Clarence Pathways:
New York
Trail Map
  • Get Personalized Driving Directions!
  • Find Trail Side Shops with Google Search!
  • See Users’ Geocoded Photos!
  • Get a Print-Friendly Map and Get Outdoors!
Description:
Four trails make up the Clarence Pathways trail system: the 3.5-mile West Shore Trail, 4.8-mile Newstead Bike Path, 6.1-mile Clarence Bike Trail and 2.3-mile Peanut Line Trail. The trails radiate around the Buffalo suburbs of Clarence, Akron and Amherst.

The 3.5-mile West Shore Trail in Clarence follows the West Shore & Buffalo Railroad corridor. This same corridor saw the very first passenger train stop in Clarence en route to Buffalo from Syracuse, on January 1, 1884. The paved West Shore Trail travels the rural outskirts of Clarence and connects a number of the town's parks with residential areas and the downtown. Traveling east the trail is bookended by rural farms and fields. In Clarence Town Park the trail shares a low-volume local road for 0.8 mile that provides access to the park and the park maintenance facility.

As the trail passes through downtown Clarence, bike route signs keep you on track. Look for bike lanes on the sidewalk and brick pavers at street crossings. The West Shore Trail returns to a rural setting until reaching Davidson Road. Here the trail becomes the Newstead Bike Path, though there is little noticeable difference between the two.

After 2.5 miles of passing through farmland and woodlots on the Newstead Bike Path, you reach Akron Junction and the connection to the Peanut Line Trail. The Newstead Bike Path continues north and east for another 2 miles through country landscape and near residential developments to the town of Akron.

If you choose to branch off on the Peanut Line Trail you will follow a 6-mile rail-trail that stretches west toward East Amherst. The trail is named for the New York Central Railroad corridor it travels, dubbed the "Peanut Line" for its short length. The first 2.3 miles of the trail, in Newstead, are primarily rural farmland.

When you reach the Newstead-Clarence town line, the Peanut Line Trail becomes the Clarence Bike Trail, though it is also known as the Peanut Line Trail. The Clarence Bike Trail continues west for another 6.1 miles on the old rail line. The trail ends near Transit Road, but not before whisking you through Clarence, where the surroundings gradually become more suburban and residential. Farm fields give way to front yards and, at about 2.4 miles, the trail connects with a community park. A number of side paths snake toward the trail, linking neighborhoods to the popular path.

A walk or bike ride on any one of the trails within the Clarence Pathways system makes for a delightful outing. Combined, they add up to a daylong adventure.

... Click to read more
Parking & Trail Access:
To reach the trailhead for the West Shore Trail: From State Route 5, turn onto Gunnville Road; right onto Wehrle Drive. The trailhead will be on your right and there's a large parking lot.

To reach the Newstead Bike Path: From State Route 5, take State Route 93 north toward Akron. Stay on Route 93 through Akron. The path ends at the intersection of Cedar (Route 93), Railroad and Eckerson streets. There is limited curbside parking.

To reach the west end of the Clarence Bike Trail: From State Route 5, take State Route 78 north. The trail endpoint is just north of Muegel Road on the right (east) side of Route 78. However, there is no public parking here.

... Click to read more
... Click to read more
Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
[View all reviews for this trail]
[register/login to Submit a Review of this Trail]
Tremendous trail tandem!
By ricperry in November, 2009

I had the opportunity to bike these 2 trails on a sunny cool Tuesday Nov 17th. The Peanut line is currently ~6.5 miles from Transit Rd Rt78 due east to Akron Junction where it joins in with the West Shore Trail at ~mile 8.3 (The western terminus of the WS trail is a well-sized parking lot on Wehrle Drive). The WS Trail continues for another 2.1 miles eastbound ending in Akron. The entirety of these trials is paved, with abundant standing maps along the trails to view relative location on the trials. I have been biking/running rail trails for many years now and these are two of the finest that I have had the pleasure to encounter!

Ric Perry, Chili, NY
A good bicycle trail
By Don Nieman in September, 2004
"This is a nice trail, with good places to eat at either end. Also, upon leaving the trail, there are a lot of riding opportunities to continue on from the trail."
Beautiful fields
By dmflood in July, 2004
"This trail is paved and has a variety of beautiful fields to view along with ever changing wild flowers. Spring through fall, the landscape changes constantly. During the winter, though, the snowmobilers take the trail over. It's not much fun then!"
Browse Trails by Activity:
Trail Facts
Trail End Points: Clarence to Akron
Counties: Erie
Trail Length: 16.7 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Asphalt
Trail Activities: Bike, Inline Skating, Wheelchair Accessible, Snowmobiling, Walking, Cross Country Skiing
TrailLink ID: 6017465

Related Links
Share this with a friend
Share   Email
 ... Click to read more
Guidebook: Learn more about other New York rail-trails in RTC's New York Guidebook.
Find Hotels Near Clarence Pathways
Find Campgrounds
Find Bed & Breakfasts