Chautauqua Rails-to-Trails

Rail-Trail

State: NY
Length: 28.56 miles
Surface: Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel

Though mostly a continuous system of trails from Sherman north to Brocton, some segments of the Chautauqua Rails-to-Trails system go by other names (see below). All the trails are primarily grassy but some portions are gravel or crushed stone. They are handicapped accessible but can be rough going in places. In addition, cycling is popular, though hybrids and mountain bikes might be better suited for travel than road bikes.
The scenic Chautauqua Rails-to-Trails travel through woodlands, wetlands and meadows, where wildflowers abound in spring and wildlife year-round, including beaver, turkey and deer. In winter the trail is popular with both cross-country skiers and snowmobilers; however, the trailhead parking lots are not plowed, so users must park along side roads.
The trail has two on-road portions, which skirt part of a rail bed: 1.47 miles along Hannum and Summerdale roads (west of Lake Chautauqua); 0.92 mile along Titus and Kendrick roads (near the southern terminus in Sherman). In addition, there's a short break in the trail north of Colt Road (near Brocton), and the trail picks up again at Ellicott Road.
The different segments of the Chautauqua Rails-to-Trails are as follows:
The Alison Wells Ney segment runs between Fuller Street in Brocton and Bliss Road. The Laurie Baer segment travels along a Niagara Mohawk right of way between Bliss and Plank roads, crossing an original railroad bridge.
The Nadine and Paul Webb Nature Trail extends 1 mile between State Routes 430 and 394. The pleasant trail passes through a wooded area and scattered farmland, ending at the Mayville lakefront at the northern end of Chautauqua Lake. Begin at Boxcar Barney's, a local ice cream and hot dog emporium. This portion also crosses an original railroad bridge. A short segment at the southern terminus in Sherman is locally called the Sherman Village–French Creek Nature Trail.
The Portage Trail takes off from the rail-trail at the north end of Lake Chaut

Clarence Pathways

Rail-Trail

State: NY
Length: 16.70 miles
Surface: Asphalt

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

Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor

State: NY
Length: 365 miles
Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

The Erie Canalway Trail runs 365 miles, from Buffalo in the west to Albany in the east, linking other cities of Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Utica, and Schenectady. As of August 2011, about 75% of the trail is complete with a few remaining gaps (information below). The trail is mostly level, although portions through the Mohawk River Valley are a little bit steeper.
Most of the Erie Canalway Trail is surfaced in crushed limestone dust, which can be smooth and make for easy riding when dry, more difficult riding when wet or freshly laid. For this reason, if you're biking the trail, wider tires are recommended. Other parts of the trail are natural surface, which means tree roots and ruts can sometimes make for difficult biking or hinder wheelchairs. Even fewer sections have asphalt surfaces, and there are long sections in some parts of the trail that are on-road.
Ever since the canalway system was replaced by highway, freight and air traffic, people along the extensive canalway have sought ways to revitalize their communities. As early as the 1960s, communities began to develop trail systems along their neighboring towpaths. Today these trails form a vital part of people's lives, not only providing recreation and non-motorized commuter alternatives, but invigorating communities through commercial, historical and artistic development, while linking neighboring towns.
Trail segments of the Erie Canalway Trail include:
Erie Canalway Trail: Buffalo to Tonawanda (Riverwalk)
Erie Canalway Trail: Tonawanda to Newark (Erie Canal Heritage Trail)
Erie Canalway Trail: Port Byron to Utica (Old Erie Canal State Park)

Erie Canalway Trail: Buffalo to Tonawanda (Riverwalk)

State: NY
Length: 13.30 miles
Surface: Asphalt, Concrete

The Erie Canalway Trail runs 365 miles, from Buffalo in the west to Albany in the east, linking other cities of Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Utica, and Schenectady. As of August 2011, about 75% of the trail is complete with a few remaining gaps. The trail is mostly level, although portions through the Mohawk River Valley are a little bit steeper.

Most of the Erie Canalway Trail is surfaced in crushed limestone dust, which can be smooth and make for easy riding when dry, more difficult riding when wet or freshly laid. For this reason, if you're biking the trail, wider tires are recommended. Other parts of the trail are natural surface, which means tree roots and ruts can sometimes make for difficult biking or hinder wheelchairs. Even fewer sections have asphalt surfaces, and there are long sections in some parts of the trail that are on-road.

This segment of the trail, following the Riverwalk along the Niagara River, is paved. It begins in downtown Buffalo and travels north to Tonawanda, where you can pick up the next section of the Erie Canalway Trail that continues 100 miles east through Rochester to Newark with some on-road connections. In Buffalo, you can also cross the river into Canada on the Peace Bridge to reach the Niagara River Trail.

