Hudson Valley Β· Catskills Β· Finger Lakes

RIDE
UPSTATE.
BREATHE.

Rolling hills, river valleys, covered bridges, and foliage that stops traffic. Upstate New York is one of the East Coast's most rewarding cycling destinations β€” and one of the most underrated.

UpstateBikes icon
4
Major Regions
500+
Miles of Routes
Oct
Peak Foliage Rides
HUDSON VALLEY πŸƒ
CATSKILLS πŸƒ
FINGER LAKES πŸƒ
ADIRONDACKS πŸƒ
RAIL TRAIL πŸƒ
RHINEBECK πŸƒ
WOODSTOCK πŸƒ
LAKE PLACID πŸƒ
HUDSON VALLEY πŸƒ
CATSKILLS πŸƒ
FINGER LAKES πŸƒ
ADIRONDACKS πŸƒ
RAIL TRAIL πŸƒ
RHINEBECK πŸƒ
WOODSTOCK πŸƒ
LAKE PLACID πŸƒ

Cycling Regions

UPSTATE NY by Region

Hudson Valley

Hudson Valley Cycling

The crown jewel of upstate cycling. Rolling farmland, river vistas, the Walkway Over the Hudson, and charming small towns from Cold Spring to Hudson. Best fall foliage rides in the Northeast.

πŸ“ Poughkeepsie β†’ Hudson🚴 50+ routes↑ Rolling hills
AllTrails Hudson Valley β†’
Catskills

Catskills Mountain Rides

Serious climbing, deep forest descents, and zero traffic. The Catskills are a road cycling paradise for riders who want to earn their views. Woodstock and Phoenicia are the best base towns.

πŸ“ Woodstock Β· Phoenicia🚴 Technical↑ Challenging
AllTrails Catskills β†’
Finger Lakes

Finger Lakes Wine Trails

Glacially carved lakes, world-class Rieslings, and rolling vineyard roads. Cayuga Lake Trail and the Seneca Lake loop are iconic β€” stop for wine tastings and you'll earn every mile.

πŸ“ Ithaca Β· Watkins Glen🚴 Wine trail routes↑ Moderate
AllTrails Finger Lakes β†’
Adirondacks

Adirondacks & Lake Placid

Home of the Lake Placid Ironman course. The Adirondacks offer epic multi-day touring and mountain bike trails through 6 million acres of wild forest. North America's largest publicly protected wild area.

πŸ“ Lake Placid Β· Saranac Lake🚴 Epic terrain↑ Challenging
AllTrails Adirondacks β†’

When to Ride

UPSTATE by Season

Hudson Valley
Apple blossoms and minimal traffic. April–May is magical.
Finger Lakes
Wildflowers and gorges. Waterfalls are at peak flow.
Catskills
Muddy trails early spring. Roads clear by May.
Adirondacks
Late snow possible through May. Black flies emerge in June.
Adirondacks
Peak season. Long days, mountain bike trails open, stunning lakes.
Finger Lakes
Wine country at its best. Warm evenings, busy vineyards.
Catskills
Lush and green. Busy with weekenders but trails are excellent.
Hudson Valley
Warm and beautiful. Can be humid. Early morning rides best.
Hudson Valley
Peak foliage late Sept–Oct. The most spectacular riding of the year.
Catskills
Dramatic fall color, crisp air, empty roads. October is perfection.
Finger Lakes
Harvest season β€” vineyards at peak. Riesling and fall foliage together.
Adirondacks
Stunning color but season ends earlier. Snow possible by October.
Adirondacks
Fat bike season. Ice roads. Lake Placid cross-country ski infrastructure.
Hudson Valley
Cold but some roads remain rideable. Quiet and atmospheric.
Finger Lakes
Very cold. Lake-effect snow. Indoor trainers recommended.
Catskills
Snow-covered and beautiful. Road riding limited. Fat bikes viable.
🌿 SPRING β˜€οΈ πŸ‚ FALL ❄️ Best: Sept–Oct
Foliage.
Hills.
Worth it.

Upstate New York is where New York City cyclists escape β€” and for good reason. The Hudson Valley, Catskills, and Finger Lakes all deliver world-class riding within 2–3 hours of the city. Fall foliage season (late September through October) is peak time β€” plan accordingly.

AllTrails Upstate NY β†’

Local Bike Shops

FIND YOUR LOCAL SHOP

Hudson Valley
The Bicycle Depot

New Paltz's go-to shop with deep knowledge of local trail networks and road routes. Excellent repair turnaround and the best selection of gravel bikes in the Hudson Valley.

GravelRepairsTrail Intel
Find on Google Maps β†’
Catskills
Woodstock Bicycle Shop

The Catskills' best bike shop β€” rentals, repairs, and local route maps for the mountain roads and trails around Woodstock, Phoenicia, and Big Indian.

MountainRentalsLocal Routes
Find on Google Maps β†’
Finger Lakes
Ithaca Bike

Full-service shop in Ithaca serving the Finger Lakes cycling community. Best source for Cayuga Lake Trail info and multi-day wine country touring logistics.

TouringRoadWine Trail
Find on Google Maps β†’
Adirondacks
High Peaks Cyclery

Lake Placid's premier bike shop. Specialized in mountain bikes and fat bikes for Adirondack terrain. The authority on Iron Man course roads and backcountry routes.

MountainFat BikeIron Man
Find on Google Maps β†’