of these town centers… even before you consider our crushing traffic. Then it’s definitely faster, and way better for your mental health. If you visit Boston and are biking you can take the T to Alewife and then spend a very very nice day visiting all these towns by bike. You can also then take the (dirt) Reformatory Branch trail to Concord and it will drop you right off at the Old North Bridge, which makes it very easy to visit the site of the Battle of Lexington and then the Battle of Concord. Both of these trails can get you fairly close to the Minuteman National park, which is a very nice dirt ride along Paul Revere’s path, with tons of excellent historical markers on the trail.
I’ll throw the pine creek rail trail in the mix. It’s a 62 mile track through Pennsylvania’s “Grand Canyon” gorge. I’ve done it many times. It’s beautiful.
Can’t believe they left out the Route of the Hiawatha; then again I guess he already one in the coeur d ailene area Andy didn’t need another one. Really an awesome trail with multiple original bridges and tunnels, including one very memorable 7000 foot long tunnel.
Banks Vernonia is a really great trail system. I’ve ridden it multiple times and absolutely love it.
New life goal unlocked!
Thanks for the inspirational article
Can’t believe they include the highline. This is a nice trail for it’s length in a metro area. But it’s not good if you want to get on the bike and just get in a groove and go for several hours. There are way too many road crossings, lots of clueless pedestrians.
What? No Mickelson trail? Elroy-Sparta?
Ohio to Erie
The fact that this doesn’t include the Union Pacific Rail Trail that takes you from relatively central Las Vegas all the way to Hoover Dam for some beautiful scenic southwest HS dessert landscape is a crime against humanity