A bike ride on the Black River Feeder Canal Trail

Forestport to Edmonds Road
July 18,2010


The Black River Canal was intended to be a  feeder canal to the Erie Canal and to serve as a highway for goods from the North Country. From 1848 t0 1922, a 10 mile feeder canal from Forestport to Boonville in turn fed water to the Black River Canal.

Now, this feeder canal serves as a recreational venue which can be navigated by small canoes and kayaks. The Black River Feeder Canal Trail, the towpath that followed the canal, is now a part of the North Country National Scenic Trail and supposedly one of the prettiest canal trails in the conference.

One Sunday morning, I was coaxed into going for a ride on the towpath. With my last bike ride almost 2 years ago (maybe even longer) and not one longer than 2 miles,  I was quite skeptical about my ability to do this.


Nevertheless, onward  I went.  The first hurdle was Rt 28. Although this stretch of our route was merely 0.6 mile long,  it was my first venture on a major road on 2 wheels and completing that segment without a mishap was liberating.  After 3.1 miles of riding, we finally reached Canal Road in Forestport and the beginning of the towpath.





One and a half miles later, a road barrier. The trail is now off limits to motorized vehicles.  This must be the official start of the trail.









The trail was beautiful indeed.  As it meanders alongside the canal, tall hemlocks border its opposite side, almost hiding the steep slope going down to the Black River.  Wildflowers, birds, lily pads, tall grasses on the canal provide convenient sightseeing excuses to rest our butts.  Not to mention my aching knees, quads and my carpal tunnelled wrists.

How close did we get to Boonville?

 Apparently, not close enough.  At the Edmonds Road crossing, this sign showed just how much we've overestimated our progress. So far, we have ridden about 7.6 miles and we all decided to head back home.  Hawkensville and Boonville will have to wait for another time.