Clarence Pathways

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.

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.