Take Your Bike!: Family Rides in the Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley Region

The rides in this book are designed for people who delight in exploring unique or little-known places. The paths and backcountry roads allow you to safely enjoy the natural world and learn about our community and its history.

With this guide, you’ll be able to explore the Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley Region with ease and confidence. Each of the 40 rides is rated for difficulty and type of terrain, and described by length and estimated time required. In addition, you’ll know how to find the trails and parking.

Whether young or young at heart, you can enjoy the adventures this guide brings to life. All you need is a sturdy bike (no need to have a mountain bike) to begin your adventures. Enjoy the trails in all seasons. They’re equally well suited to hiking and cross-country skiing.

Here’s Your Chance To: -Ride through an abandoned Naval Training Base. -Ride tree-shaded trails where steam locomotives once hauled coal from Pennsylvania mines to ports on Lake Ontario.

-Explore the remains of mills and factories from the 1800s. -Experience life from a bygone era while riding the towpath of the abandoned enlarged Erie Canal.

Rich and Sue Freeman once masqueraded as corporate executives. In 1996 they turned their backs on the long hours, high pay, and empty feeling to spend six months walking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. This trek changed their lives forever. Since returning to civilized life, they've sold their house, written and published 5 books on hiking and biking trails around western and central New York State and Ontario, Canada.