The Riverwalk is quite scenic and provides access to two popular recreational amenities in Buffalo: LaSalle Park and Riverside Park, which both offer athletic fields, places to picnic, and waterfront views.

Erie Canalway Trail: Tonawanda to Newark (Erie Canal Heritage Trail)

State: NY
Length: 100 miles
Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Dirt

The Erie Canalway Trail runs 365 miles, from Buffalo in the west to Albany in the east, linking other cities of Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Utica, and Schenectady. As of August 2011, about 75% of the trail is complete with a few remaining gaps (information below). The trail is mostly level, although portions through the Mohawk River Valley are a little bit steeper.
Most of the Erie Canalway Trail is surfaced in crushed limestone dust, which can be smooth and make for easy riding when dry, more difficult riding when wet or freshly laid. For this reason, if you're biking the trail, wider tires are recommended. Other parts of the trail are natural surface, which means tree roots and ruts can sometimes make for difficult biking or hinder wheelchairs. Even fewer sections have asphalt surfaces, and there are long sections in some parts of the trail that are on-road.
Ever since the canalway system was replaced by highway, freight and air traffic, people along the extensive canalway have sought ways to revitalize their communities. As early as the 1960s, communities began to develop trail systems along their neighboring towpaths. Today these trails form a vital part of people's lives, not only providing recreation and non-motorized commuter alternatives, but invigorating communities through commercial, historical and artistic development, while linking neighboring towns.
This section of the Erie Canalway Trail is also known as the Erie Canal Heritage Trail, which stretches 100 miles from Tonawanda to Newark, NY. For cyclists there are two main gaps in the trail that are bridged by riding on roads between Mayors Park (but keep to the south of the Canal along Creekside Drive) and Amherst Veterans Canal Park. There is another 6-mile gap from Amherst Museum Colony Park to Lockport (Clinton St.). You can pick up the Canalway Trail again just east of Lock 35 and continue all the way to Newark. There's a 30-mile gap in the trail from Lyons to Port Byron, where the trail

Genesee Valley Greenway

Rail-Trail

State: NY
Length: 68.80 miles
Surface: Cinder, Dirt, Grass, Gravel

The Genesee Valley Greenway rolls through towns and countless landscapes from Rochester south to Cuba, New York. The greenway is a work in progress, but there is a long, continuous segment (37 miles) between Rochester and Sonyea that provides an off-road experience. As of spring 2012, 60+ disconnected miles of the trail are open to the public; several more are planned that will link the disconnected sections. On the off-road trail segments you may encounter missing bridges or occasional washouts requiring detours. For the latest trail information, visit Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway.
The greenway follows the old transportation routes of the Genesee Valley Canal and the Rochester Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Historical villages and connections with other trails and relics—such as surviving canal structures—provide a rich layer to this otherwise rural ride.
Only the northern 2 miles of the greenway are paved. Cinder, grass and packed dirt give the rest of the trail a firm, level platform. From the start at Rochester's Genesee Valley Park are intriguing sights: you pass the Rochester International Airport fire training school and two charred airplane fuselages used in demonstrations. A short on-road detour along State Route 383 and Ballantyne Road takes you off and then back to the trail. A short side trail takes you north over historic Black Creek Culvert (circa 1838), one of the state's largest 19th-century canal culverts, before it dead-ends at an active rail corridor.
Back on the greenway you pass a large tract of forest conserved by the Genesee Land Trust. At 5.5 miles is the impressive stone Canal Lock #2, one of the few surviving locks along the greenway.
The village of Scottsville, at 9 miles, has connected itself to the trail via the Canal Street Boardwalk. After a detour into the village for refreshments, you can head across Oatka Creek to Canawaugus Park, which has picnic tables,

Groveland Secondary Trail (York to Alexander)

Rail-Trail

State: NY
Length: 20 miles
Surface: Ballast

The Groveland Secondary Trail follows a portion of abandoned right-of-way of the old Groveland Branch of the Erie Lackawanna between York and Alexander. The York terminus begins just east of Main Street (SR 36) along Genesee Street (SR 63) by the bridge. From there the trail heads north and west to Alexander, ending at Old Creek Road just south of Peaviner/Hunn Roads.
The trail passes among farmland, with several interspersed woodlands, passing through the communities of East Bethany and Linwood. The trail is open to horseback riders, mountain bikers, hikers, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers.

