Empire State Trail


The Empire State Trail is a multi-use trail that was proposed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in January 2017. The trail would run from Manhattan north to the northern tip of Lake Champlain and also from Buffalo to Albany. The trail will join existing trail segments, which will retain their existing identity but will be co-signed as a segment of the statewide Empire State Trail. The trail will also link to other regional bicycling and hiking trails such as the Appalachian Trail, the Adirondack and Catskill Parks, the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, the Genesee Valley Greenway, and others. A segment near its southernmost part, on the Hudson River Greenway in Manhattan, is concurrent with the East Coast Greenway. The trail will be used for hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and in some areas snowmobiling.
Completing the trail will require 40 construction projects, to create new trails, and to eliminate gaps in existing segments. The trail is to be completed by 2020.

Route

The trail is organized in three main segments: the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail, the Erie Canalway Trail, and the Champlain Valley Trail. There is a proposal to extend the trail from its southern terminus into Long Island.

Trail maintenance

The trail will connect existing trail segments operated by a variety of state entities, local governments, and non-profit organizations such as the New York State Canalway Trail, Dutchess Rail Trail, Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and others. The trail maintenance activities will continue to be undertaken by the entity that operates each local segment of the larger Empire State Trail.

Trails included