Fort Edward-Waterford Bicycling along the Lakes to Locks Passage


View Fort Edward-Waterford along the Lakes to Locks Passage in a larger map     Click to refresh map
 bike map symbolsThe 40 miles on US Route 4 along the Fort Edward-Waterford segment of the Lakes to Locks Passage will introduce you to the sites and communities along America’s first operating waterway, the Upper Hudson River and Champlain Canal.  The Upper Hudson River and Champlain Canal connect at Fort Edward and the features of this once-bustling commercial route are visible all along the ride to Waterford. The route follows the Hudson River the entire way, so enjoy the view and explore some of the many side trips and loops on both the New York and Vermont sides of the Hudson.

Communities along the way include Fort Miller, Schuylerville, Victory, Saratoga, Stillwater, Mechanicville and Waterford.

Biking along the Hudson River south of Schuylerville

Biking along the Hudson River south of Schuylerville

See the Lakes to Locks Passage website for all the details about this exciting All American Road, a designation given to those roads having features that do not exist elsewhere and are scenic enough to be tourist destinations unto themselves. The Lakes to Locks Passage website Biking page has information and links for the popular Lake Champlain Bikeways, along with a wide variety of other bike routes, bicycle paths and towpath trails along the 225-mile Lakes to Locks Passage.

Road Bike Opportunities

On-road or path rides and loops in the area include:

Family Ride – Glens Falls Feeder Canal Trail, a 9-mile trail connects Glens Falls and Fort Edward along the historic towpath of the Feeder Canal near the Hudson River and Old Champlain Canal. The Feeder Canal Trail follows one of the last surviving sections of the original 1820s Canal System.  also see map links at Warren County

Moderate Ride – Warren County Bike Path, A 17-mile paved pathway linking Glens Falls to Lake George, mostly along paved paths dedicated and signed for bicycle and pedestrian use.  click to view a path video

Training Rides – Lake George Loop, 100 miles around Lake George, with optional Tour Boat ride.

  • Sacandaga 85’er – A very scenic 85 miles loop out of Saratoga Springs and following a portion of Great Sacandaga Lake. Mostly rolling with a few moderate hills. Mapped on MapMyRide by the Saratoga Cycling Club and is one of the more popular ride in the area.

State Bicycle Route 9 is on or near the Lakes to Locks Passage, with this section of the State Bicycle Route 9 following US Route 4. The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) developed this and other statewide routes to assist experienced cyclists in planning long-distance bicycle trips. There are maps, mileage charts and service summaries posted online at Bicycling in New York State.

For the Lake Champlain area, check out these other road bike resources:

Family Path and Trail Rides

There are quite a number of bike paths in the vicinity of the southern segment of the Lakes to Locks Passage. Some are associated with the Champlain Canal Corridor, a 62-mile corridor which runs along historic towpaths from Waterford to Whitehall. Cycling Along the Canals of New York State (Rossi) is a great guidebook to this and other canal areas in New York State.

  • Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail – This 40-mile paved path is almost continuous except for a few gaps where the route is on-road. Begins in the hamlet of Pattersonville west of Albany and follows the Mohawk River east to where it meets the Hudson River, then follows the Hudson south between the City of Albany and the Hudson River, to the Erastus Corning Riverfront Preserve. see also Schenectady County
  • Warren County Bike Path – A 17-mile paved path, noted above.

    Feeder Canal Trail - Fort Edward

    Feeder Canal Trail – Fort Edward

  • Glens Falls Feeder Canal Trail – A 9-mile dirt path, noted above.
  • Zim Smith Trail – Stretching 6 miles south from the Town of Malta to the City of Mechanicville along the old D&H railroad bed. From the north, the trail crosses under the Northway-I87 and then crosses over Route 9. From there it runs through the wetland area southwest of Round Lake. Most of the trail is asphalt with some hard-packed dirt sections.
  • Ballston Veterans Bike Trail, near Ballston Spa and Ballston Lake – A 3.5 miles of trolley line converted to a bikeway and walking trail, this flat, asphalt-covered path is a great destination for the whole family.  The trail stretches for 3.5 miles between Outlet Road and Route 146A in the Village of Ballston Lake.
  • Old Champlain Canal, Waterford – A 3-mile dirt path along the Old Champlain Canal in Waterford. The trail starts near the Mohawk River and extends past Route 32 to Old Lock 5. Trail has been extended north for several miles north of Broad Street.
  • Champlain Canalway Trail, Halfmoon – A 2-mile section of stone-dust trail along the Old Champlain Canal in the Town of Halfmoon. Trailhead parking is available at the northern end. The town has plans to improve the entire six miles of trail within Halfmoon.

There also is a State Park and a National Park that provide great biking opportunities:

  • Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs – In addition to 15 miles of quiet roads and wooded trails throughout the park, there are also natural springs to explore and two pool complexes for a swim. With the recent addition of 345 acres along the Kayderosseras Creek on the southern boundary line, the park’s total area now covers over 1,000 acres.
  • Saratoga National Historic Park, between Schuylerville and Stillwater – A 9-mile one-way paved road loop with 10 wayside exhibit stops describing the Revolutionary War battles at Saratoga.

Mountain Bike Opportunities

There a number of mountain biking opportunities in the Lake George and Warrensburg area.  There is also a series of trails right in Glens Falls at Crandall Park. The following links provide some of the details, but be sure to check in with local bike shops for current conditions.

  • Shelving Rock Road – Road and trails in the Lake George Wild Forest can be extremely hilly. The Upper Hogtown Parking Area is 1000 feet higher in elevation than the shoreline of the lake. There are former carriage roads that offer some easier riding.
  • Cole’s Woods Trails at Crandall Park in Glens Falls provides some family-friendly mountain biking.
  • Woods Hollow Preserve, south of Saratoga Springs in the Town of Milton – There are several, well-maintained trails to choose from, with the majority of them consisting of former logging roads that meander over rolling terrain and sandy soils. There is a trailhead kiosk displaying a map of the preserve. The extensive trails are well marked with colored, plastic discs with interpretive signs along the way.

Not to Miss

  • a swim in Lake George
  • The Hyde Collection, Glens Falls – Art Museum complex and historic house.
  • Old Fort House Museum, Fort Edward – Dating from 1772, and hosting George Washington among others, the Old Fort House contains authentic furnishings from the period.
  • Rogers Island Visitors Center, Fort Edward – Features displays and artifacts from the area’s earliest known Native American inhabitants.
  • Saratoga Monument, south of Schuylerville – Centennial celebrations for the Revolutionary War inspired local citizens to build the 155-foot granite monument in honor of local Revolutionary War victories, panoramic view of the surround countryside.
  • Saratoga National Historic Park, north of Stillwater – Telling the story of the Revolutionary War battles at Saratoga, National Park Service.
  • Waterford Visitor Center – Views and interpretive history where the Hudson, Mohawk and Erie Canal meet, just before the bridge to Peebles Island.
    also see Lakes to Locks Passage for many more points of interest along this route

Bike Events in the Area

Bike Shops Nearby

Visitor Information

Check in with Chamber offices, bike shops and other sports shops in the area to get the latest information and review your route with someone knowledgeable of the area. When biking, dress for the weather and carry water, snacks, map, repair kit and cell phone. When biking in rural areas, services could be few and far between, and cell phone service may not always be available. See the Before You Ride notices in the bottom section of this website, as well as the Disclaimer notice. See the Before You Ride notices in the bottom section of this website, as well as the Disclaimer notice.

Below are some of the sights along the way – scroll over an image to see its title, or click an image to enlarge it and then move through the entire gallery (click on one of the large images to return here, instead of using the “back” arrow).

 

 

Warren County Bikeway Glens Falls Lake George Village