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Print Friendly MapTwo former rival railroad corridors that crossed in Buffalo’s eastern suburbs now form a nearly 18-mile paved trail system called Clarence Pathways in Clarence, Newstead, and Akron.
Five trails make up Clarence Pathways: West Shore Trail/Newstead-Akron Bike Path, Peanut Line Trail, Waterford Trail, and Spaulding Green Trail. They connect suburban neighborhoods with parks, town centers, and local workplaces. In the winter, snowmobiling is allowed on two of these routes: the Peanut Line Trail between Goodrich Road and Salt Road, and the West Shore Trail/Newstead--Akron Bike Path between Salt Road in Clarence and Cedar Street in Akron.
The longest stretch is known as the West Shore Trail/Newstead-Akron Bike Path. It follows the route of the West Shore Railroad Company (originally the New York, West Shore & Buffalo Railway Company), which ran freight and passengers from the western shore of the Hudson River to Buffalo beginning in the 1880s. Passenger service arrived in Clarence in 1884.
The Peanut Line Trail follows the corridor of New York Central’s (NYC’s) Batavia Line, also known as the Peanut Line because of its relative insignificance in NYC’s railroad empire. The line was acquired by NYC in the 1850s. The parent railroad didn’t want competition in the region from the West Shore and bought that railroad too in 1885.
Starting on the West Shore Trail on Wehrle Drive in Clarence, you’ll pass through a forest to a crossing at Gunnville Road in 0.9 mile; this is the former site of a railroad station. For the next couple of miles, trees screen the trail from Clarence High School and a residential neighborhood before you arrive at Main Street Town Park. Here you’ll find the Clarence Historical Museum and the Goodrich-Landow Log Cabin, moved from Goodrich Road, where it was built in 1825. In another 1.3 miles, the trail name changes to Newstead-Akron Bike Path as it crosses Davison Road.
At a fork at Akron Junction in 2.5 miles, you can go left onto the Peanut Line Trail, which heads to the East Amherst boundary in 8.3 miles, or right to remain on the Newstead-Akron Bike Path, which ends in Akron in 2.1 miles.
Heading right, the trail ends on Cedar Street, just a couple of blocks south of regional ice cream maker Perry’s. Perry’s doesn’t offer tours, but products are served locally at a pastry shop on Akron’s Main Street, located 0.2 mile south.
If you chose the left fork, you’ll head west on a rail corridor that once carried vacationers to Niagara Falls. The Peanut Line Trail passes through farmland for the first 2.2 miles and then reenters Clarence and continues through forest and farmland as it arrives at Memorial Park, 4 miles past the fork.
About 2 miles past the park, the paved trail on your left is the Waterford Trail, which passes through the Northwoods community. In 2.3 miles you’ll pass residential neighborhoods before arriving at the trail’s end in East Amherst, where you can visit a drive-in diner just to the north.
Disconnected from the other trails in the system, the Spaulding Green Trail links the Clarence Town Hall and public library on Goodrich Road to the Spaulding Green housing project, built around an old quarry.
To reach the West Shore trailhead in Clarence from I-90, take Exit 49, and turn left onto NY 78/Transit Road. Go 0.6 mile, and turn right onto Wehrle Dr.; then go 2.5 miles and look for trailhead parking on the left.
To reach the Newstead-Akron Bike Path trailhead in Akron from I-90, take Exit 48A, and turn right onto NY 77. Go 0.7 mile, and turn right onto NY 5/Main St. Go 5.0 miles, and turn right onto NY 93/Buell St. Go 1.6 miles, turn right onto NY 93/Main St., and then immediately turn left onto NY 93/Buffalo St. Go about 400 feet, turn right onto NY 93/John St., and then immediately turn left onto NY 93/Cedar St. Go 0.1 mile and use on-street parking on the left across from Eckerson Ave.
To reach the junction of Newstead-Akron Bike Path and the Peanut Line Trail, follow the directions above to the Akron trailhead. Take the trail 2.1 miles and turn right onto the Peanut Line Trail.
To reach the Peanut Line Trail western trailhead from I-90, take Exit 4, and head east on N. French Road. Go 3.1 miles, and turn right onto NY 78/Transit Road. Go 1.6 miles, and turn left onto Clarence Center Road. Then go 1.1 miles, and turn left onto Clarence Town Park. Go 0.1 mile to the circle in Meadowlakes Park, bear right, and look for parking. A 400-foot path goes to the Peanut Line Trail; turn left, and go 1.2 miles to the western trailhead.
