Explore the best rated trails in Batavia, NY. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Niagara Scenic Parkway Trail and Great Gorge Railway Trail. With more than 34 trails covering 595 miles you’re bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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True to its name, the Niagara Gorge Rim Trail traces the eastern edge of the Niagara Gorge, offering connections to three state parks and spectacular views of the Niagara River below and the...
The I-390 Bike Path is a 5-mile paved trail starting in Greece and ending at the Island Cottage Woods Preserves just south of Lake Ontario. The trail starts just after crossing Route 104 using the...
The Manchester Gateway Trail is a scenic route used by walkers and cyclers that follows the Canandaigua Outlet through Manchester. It has also been used for skiing during winter months. The trailhead...
Brickyard Trail offers a pleasant north-south route through the Town of Brighton, which sits on the southeastern outskirts of Rochester. Its name is a nod to the town's brickmaking industry dating...
The Erie Attica Trail lies in the Finger Lakes region of New York along the former railroad for which it's named. A glimpse of this past can be seen in the beautiful truss bridge that spans 220 feet...
Travelers on the Lake Ontario State Parkway Trail will enjoy scenic views of wooded areas, surrounding bodies of water and wetlands. The trail parallels the north side of the Parkway, which runs along...
North Buffalo Rails to Trails offers a tree-lined paved pathway through Minnesota Linear Park in the University Heights neighborhood. Although less than a mile long, it offers two important links in...
This trail starts in the Village of Lewiston off Mohawk Street just North of Center Street. Park at Kiwanis Park in the Village. Trail goes North and follows the Niagara Scenic Parkway to Pletcher...
When complete, the Erie Canalway Trail will run for 360 miles in upstate New York—from Buffalo in the west to Albany in the east—linking many other communities along the way, including Rochester,...
The El Camino: Butterhole-Seneca Park Trail (often more simply called the El Camino Trail) runs diagonally through a neighborhood and industrial properties in northeast Rochester on an abandoned CSX...
By the early 1800s, Rochester had earned the nickname of Flour City because of its numerous mills that allowed the young town to rapidly become the largest flour producer in the United States. The...
The North Branch of the Lehigh Valley Trail connects the campuses of the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology. The trail’s northern terminus is where the Erie Canal Heritage...
Ellicott Creek Trailway is an asphalt path used for biking, walking, running, and rollerblading. This multiuse pathway travels along Ellicott Creek—a 47-mile waterway that flows from Bennington to the...
The Shoreline Trail in Erie County, New York, is 21.7 miles of flat, easy pathway that runs adjacent to Lake Erie, one of the country’s Great Lakes, on its southern half and then along the Niagara...
Snaking along the shoreline of Lake Ontario, the Irondequoit Lakeside Multi-Use Trail provides a smooth journey infused with the region’s rich natural and cultural heritage. The nearly 7-mile trail...
A smooth, flat asphalt ride that allows you to discover the town's railroad history (and present), the Cheektowaga Rails to Trails pathway is a great community asset for this Buffalo suburb. About 1.5...
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The Pittsford Trail System, also called the Railroad Loop Trail, provides access to the Erie Canal, town of Pittsford, and shopping and business district in the quaint New York village. A short...
Opened in 2016, Tonawanda Rails to Trails offers a paved linear route through the Tonawanda community north of Buffalo. The rail-trail was built atop the former Erie Lackawanna Railway, which carried...
The Village of Springville in western New York is home to the first section of the proposed 27-mile corridor that will eventually be known as the Erie-Cattaraugus Rail Trail. Running 1.8 miles from...
Although only about a mile in length, Buffalo’s Greenway Nature Trail packs in the views. The paved pathway provides access to the city’s Outer Harbor not only for pedestrians and bicyclists, but also...
There are so many reminders from the heyday of the railroad age on the nearly 10-mile Auburn Trail that visitors might imagine they’re chugging through villages and countryside at the throttle of a...
The town of Perinton, New York, has been hard at work improving the Rochester, Syracuse and Eastern Trail, and it shows. Since 1996, when the American Hiking Society designated Perinton as a Trail...
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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...
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...
The Lancaster Heritage Trail begins in an eastern outer suburb of Buffalo and unwinds 4 paved miles into the delightful wooded countryside. Benches made of natural materials, including boulders, are...
