New York · Hiking

Erie Canal Towpath Community Connector Trail

Erie Canal Towpath Community Connector TrailPhoto: ke9tv, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
3.7 mi
one way
29 ft
climb
229 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Apr, Jun–Oct
best months

The Erie Canal Towpath Community Connector Trail is a 3.7-mile point-to-point hike in New York, about half a mile from the town of Vischer Ferry. It is an easy walk with a total elevation gain of about 30 feet, so it stays nearly flat from start to finish. The trail is open to both bikes and horses, which makes it a practical choice for riders and equestrians as well as hikers. The route has a slight rise of about 3% at around 0.4 miles, but the rest of the way is mostly level. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Albany show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 74°F, while winter brings regular snow days from December through February. Several other trails sit within a couple of miles. East Bluffs Trail is about 1.2 miles away, and Forts Ferry Loop and Power Line Trail are each about 1.4 miles off. Bird Watching Loop is roughly 1.5 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit Erie Canal Towpath Community Connector Trail

    Best months: April and June–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      33° / 16°

      12 wet · 9 snow

    2. Feb

      36° / 18°

      11 wet · 8 snow

    3. Mar

      45° / 26°

      12 wet · 6 snow

    4. Apr

      59° / 37°

      12 wet · 1 snow

    5. May

      71° / 48°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      79° / 57°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      84° / 62°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      82° / 61°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 53°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      62° / 41°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      49° / 32°

      11 wet · 3 snow

    12. Dec

      38° / 23°

      13 wet · 7 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Albany Ap, NY, 3.4 mi away at 312 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

East Bluffs TrailPhoto: Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

East Bluffs Trail

~2 min drive

0.56-mile loop at East Bluffs Trail in New York with 98 ft gain.

Whitmyer-Shaker Gorge TrailPhoto: Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Whitmyer-Shaker Gorge Trail

~3 min drive

0.49-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 128 ft gain.

HIKE

Champlain Valley Trail (Halfmoon to Schuylerville)

~15 min drive

18.76-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 449 ft elevation gain.

Power Line TrailPhoto: Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Power Line Trail

~2 min drive

0.64-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 61 ft gain

Champlain Valley Trail (Peebles Island State Park to Halfmoon)Photo: PunkToad, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Champlain Valley Trail (Peebles Island State Park to Halfmoon)

~13 min drive

5.50-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 372 ft gain and 312 ft loss.

Forts Ferry LoopPhoto: ke9tv, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Forts Ferry Loop

~2 min drive

0.86-mile loop in New York with 74 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Red Loop Trail

~8 min drive

0.44-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 81 ft of elevation gain

Bird Watching LoopPhoto: PunkToad, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Bird Watching Loop

~3 min drive

1.14-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 63 ft gain.

HIKE

Ballston Bicycle Path

~15 min drive

6.74-mile out-and-back bicycle path in New York with 447 ft elevation gain

Blue TrailPhoto: Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Blue Trail

~3 min drive

Short point-to-point trail offering a quick New York hiking experience.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors