Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 17 hours ago
Hike or bike New York's Empire State Trail from New York City to through the Hudson River Valley, west to Buffalo along the Erie Canal, and north to the Champlain Valley and Adirondacks for 750 Miles of history and Erie Canal culture.
Join Darley Newman on New York's Empire State Trail — the longest multi-use state trail in the nation, stretching from Manhattan's Battery Park City to the Canadian border. Darley cycles, walks and kayaks alongside the historic Erie Canal from Buffalo to Albany and on through the Hudson Valley, uncovering 200 years of engineering, culture, cuisine and craft beer along the way.
What You'll Experience in This Episode:
✅ Buffalo Harbor State Park, Buffalo — Where Darley begins her Empire State Trail journey along the historic Erie Canal.
✅ Flight of Five Locks & Locks 34-35, Lockport — Thomas Callahan takes Darley on an underground water power tunnel boat tour and a ride through a replica 1800s Durham boat in the historic locks that raised canal boats 60 feet.
✅ Rochester Accessible Adventures, Fairport — Founder Anita O'Brien and Dr. Craig Lending share how adaptive biking and kayaking are getting people with disabilities out on the trail.
✅ Iron Smoke Distillery, Fairport — Former Modern English touring guitarist Tommy Brunett pours whiskey straight from the barrel in this repurposed Civil War-era warehouse.
✅ Faircraft Brewhaus, Fairport — Matt West on brewing German-style pilsners inside the historic American Can Factory.
✅ Sam Patch Packet Boat, Pittsford — Guide Wyatt Doremus takes Darley on a replica 1800s packet boat ride and sings the classic canal song "Low Bridge, Everybody Down."
✅ Seven Storey Brewing & Casa Larga Winery, Perinton/Rochester area — Craft beer atop the Erie Canal's Great Embankment, plus ice wine made by second-generation vintner Andrea Colaruotolo O'Neill.
✅ Mural Mania, Newark, NY — Founder Mark DeCracker and Army veteran artist Cory Reynolds on the murals preserving Erie Canal and rose-industry history while supporting local veterans through art therapy.
✅ Green Lakes State Park — Park specialist James Boyd guides Darley kayaking on one of North America's rare meromictic lakes.
✅ Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum — Pamela Vittorio shares the story of the replica 19th-century dry dock where canal boats were once repaired.
✅ Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site & Yankee Hill — David Brooks walks Darley along the original narrow Erie Canal channel and the 1845 Schoharie Creek Aqueduct.
✅ Biking with Andy Beers — The Empire State Trail's director rides the paved, flat sections connecting New York City, Albany and Buffalo.
✅ Black Girls Do Bike, Albany — Capital Region chapter founder Allison Joseph on building a community of women of color cyclists along the Hudson River.
✅ Champlain Canalway Trail & Hudson Crossing Park, Schuylerville — Guide Kate explores Champlain Canal Lock C5, the Dix Bridge, and the site where British forces crossed the Hudson in 1777 en route to the Battle of Saratoga, plus the Schuyler Mansion made famous in "Hamilton."
✅ Rosendale Trestle Bridge, Rosendale — Lisa Berger walks Darley 150 feet above Rondout Creek along a rail trail once used to haul cement for the Empire State Building and Brooklyn Bridge.
✅ New Paltz — The bridge made famous in the film "A Quiet Place," plus 18th-century stone homes at Historic Huguenot Street.
✅ Walkway Over the Hudson — Jeff Latonowiz leads Darley across the world's longest elevated pedestrian bridge, 212 feet above the Hudson River with views of the Mid-Hudson Bridge and Catskill Mountains.
📺 Watch "Travels with Darley: New York's Empire State Trail" on PBS & Streaming: darley-newman.com/travels-with-darley
🔔 Subscribe for More Travel & History Videos: darley.link/youtubesubscribe
🎧 Listen to the "Travels with Darley" Podcast: iheart.com/podcast/53-travels-with-darley-123513653
📲 Follow Darley for Exclusive Travel Content:
Instagram: instagram.com/darleynewman
Facebook: facebook.com/travelswithdarley
TikTok: tiktok.com/@darleynewman
Twitter (X): https://x.com/DarleyNewman
Hike or bike New York's Empire State Trail from New York City to through the Hudson River Valley, west to Buffalo along the Erie Canal, and north to the Champlain Valley and Adirondacks for 750 Miles of history and Erie Canal culture.
