Head up to upstate New York along Lake Ontario and you will find the small town of Wilson, New York. While not a place you’d want to visit in the dead of winter, this quaint town is the perfect place to stay in August while exploring the surrounding area.

We stayed at the Daisy Barn Campground on the shores of Lake Ontario. This campground had a mix of long- and short-term sites and was the perfect location for all we wanted to do in the area. Plus the views of Lake Ontario at sunset were spectacular.

Welland Canals Parkway Trail

Our first ride of the week was across the border to St. Catharines, Canada. The Welland Canals Parkway is a 28-mile path along the Welland Canal. There are some inclines as you pass along the locks, but the views along this trail are pretty amazing.

The trail goes from Lake Ontario all the way to Lake Erie. Our goal was to make it the entire way. However, my bike was running low on battery, and the thought of pushing a 50-pound bike for a couple of miles held little appeal, especially at the end of a 50+ mile ride!

We did ride 46 miles, so that was a good ride.

NOTE: We were there in late July, and at that time you needed an updated passport and Covid Vaccine card and be registered on the ArriveCAN app. This may no longer be the case, so check websites to be sure.

Niagara Falls

Our next ride was along the Niagara Scenic Parkway Trail. This was a 24-mile round-trip ride, but don’t let the shorter length fool you. There is one incline to get you up above the river which is a pretty good workout.

We parked at the Kiwanis Park Trailhead in Lewiston (about 20 minutes from our campground) and rode along this beautiful trail all the way to the falls.

We packed a picnic and enjoyed tourist-watching by the falls while we ate lunch before heading back to Lewiston.

Erie Canal Trail from Lockport to Buffalo by way of Tonawanda

Our longest ride of 62.4 miles round-trip began at Lockport along the Erie Canal. We rode it to Tonawanda and picked up the Shoreline Trail (Empire State Trail) and rode into Buffalo.

This was a very scenic route along the canal. Again, we packed a picnic and had lunch at a park in Tonawanda.

Lockport Cave Tour

After all the riding, we decided to do a little exploring on foot. It was time to check out the Lockport Cave & Underground Boat Ride. Only 30 minutes from Niagara Falls, be sure to put this town and this attraction on your must-do list.

This tour is all about how the locks operated and were constructed in the 1800s. Check out the website above for more information.

NOTE: This is a seasonal activity and is not open in the winter. Check the website for more information.

One Last Thing

If you’re in this area during the summer, you must stop at Brownie’s Custard Stand in Wilson. There is no website, but you can look up the info on Google. As with most of that area, this restaurant is closed in the winter, but you’ll definitely want to stop there in the summer. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed!

Conclusion

There is so much to see and do in upstate New York. If you like biking great scenic trails, enjoying the scenic views of Niagara Falls and Lake Ontario, and touring historic locks, put Wilson, New York on your travel bucket list.

We’re Mike & Jennifer Skinnell, and together we are The Rambling Quilter. We travel the country full-time in our 41ft. fifth-wheel pulled by our F-350 – affectionately named Beauty & The Beast. Mike still works part-time, and Jennifer writes our blog, travel articles, and contemporary fiction. Our blog is purely for entertainment purposes. However, if you’d like to support Jennifer’s writing career, her author link is below.