Lancaster Heritage Trail

Rail-Trail

State: NY
Length: 4 miles
Surface: Asphalt

The Lancaster Heritage Trail offers scenic views as it traverses the wooded Lancaster countryside. At each end, kiosks provide a brief history of the trail, which was built on a portion of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railroad bed dating back to the late 1800s. The off-road, non-motorized pathway is paved and relatively level with three at-grade, well-marked street crossings. Benches made of natural materials, including boulders scattered alongside the trail, provide places to rest on the 4-mile journey.

Lehigh Memory Trail

Rail-Trail

State: NY
Length: 0.71 miles
Surface: Asphalt

Just east of Buffalo, New York, lies the Lehigh Memory Trail in the Village of Williamsville. The pathway is a short paved trail that runs through the heart of the village. The trail can get crowded with rollerbladers, so stay alert on the weekends. On the trail you will find the Williamsville Depot; this historic railroad depot was constructed in November 1896 by the Depew & Tonawanda Railroad, a subsidiary of the Lehigh Valley Railway. It is belived that the Williamsville Depot was the last station structure completed by the original Lehigh Valley Railway. Passenger service ended at the depot sometime in the early 1950's, but the freight agent manned the building until 1974. The building was sold to International Chimney in 1986 by Conrail and the Western New York Railway Historical Society (WNYRHS) acquired the station from them in 1990. The lands and right-of-way were acquired by the Village of Williamsville at the same time and a nearly 3/4 of a mile section of the right-of-way from South Long to Cayuga Streets has been converted into Lehigh Memory Trail. The WNYRHS leases the land that the station sits upon from the Village of Williamsville. The station is only one of three original mainline Lehigh Valley stations that still exist in New York State in their original locations. For more information please contact the Village of Williamsville at (716) 632-4120.

Ongiara Trail System

Rail-Trail

State: NY
Length: 1.50 miles
Surface: Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass

Whirlpool State Park has two levels--the upper, or street level has many overlooks with spectacular views of the swirling waters of the rapids, the whirlpool and the Niagara River Escarpment. Visitors picnic and children use the playground at this level. The lower, or river level is accessible by walking the 300 feet of trails and steps that descend into the gorge. This level has several nature trails and access for fishing. Devil's Hole State Park overlooks the lower Whirlpool rapids. A wildly beautiful walkway leads down from the park along the turbulent Niagara River 300 feet into the wooded gorge and offers an up-close, spectacular view of the gorge's rapids. Devil's Hole has picnic areas, hiking, and nature trails. It is one of the most popular spots for fishermen.

Pat McGee Trail

Rail-Trail

State: NY
Length: 12.10 miles
Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Grass

Make way for diversity on the Pat McGee Trail. This 12.1-mile path boasts a diverse array of plant and animal life, with more than 150 species of bird. A variety of users, including snowmobilers and equestrians, can be seen. The trail even crosses the eastern Continental Divide, meaning that the rainfall on one end of the trail is diverted to the Atlantic Ocean and on the other end to the Gulf of Mexico.
The trail connects seven quiet communities in the heart of Cattaraugus County in southwest New York. If you begin your journey at the northern trailhead just south of Cattaraugus, be prepared for a climb. The grade is gentle but you will know you are going uphill. Not far from the trailhead is a lean-to. Snowmobile riders huddle here in winter months, and in summer it provides relief from sudden storms. The rail-trail's first several miles pass mostly through woodland, as you climb toward the eastern Continental Divide. Informational signs chronicle the wide assortment of mammals (41 species) and plants (174 species), as well as describe geological features and 9 unique ecosystems. In spring the woods abound with wildflowers. Keep an eye out for white-tailed deer and other wildlife on the trail ahead.
After passing the Continental Divide, the trail begins a slight descent and the landscape changes to wetlands. There is agricultural activity here, too, signaling the rural nature of the communities woven together by this old rail line.
In the village of Little Valley, about midway on your journey, a community recreational park has pavilions and picnic tables. Didn't pack your picnic lunch? Head a block or two into the village, where shops and eateries welcome trail visitors. A short paved section of trail leads from the park southward.
Other trails cross and branch off of the Pat McGee Trail. These trails are used by snowmobilers, hikers and equestrians. The North Country National Scenic Trail, Bicentennial Bike Trail and the Finger Lakes Trail prov

Two Mile Creek Greenway

State: NY
Length: 1.30 miles
Surface: Asphalt

The Two Mile Creek Greenway runs from East Park Drive near I-290 to the Niagara River in the town of Tonawanda. The trail follows along Two Mile Creek, passing through Veterans Memorial Park, and ends at a connection with the Riverwalk Trail (coming soon to TrailLink.com) that heads into Buffalo.