Erie Canalway Trail (Hertel Avenue to Tonawanda)
- 9.4 mi
- one way
- 21 ft
- climb
- 587 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Jun–Sep
- best months
The Erie Canalway Trail from Hertel Avenue to Tonawanda is a 9.4-mile point-to-point route in western New York, running from Hertel Avenue in Buffalo to Tonawanda. It is part of the Shoreline Trail (Hertel to Unity) and is rated moderate, with a total elevation gain of 21 feet. The trail is mostly flat, with the steepest stretch at about 9 miles in, where the grade reaches 3 percent. Bikes are allowed on this section, but horses are not. The route is best suited to a day on foot or on a bicycle, and it pairs easily with other outings in the area. Late spring through early fall is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Tonawanda show May highs around 70°F and September highs around 74°F, with July peaking near 83°F. Winters are cold and snowy, with January highs around 33°F and snow on about 16 days that month. Several other trails lie within a short drive. The Buffalo Blueway, a paddling route, is about 6 miles away. The Erie Canalway Trail continues from Tonawanda to Amherst, and the Scenic Woods blue trail and Scenic Woods Trails are both about 6.5 miles off.
Best time to go · Jun–Sep
Best time to visit Erie Canalway Trail (Hertel Avenue to Tonawanda)
Best months: June–September. 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.
Jan
33° / 17°
19 wet · 16 snow
Feb
36° / 17°
16 wet · 13 snow
Mar
44° / 24°
16 wet · 9 snow
Apr
57° / 33°
14 wet · 3 snow
May
70° / 45°
13 wet
Jun
79° / 55°
12 wet
Jul
83° / 59°
11 wet
Aug
81° / 58°
11 wet
Sep
74° / 50°
11 wet
Oct
61° / 40°
14 wet · 1 snow
Nov
49° / 31°
15 wet · 5 snow
Dec
38° / 23°
18 wet · 11 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at N Tonawanda, NY, 8.4 mi away at 578 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
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Gorge Rim Trail
~28 min drive
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Photo: Carrotflower Productions International, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Boy Scout Trail
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