Join Darley Newman on New York's Empire State Trail — the longest multi-use state trail in the nation, stretching from Manhattan's Battery Park City to the Canadian border. Darley cycles, walks and kayaks alongside the historic Erie Canal from Buffalo to Albany and on through the Hudson Valley, uncovering 200 years of engineering, culture, cuisine and craft beer along the way.
What You'll Experience in This Episode:
✅ Buffalo Harbor State Park, Buffalo — Where Darley begins her Empire State Trail journey along the historic Erie Canal.
✅ Flight of Five Locks & Locks 34-35, Lockport — Thomas Callahan takes Darley on an underground water power tunnel boat tour and a ride through a replica 1800s Durham boat in the historic locks that raised canal boats 60 feet.
✅ Rochester Accessible Adventures, Fairport — Founder Anita O'Brien and Dr. Craig Lending share how adaptive biking and kayaking are getting people with disabilities out on the trail.
✅ Iron Smoke Distillery, Fairport — Former Modern English touring guitarist Tommy Brunett pours whiskey straight from the barrel in this repurposed Civil War-era warehouse.
✅ Faircraft Brewhaus, Fairport — Matt West on brewing German-style pilsners inside the historic American Can Factory.
✅ Sam Patch Packet Boat, Pittsford — Guide Wyatt Doremus takes Darley on a replica 1800s packet boat ride and sings the classic canal song "Low Bridge, Everybody Down."
✅ Seven Storey Brewing & Casa Larga Winery, Perinton/Rochester area — Craft beer atop the Erie Canal's Great Embankment, plus ice wine made by second-generation vintner Andrea Colaruotolo O'Neill.
✅ Mural Mania, Newark, NY — Founder Mark DeCracker and Army veteran artist Cory Reynolds on the murals preserving Erie Canal and rose-industry history while supporting local veterans through art therapy.
✅ Green Lakes State Park — Park specialist James Boyd guides Darley kayaking on one of North America's rare meromictic lakes.
✅ Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum — Pamela Vittorio shares the story of the replica 19th-century dry dock where canal boats were once repaired.
✅ Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site & Yankee Hill — David Brooks walks Darley along the original narrow Erie Canal channel and the 1845 Schoharie Creek Aqueduct.
✅ Biking with Andy Beers — The Empire State Trail's director rides the paved, flat sections connecting New York City, Albany and Buffalo.
✅ Black Girls Do Bike, Albany — Capital Region chapter founder Allison Joseph on building a community of women of color cyclists along the Hudson River.
✅ Champlain Canalway Trail & Hudson Crossing Park, Schuylerville — Guide Kate explores Champlain Canal Lock C5, the Dix Bridge, and the site where British forces crossed the Hudson in 1777 en route to the Battle of Saratoga, plus the Schuyler Mansion made famous in "Hamilton."
✅ Rosendale Trestle Bridge, Rosendale — Lisa Berger walks Darley 150 feet above Rondout Creek along a rail trail once used to haul cement for the Empire State Building and Brooklyn Bridge.
✅ New Paltz — The bridge made famous in the film "A Quiet Place," plus 18th-century stone homes at Historic Huguenot Street.
✅ Walkway Over the Hudson — Jeff Latonowiz leads Darley across the world's longest elevated pedestrian bridge, 212 feet above the Hudson River with views of the Mid-Hudson Bridge and Catskill Mountains.
📺 Watch "Travels with Darley: New York's Empire State Trail" on PBS & Streaming: darley-newman.com/travels-with-darley
🔔 Subscribe for More Travel & History Videos: darley.link/youtubesubscribe
🎧 Listen to the "Travels with Darley" Podcast: iheart.com/podcast/53-travels-with-darley-123513653
📲 Follow Darley for Exclusive Travel Content:
Instagram: instagram.com/darleynewman
Facebook: facebook.com/travelswithdarley
TikTok: tiktok.com/@darleynewman
Twitter (X): https://x.com/DarleyNewman
