Genesee Valley Greenway:
New York
Trail Map
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Description:
The Genesee Valley Greenway extends 90 miles through woodlands, river and stream valleys, wetlands, rolling farmlands, steep gorges, and historic villages of five counties and sixteen towns in western New York. From the Greenway you can picnic or fish along the banks of the Genesee River or other intersecting creeks and streams; visit fascinating local museums and antique shops; stay overnight at historic bed and breakfasts, or eat lunch or dinner at restored canal era inns. During the nineteenth century, this historic corrdor served as the Genesee Valley Canal, providing western New York communities with a vital link to the Erie Canal. Later it became the route of the Pennsylvania Railroad, providing connections to the Pennsylvania coal fields and national east-west rail routes. The Greenway's connections to the Erie Canal Recreationway, the Finger Lakes Trail, North Country National Scenic Trail, Letchworth State Park, and local and regional trail systems add to its value and appeal today. Dry stone canal locks, culverts and waste weirs, the original canal ditch or prism, ponds that once served as canal turning basins, a mule barn, an original canal warehouse, the foundation of a lock tender's house, early telegraph poles, or even old railroad spikes, all serve as reminders of this corridor's role in the development of the region. Forty-seven miles of the Genesee Valley Greenway are now open to the public. TEA-21 funds have recently been received to assist with opening the remaining miles of greenway, primarily located in Allegany County.
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Parking & Trail Access:
No parking fees. Exact location of all parking lots is being determined. Parking is available at Rochester's Genesee Valley Park, at Canawaugus Park in Scottsville in Monroe County, at Route 408 (State Street) in the Village of Mt. Morris, Livingston County, at Oakland Road in the Town of Portage in Livingston County, at the Parade Grounds at Letchworth State Park, and at Tibbetts Hill Road in the Town of New Hudson in Allegany County. Also,there are parking areas at Brook Road in the Town of Chili, Monroe County and York Landing in the Town of York, Livingston County, which are designed for horse trailer parking. Parking areas are located adjacent to the trail with the exceptio of the parking area at the Parade Grounds in Letchworth State Park. In that location the Greenway crosses the park road a few hundred yards to the north of the parking area.
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Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
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Mapping inaccuracy
By s2000chops on April 30, 2010
As the map suggests, the Greenway is not continuous yet. In one important place there's a discontinuity that the map doesn't reflect. When the trail emerges from the woods south of Rochester at the intersection of Scottsville Rd and Paul Rd, it just ends. There are no sidewalks, bike lanes, or share-the-road markings along Scottsville. The map shows the trail continuing south on Scottsville, but this is inaccurate.

In fact, cyclists have to ride on Scottsville Rd, which has a generous shoulder going south, but very little shoulder going north. Car and truck traffic travels at 50mp here. After crossing Black Creek, cyclists can connect with the Black Creek Rd parking / fishing area, but it's more difficult than suggested by the TrailLink (and now Google) map.

Google StreetView will confirm this, and they even captured a cyclist going the wrong way in the shoulder of Scottsville Rd: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=I-390+N&daddr=S+Livonia+Rd%2FNY-15+N+to:I-390+N&geocode=&hl=en&mra=ls&dirflg=b&sll=42.726839,-77.346497&sspn=0.595201,1.454315&ie=UTF8&ll=43.095066,-77.680107&spn=0,0.003862&t=h&z=19&lci=bike&layer=c&cbll=43.095146,-77.680044&panoid=yQbaaMAZStC7i5Acktt2JQ&cbp=12,139.21,,0,16.56

This error won't deter experienced cyclists, but it should be corrected for the sake of
Enjoyed the trail once I found it
By theroadgoeson4ever on October 07, 2009
I stayed overnight in a hotel that was literally 100 yards from the trail. No one seemed to know it existed or how to find it. This is a fantastic trail once I found it but the area is working way too hard to keep it a secret.
Excellent for horseback riding!
By toltstar on March 19, 2009
An awesome trail for horseback riding. The surface is excellent and the other users of this trail that I have met have been really nice and accommodating. Lots of beautiful views along the way. A must ride!
Trail marker at grade crossing
Trail Facts
Trail End Points: North Cuba to Rochester
Counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Livingston, Monroe, Wyoming
Trail Length: 90 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Gravel, Grass, Dirt, Cinder
Trail Activities: Bike, Fishing, Wheelchair Accessible, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Snowmobiling, Walking, Cross Country Skiing
TrailLink ID: 6031508

Related Links
Guidebook: Learn more about other New York rail-trails in RTC's New York Guidebook.