By Mark Stash, Editor
The Finger Lakes Region is blessed with a ton of trails where you can hike, bike, ride a horse or even travel by water. Trails also build communities. According to americantrails.org, “we believe that access to trails, more than any other single factor, helps establish quality of life in communities and creates a growing psychographic of healthy, active people. The growth of trails has been a significant contribution to the growth of the active lifestyle movement and outdoor industry across the country. Trails and greenways are one of the most potent tools in maintaining urban viability and appealing to a broad range of demographic groups to which quality of life is paramount when choosing where they live, work and play.”
One such trail follows along the path of the Erie Canal, which traverses almost the entire width of New York State. Writer and photographer Derek Doeffinger takes an in-depth look at how people use both the land trail and the canal itself (page 66). His photos capture folks walking, bicycling and even one man who rides a unicycle while juggling! Many people make a goal of bicycling across the entire length of the Erie Canal, while others are out for a shorter ride. One of my personal favorite sections of the canal run from Pittsford east to Bushnell’s Basin. Others love to use the water for their exploring – motor boats, kayaks, canoes, e-foils and stand-up paddleboards are among some of the ways to travel.
Another great trail system goes across the southern part of the Finger Lakes Region. The Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) is over 1,000 miles long and traverses through a variety of landscapes. One section of this trail is known as the Emerald Necklace (page 84), which consists of “78 miles of the Finger Lakes Trail, passing through some of the most scenic lands in the region including state forests, state parks, Finger Lakes Land Trust nature preserves, and New York’s only national forest. This stretch of the FLT is maintained by the Cayuga Trails Club,” states fllt.org.
This year, anyone who completes these 78 miles of the Emerald Necklace can receive a patch. It can be done in sections and at your own pace. Visit fllt.org/emerald-necklace-hiking-challenge-earn-your-patch-by-hiking-in-2026 for more information.
