The Beat

$1.2 Million Project Will Improve 2.5 Miles of the Erie Canalway Trail in the Mohawk Valley

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is rehabilitating a 2.5-mile section of the Empire State Trail from the City of Little Falls to Herkimer Home State Historic Site, in Herkimer County. The trail segment is also part of the Erie Canalway Trail.

"The Empire State Trail is the ideal destination to enjoy our state's scenic beauty and extraordinary history, and we are continuing to invest in making the trail even more inviting for healthy outdoor activities," Governor Hochul said. "Outdoor recreation is a big economic engine for our state, and for countless vendors along the trail's path who rely on the tourism year-round, and projects like this help to ensure the long-term vitality of our regional economies."…

Bath, NY — On Sunday, August 8th, Mossy Bank Park will host the 2^nd annual The Hills on Fire Enduro XC which is a new kind of mountain bike race. The course is located in a young Hemlock stand with easy access for spectators and family and friends to watch. The course will be about 7-8 miles in length with a good mix of single and double track. There will be a 6 hour window to complete 4 laps of the course (solo riders will need to complete all four laps, while riders for two-person teams will need to do two laps each). The event is a fundraiser for the park. A Chicken BBQ will also be available as an additional fundraiser for the park. Award-winning Steuben Brewing Company will be on hand for craft beer tasting as well.

Long Lake, N.Y. - Long Lake Parks and Recreation has launched a Hiking and Paddling Challenge. The challenge includes a variety of hikes and paddles in the region stretching from Long Lake to Raquette Lake. There are 24 activities on the card with over 50 miles of hiking, 3 mountains, one fire tower, one Adirondack Great Camp and nine paddles enabling participants to achieve a variety of patches.

The challenge is modeled on Bingo. Participants will complete rows of five activities and there is also a choose your own adventure spot in the middle.

Poughkeepsie, NY – Dutchess Tourism, Inc. (DTI) announced the release of a new brochure designed to get people riding and exploring the recently completed Empire State Trail and encourage further exploration of Dutchess County’s extensive bike routes and trails.

The Dutchess County Bike Tour Guide brochure features a collection of six bike tours, two of which are a part of the larger 750-mile Empire State Trail: Rhinecliff, Rhinebeck & Annandale-on-Hudson; and WRS Dutchess Rail Trail & Walkway Over the Hudson. The Empire State Trail aims to promote outdoor recreation and connect New York’s diverse communities, spanning from New York City through the Hudson River Valley, west to Buffalo along the Erie Canal, and north to the Champlain Valley and Adirondacks.

Customers can bring their bikes for their off-train adventures for only $20

Washington, D.C. – Amtrak has expanded its Carry-on bike program for most Northeast Regional departures, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8, allowing customers to store their bike inside of the passenger coach in a designated space. In addition, Amtrak has worked with its various Northeast state partners to offer the program on its State-Supported trains. This includes working with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) for Keystone Service, the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) for Downeaster trains and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) for Amtrak Hartford Line trains beginning Tuesday, Sept. 15.

Canandaigua, NY – Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, the official tourism promotion agency for Ontario County, has created an Ontario County biking guide section of their website, VisitFingerLakes.com/Biking. The site has downloadable maps for biking locations around Ontario County, from hills to trails to rides with lake views.

Finger Lakes Region boasts over 75 hiking and biking trails

Pittsford, N.Y. - The American Hiking Society has designated the first Saturday in June - this year, June 1, 2019 - as National Trails Days®, a day of public events aimed at advocacy and trail service. The public is invited to hike, bike, run, birdwatch, clean up and more along public lands and trails, with numerous events taking place throughout the Finger Lakes region and even more hiking and biking trails available to explore on one's own.

Ticonderoga, N.Y. – The Ticonderoga Triathlon Festival will be coming to Ti on June 22 & 23, produced by Wilson Endurance Sports (WES). Held at Black Point Beach, the weekend consists of a Sprint Triathlon and AquaBike, Olympic Triathlon and AquaBike, Duathlon and Kids Triathlon. This race offers a wide variety of options for any type athlete of all ability levels. The focus is on fun and fitness.

Relay Teams are welcome for the adult Triathlons and the Duathlon, making this event great for those that aren’t ready to jump in big by themselves but want to share the fun with co-workers, friends and families.