Your Next Adventure
Your Next Adventure
Empire State Trail Bike Tour
Trip Overview
Explore an amazing new bike trail through a wide variety of landscapes in New York State. Join us for a scenic cycling adventure that gives you more than 200 miles of fun riding — with a mix of freshly paved, pristine bike path, rail trails and quiet roads. Cycle from the skyscrapers of Manhattan through forests, along lakes and rivers … with a triumphant finish in Albany, the state capital. You can be one of the first to enjoy this full section of the newly finished Empire State Trail, which allows cyclists to traverse the state almost entirely on dedicated hike/bike paths and routes.
Cycle up the west side of Manhattan Island on the Hudson River Greenway and see the waterfront and famous buildings. Spin along the Hudson with views of the towering cliffs known as the Palisades … into historic villages and through forests and farmland. Then leave the bustle of suburbia behind as you enter rural lands and farm country. Highlights are rides on the famous Walkway Over the Hudson and across the iconic Rosendale Trestle.
Visit the villages of Rhinebeck, Hudson and Mahopac and the town of New Paltz — with chances to enjoy fascinating history, unique architecture and stunning scenery. Take advantage of optional leader-led segments through the urban areas of New York City and the outskirts of Albany — or ride them on your own. At the finish, you can explore Albany itself … or continue your travels home by air or train from there. Or let us give you a lift back to your car at the start.
Traveling to/from this tour: Those driving to the tour will leave their cars parked in Hawthorne at the inn and will be returned to their vehicles on Day 6. For those flying or using trains, please contact our office for suggestions on best travel times for arrival at the start on Day 1 as well as departure plans from the Albany area after the tour ends.
Itinerary
From start to finish, check out the route.
Meet the first morning either in Hawthorne, NY, or at Battery Park in New York City for a bike fitting and safety talk before starting your journey north on the renowned Hudson River Greenway recreational path that travels up the western side of the island. Enjoy views of the bustling commercial activity on the river as well as the Palisades — dramatic cliffs along the Hudson — on your way to Fort Tryon Park. There you have an option to cycle the quiet roads encircling the beautiful grounds of the Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art featuring medieval art and gardens. You leave the city on dedicated bike lanes for a few miles before stopping for a picnic lunch. Once regaining the bike path, you skirt through the more suburban areas before stopping in the village of Hawthorne for the evening. Enjoy a group dinner at a local restaurant.
After breakfast, you return to the bike path and travel through Putnam County — home of crystal clear lakes that provide New York City’s water supply. Catch sweeping views of the meandering Croton Reservoir as you pedal across the old North Country Trailway railroad bridge. For lunch, you have many choices in the lively lake-side town of Mahopac. Your destination for the evening is the quaint little village of Brewster, where you stay at Heidi’s Inn. Enjoy another group dinner at a restaurant near the inn.
On this day of primarily rural riding, you pass more lakes, rivers and farms while enjoying newly paved bike path. A trail-side picnic lunch is included. As you explore the southern half of Dutchess County, you also cross the famous Appalachian Trail — the hiking route from Georgia to Maine. Your destination is a quiet suburban area in Poughkeepsie where you enjoy another group dinner.
You get an early start to enjoy longer miles today — or to spend more time in our lovely destination town of Rhinebeck. Highlights of today’s bike path include the Walkway Over the Hudson, a fabulous cycling and pedestrian bridge spanning the Hudson River from Poughkeepsie to Highland, NY. From there, continue on rail trail to the fun town of New Paltz, where lunch and shopping options abound. More rail trail awaits after lunch, including a chance to cycle over the impressive Rosendale Trestle, a 940-foot bridge that crosses over Rondout Creek “a mere” 150 feet below. Cycling on, cross the Hudson again on the Kingston Rhinecliff Bridge Walkway before turning off the Empire State Trail to make your way to Rhinebeck, where you are a guest of the gracious Beekman Arms. The town is fabulous for strolling and is loaded with shops and galleries. You are on your own for dinner with many fine establishments from which to choose.
After a hearty breakfast, cycle north, regaining the Empire State Trail as you continue on quiet roads with intermittent sections of bike path and a section of un-paved path. One of the highlights today is passing through Annondale-on-Hudson, home to the attractive campus of Bard College with its Fisher Center Music Hall (2003), its facade an artistic triumph by architect Frank Gehry. Lunch is best had in the village of Germantown. Your destination today is another village that deserves some time to wander — Hudson, NY, a fashion, furniture, and foodie’s delight. Save room for dinner as you enjoy a final group get-together at a fine local restaurant.
Your “home stretch” ride today includes more great cycling north, including some woodland paths as well as lake-side riding near the town of Niverville. Choose a lunch spot near Nassau and Nassau Lake. Afterward, there’s a choice to either finish the ride all the way to the Port of Albany or hop in the van for the final miles. Once in Albany, those returning to the NYC area by train are dropped off at the Rensselaer Station. Those heading to the Albany airport can catch a cab or Uber, and those with cars in Hawthorne are driven back to the first inn.
Map
Dates & Pricing
Prices are based on double occupancy. Single supplement for private room is listed at the top of this page. A deposit of $500 holds your reservation for most tours. For weekend tours, the deposit is $300.
What’s Included
5 nights' lodging, 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners (you are on your own for 1 dinner in Rhinebeck), cycling routes with detailed maps and/or app-based navigation for those interested, plus bicycle, helmet, tour guides and van support, free week-long parking for guest cars in Hawthorne, NY. Free transfer on final day to either the Rensselaer Train Station (Albany) or take the van transit back to Hawthorne. Airfare not included.
Dates & Pricing
Prices are based on double occupancy. Single supplement for private room is listed at the top of this page. A deposit of $500 holds your reservation for most tours. For weekend tours, the deposit is $300.
What’s Included
5 nights' lodging, 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners (you are on your own for 1 dinner in Rhinebeck), cycling routes with detailed maps and/or app-based navigation for those interested, plus bicycle, helmet, tour guides and van support, free week-long parking for guest cars in Hawthorne, NY. Free transfer on final day to either the Rensselaer Train Station (Albany) or take the van transit back to Hawthorne. Airfare not included.
Inns
Where you stay along the way.
Gallery
Images from this tour. Click each to see it larger.
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