Pros: Trail is in great condition with smooth pavement. Wide enough to pass others. Very well signed. Progress markers along the way with helpful “You are here” designations Nice views of fields and farms. Cons: There are a few busy roads to cross which merit caution. These, again, are very well labeled, and crosswalks are clearly painted. Bonus tip: If heading in the direction of Akron, try stopping at Akron Falls Park. Nice additional biking available there as well, in addition to an opportunity the hop off the two wheeler and take a nice hike by the falls.
Lovely 60 degree morning. Started at Wehrle drive car park then onto the lovely well maintained pathway. Typical road crossings but we’ll marked. The Clarence farmers market was in full swing so stopped and walked my bike through. Then continued on to the Akron end where there was a convenient water bottle filler and bike repair station. The ride back into the wind was a little harder but in the end the ride totaled 17.37 Miles round trip. There is another fork that is 10 plus miles. Will do that one next.
Parked at Clarence Town Park on Rt 5 in Clarence. Nicest public park restrooms I have ever seen. Thank you!!! Rode NE on the West Shore trail to the end in Akron. Wide open rural area with very little shade. Took a right on Cedar, left on Main, and right on Parkview. Probably about 2 miles on road. Food available in Akron. Very little traffic on a weekday evening. Think I was passed by only 5 cars. Gentle grades and the steepest one was a downhill on Parkview. Stretch along 93 is only a couple hundred feet on a sidewalk.
Rode NW on Peanut Line to end in East Amherst. Narrower than West Shore with some shade. Clarence Center to East Amherst had several easy street crossings and lots of walkers and dogs.
Rode back SE to Strickler Rd and headed S for about 3 miles. Fairly quiet country road. Only passed by about a dozen cars. All were very nice and gave me plenty of room. One even waited for oncoming car to clear before passing. Had a slight uphill grade to Rt 5.
Rode to the SW end of the West Shore trail. This was my favorite part. Well shaded through wetlands. I suspect it might be mosquito heaven certain times of the year.
Headed back NE to my starting spot at the park. Odometer showed 31 miles. Nothing exciting scenery-wise, but well maintained trails with great signs and milemarkers every .2 miles. Thanks.....bikin-Mike May 2021
Great asphalt trail. A lot of signage to explain where you are. Numerous benches for rest stops. A nice eatery at the end of trail in Clarence Center.
As a dog runner, I have been on most of the local paths. I avoid this one whenever possible. It is way too narrow with little room to pull my dog off to the side when other dogs are approaching. There’s also a lot of dog poop not picked up along the edges, which is ridiculous since they provide bags.
Nice bike path, but only port a potties were available for bathroom use. Also, path enters a farmer's market with signs asking bikers to walk their bikes through. Who puts a farmer's market in the middle of a bike path?
We were heading to Niagara Falls, ON and wanted to stop every day and enjoy a bike ride. We rode The West Shore Trail, the Newstead Bike Path and part of the Peanut Line Trail for our daily goal of 20 miles. The path is completely asphalt, is very wide and with only one short entry into a downtown area, completely rural. Highly recommend the Clarence Pathways for a terrific way to spend the day.
Both the Clarence Akron Pathways and Clarence Newstead Trails on September 21st 2014. It's paved the whole way, with good signage. It seems to be heavily used by snowmobilers in the winter, so it's clear-cut 30' wide. No shade at all, nothing to block the wind. Still, it's paved, so one cannot complain too much.
34 miles round trip if you ride the entire pair of trails end to end.
I would recommend this path to everyone. It's not a hard ride and very quite and we'll marked. Reminds me of a trail I ride in Hilliard, OH. Awesome ride!
I rode the entire trail yesterday to the END and back. What a well manicured trail. The environment changes from woods to open meadow sunshine and wetlands. My favorite section is in Clarence with the Wetlands. I was able to identify some butterflies and watch a family of baby ducks. Lots of places to relax, pull over and have a snack. A great place to ride forever.
So close to Buffalo so no reason not to try a ride there. Nice place but so open on a 90 degree day.
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
"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."
"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!"
This is an outstanding trail. There's plenty of riding. This ranks as one of the best trails I have ever ridden.
Great trail! It's nicely paved and pretty in the fall. There was relatively low traffic on the weekend we were there.
"I ran this trail a few years ago when the Peanut Line was a grass/dirt path that ran quietly through farmer's fields from Amherst to Akron. A few months later I was shocked to return to a paved trail.
This area is pretty rural and already has a paved bike path that junctions the Peanut Line. I think the additional paving is unnecessary and takes away room to roam for mountain bikers, hikers and off road runners. It is also part of the beautiful Finger Lakes Trail which consists of hundreds of miles of unpaved beauty.
Please keep it beautiful as nature intended it: unpaved."
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