The Devil's Hole Trail offers a moderately challenging hike within Devil's Hole State Park. The rail-trail follows the route of a former trolley line built in the Niagara Gorge in 1895. Railroad...
The Great Gorge Railway Trail is truly a gem. Nestled between the Niagara River and the Niagara Scenic Parkway, this short but stunning rail-trail offers unparalleled access and views of one of North...
When complete, the Erie Canalway Trail will run for 360 miles in upstate New York—from Buffalo in the west to Albany in the east—linking many other communities along the way, including Rochester,...
Although only about a mile in length, Buffalo’s Greenway Nature Trail packs in the views. The paved pathway provides access to the city’s Outer Harbor not only for pedestrians and bicyclists, but also...
Ellicott Creek Trailway is an asphalt path used for biking, walking, running, and rollerblading. This multiuse pathway travels along Ellicott Creek—a 47-mile waterway that flows from Bennington to the...
This trail starts in the Village of Lewiston off Mohawk Street just North of Center Street. Park at Kiwanis Park in the Village. Trail goes North and follows the Niagara Scenic Parkway to Pletcher...
A smooth, flat asphalt ride that allows you to discover the town's railroad history (and present), the Cheektowaga Rails to Trails pathway is a great community asset for this Buffalo suburb. About 1.5...
By the early 1800s, Rochester had earned the nickname of Flour City because of its numerous mills that allowed the young town to rapidly become the largest flour producer in the United States. The...
True to its name, the Niagara Gorge Rim Trail traces the eastern edge of the Niagara Gorge, offering connections to three state parks and spectacular views of the Niagara River below and the...
The Manchester Gateway Trail is a scenic route used by walkers and cyclers that follows the Canandaigua Outlet through Manchester. It has also been used for skiing during winter months. The trailhead...
The North Branch of the Lehigh Valley Trail connects the campuses of the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology. The trail’s northern terminus is where the Erie Canal Heritage...
North Buffalo Rails to Trails offers a tree-lined paved pathway through Minnesota Linear Park in the University Heights neighborhood. Although less than a mile long, it offers two important links in...
Located in the majestic Finger Lakes region, the Lehigh Valley Trail is a well-used gem with a sparkling future. Wandering 16.4 miles through beautiful landscapes and rich greenery, the trail connects...
The Shoreline Trail in Erie County, New York, is 21.7 miles of flat, easy pathway that runs adjacent to Lake Erie, one of the country’s Great Lakes, on its southern half and then along the Niagara...
The Niagara Scenic Parkway Trail, formerly known as the Robert Moses Recreational Trail, spans nearly 4 miles beginning at Main Street in Niagara Falls. From there, it heads north past the Niagara...
True to its name, the Niagara Gorge Rim Trail traces the eastern edge of the Niagara Gorge, offering connections to three state parks and spectacular views of the Niagara River below and the...
The Erie Attica Trail lies in the Finger Lakes region of New York along the former railroad for which it's named. A glimpse of this past can be seen in the beautiful truss bridge that spans 220 feet...
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...
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...
The Niagara Scenic Parkway Trail, formerly known as the Robert Moses Recreational Trail, spans nearly 4 miles beginning at Main Street in Niagara Falls. From there, it heads north past the Niagara...
A smooth, flat asphalt ride that allows you to discover the town's railroad history (and present), the Cheektowaga Rails to Trails pathway is a great community asset for this Buffalo suburb. About 1.5...
Ellicott Creek Trailway is an asphalt path used for biking, walking, running, and rollerblading. This multiuse pathway travels along Ellicott Creek—a 47-mile waterway that flows from Bennington to the...
The Ontario Pathways Rail Trail is the crown jewel of the trail system managed by the organization for whom it is named in Ontario County, New York. Comprising two disconnected segments, including a...
The El Camino: Butterhole-Seneca Park Trail (often more simply called the El Camino Trail) runs diagonally through a neighborhood and industrial properties in northeast Rochester on an abandoned CSX...
The North Branch of the Lehigh Valley Trail connects the campuses of the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology. The trail’s northern terminus is where the Erie Canal Heritage...
The Great Gorge Railway Trail is truly a gem. Nestled between the Niagara River and the Niagara Scenic Parkway, this short but stunning rail-trail offers unparalleled access and views of one of North...
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...
The town of Perinton, New York, has been hard at work improving the Rochester, Syracuse and Eastern Trail, and it shows. Since 1996, when the American Hiking Society designated Perinton as a Trail...
