Question 1

How much is a deposit to reserve my tour dates?

Accepted Answer

A deposit is required to secure your reservation; amount is based on the total price of your trip.
		
Total Trip Cost		Deposit
Up to $500		$300 
$501-$1,500		$600 
$1,501-$2,500		$800 
$2,501-$3,500		$1,000 
$3,501 and above		30% of trip cost

Question 2

Is the deposit refundable?

Accepted Answer

Excepting the listed cancellation fees, all payments for travel services not provided to the traveler shall be refunded; this does not include any non-refundable charges. 
Applicable vendor fees – Some vendors charge a percentage of their cost upon cancellation, the amount often determined by how early the cancellation is made. Any non-refundable charges will be assessed if a trip is cancelled IN ADDITION to our cancellation fee outlined below.
Cancellation fees
UP TO 90 DAYS prior to departure –15% of trip cost; plus any applicable vendor fees.
90-21 DAYS prior to departure – 30% of trip cost; plus any applicable vendor fees.
Within 3 WEEKS of departure – 50% of trip cost; plus any applicable vendor fees.
Cancellations can be made at any time; if you must cancel your trip, you must do so in writing or via email. 
Our full list of terms and conditions can be found here - https://www.nobleinventionbiketouring.com/refund_returns/

Question 3

How far in advance should I book?

Accepted Answer

Many riders book 4-8 months in advance, that said, you’ll have the best chance of booking the dates and rooms you need the earlier you book – so we recommend 8-10 months in advance. Groups requiring more than two rooms are also best served to book well in advance to insure availability. 
We require at least 2-3 weeks prior to start date to book a trip.

Question 4

When does the shuttle run?

Accepted Answer

GAP/CO/GAPCO - Most afternoon shuttles leave at 2 p.m., while most morning shuttles leave at 10 a.m. Day 1 shuttles can leave as early as 8 a.m. In most cases the shuttle will be assigned only to your group, so some flexibility with times is possible. 
KTY (Clinton start) – Shuttles leave St Charles at 8 a.m. and arrive at Clinton around 1 p.m. 
KTY (Rocheport start) – Shuttles leave St Charles at 8 a.m. and arrive at Rocheport around noon. Riders have the option to be dropped further along in the trail in Boonville if they’d like to bike a few miles on Day 1.

Question 5

Can you add a hotel night before or after my trip?

Accepted Answer

GAP/GAPCO – Yes. We can book a room for you in Pittsburgh (Courtyard Marriott Downtown Pittsburgh) or Cumberland (Fairfield Inn). In both cases the hotels are located right next to the bike trail and just a block from bike rentals and long-term parking.
CO- We can book a room for you in Cumberland (Fairfield Inn), which is right along the trail and near long-term parking. In DC we recommend….
KTY (Clinton start) – Yes. We can book a room for you at the Country Inn and Suites, which is right next to the trail and just in front of the shuttle meeting point. 
KTY (Rocheport start) – Yes. We can book a room for you at the Country Inn and Suites, which is right next to the trail and just in front of the shuttle meeting point.
OTET – We do not book pre or post hotels for this route, but there are many options for riders to choose and we recommend the following:
Cincinnati – For those parking a vehicle we recommend the hotels at Newport on the Levee (there is a Hampton Inn, Aloft, and Fairfield there) which is on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River. Riders can use the Roebling bridge which has a sidewalk to reach the Ohio side and the start of the route. Those who don’t need long-term parking may also consider the many hotels in downtown Cincinnati which are near the riverfront/stadiums.
Cleveland – We recommend any of the downtown Cleveland hotels, particularly those close to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame or near to the baseball stadium. Riders will use city biking infrastructure to reach the OTET route.
Columbus – We recommend any of the hotels around the Arena District/Convention Center, where the route crosses the city.

Question 6

How did you choose your preferred accommodations on the trail?

Accepted Answer

All accommodations are personally vetted by our staff and must maintain an excellent rating from our riders. Preferably lodgings are locally-owned/operated; easily and safely accessed by bike from the trail; and located near restaurants.

Question 7

How can I reach someone during my trip?

Accepted Answer

Our trail phone is answered daily between 7:30am-7:30pm at 844-424-5347. We can be reached via voice or text. In the case of a medical emergency riders should always call or text 911 first.

Question 8

When is the best time to ride the Empire State Trail?

Accepted Answer

The Empire State Trail can be ridden throughout the year, although we recommend May-October.

Question 9

What conditions can I expect?

Accepted Answer

Trail surfaces vary across the 750-mile system, but in general the Erie Canal is a crushed gravel or paved trail; the Champlain Valley is on-road and paved; and the Hudson Valley is primarily paved bike trail with some on-road sections (particularly between Hudson and Kingston).

Question 10

What services will I have access to on the trail?

Accepted Answer

The Empire State Trail runs through well-populated areas with regular access to towns and cities. Free water is uncommon but convenience stores and places to purchase food and water are frequent along the route.

Cell coverage is strong across the majority of the trail.

Question 11

Can I rent a bike for this trip?

Accepted Answer

Bike rental for the Empire State Trail system is limited. For most itineraries bikes must be rented out of Buffalo or New York City and then returned to the rental location or shipped to their shop.

Empire State Trail

Empire State Trail

About the Empire State Trail

What’s the Empire State Trail?

Riding the Empire State Trail

Trail Highlights

A Comfortable Pace

Riding the Empire State Trail

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