The Shoreline Trail in Erie County, New York, is 21.7 miles of flat, easy pathway that runs adjacent to Lake Erie, one of the country’s Great Lakes, on its southern half and then along the Niagara...
There are so many reminders from the heyday of the railroad age on the nearly 10-mile Auburn Trail that visitors might imagine they’re chugging through villages and countryside at the throttle of a...
Two 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...
The Lancaster Heritage Trail begins in an eastern outer suburb of Buffalo and unwinds 4 paved miles into the delightful wooded countryside. Benches made of natural materials, including boulders, are...
Brickyard Trail offers a pleasant north-south route through the Town of Brighton, which sits on the southeastern outskirts of Rochester. Its name is a nod to the town's brickmaking industry dating...
Travelers on the Lake Ontario State Parkway Trail will enjoy scenic views of wooded areas, surrounding bodies of water and wetlands. The trail parallels the north side of the Parkway, which runs along...
By the early 1800s, Rochester had earned the nickname of Flour City because of its numerous mills that allowed the young town to rapidly become the largest flour producer in the United States. The...
Buffalo can get a bad rap, but this is nice trail along the shoreline and then into town. We did it Labor Day on a perfect day and could not believe how nice Buffalo has been upgraded. Obviously you got to catch good weather which can be a challenge there, but was worth the ride.
I used to love running this trail as it is in my neighborhood. They closed it to lay some pipe and I doubt it will open again until some time next year. Hopefully the don't ruin the surface of it by using the large gravel they placed along the sides.
Rode one way approx 7 miles starting in Amsterdam. While pedaling under the thruway overpass, it smelled like feces/urine. This area has an abandoned building and an adjacent overgrown wareyard with debris piles, junk and very weedy. Approx 1/3 mile past the overpass we stopped to look at map and weather app (the clouds were looking ominous) and I see a large man riding toward us (up until that point we saw no-one else on the trail). As he passed us grunting and snarling at us, I noticed he was filthy with dirty hair and face. He rode past us and less than 30 seconds later when I looked down the trail, he had disappeared into the brush (this is a straightaway section - you can see a long way). We turned around and within 10 minutes the downpour was upon us. We were soaked when we arrived back in am-dam.
My advice: do not pedal this section by the overpass alone. This man had no good reason to pursue us, then growl/grunt when passing us and then disappear back into the brush. If I had been solo riding, I can only speculate on a different outcome. He is living under/by the overpass. We apparently pedaled thru his "area".
Great surface! Connect from I 390 trail to go from Greece to Lake Ontaio pier. We enjoyed.
Bring your mountain bike or go slow 12 - 14 mph on road bike. The trail is scenic and a great way to safely ride from Greece to Lake Ontario. Near the north end pick up the Lake Ontario Parkway Trail and ride to the pier at Port Rochester
My wife and I visited Buffalo from our home town 2.5 hours away on Sep. 1, 2019 with the primary purpose of riding this trail. I can't say the ride was worth the car trip. We started at the northern end of the trail in Tonawanda . For the first few miles, it went right along the Niagara River, with beautiful views. Then it moved inland and went through an industrial area, but it was still interesting, at least to an engineer like me. At Sheridan Dr, we encountered the first disappointment. A sign said the trail was closed ahead. We checked, and it was indeed definitely closed off with a chain link fence. One small sign indicated a detour, but it seemed to point to the entrance ramp of I-190, where another sign said bicycles forbidden, as expected! Fortunately, a local cyclist passing by pointed us to the correct detour on River Rd, which was quite unattractive. Shortly after returning to the trail via an overpass over I-190, another closure sent us again on inland streets. Finally, we came up to a third closure on Niagara St. just before Unity Island. This time, there was not even a sign indicating a detour. We had had enough with the closures and the ugly city streets, so we just turned around and rode back to our starting point. This will be a much better trail when the closures are eliminated, and it would be a 5-start trail if more of it went along the river. The real gem would be extending it north to the Falls, which at present, can only be reached via a maize of city streets. (We tried, but got lost and gave up.)
Nice trail along the lake and into Buffalo. But busy in weekends.
The trail provides a great peaceful, scenic adventure through the natural greenspace along the Robert Moses and around Lower River Road.
However, its condition has deteriorated over the years and has several unsafe locations if roller blading or biking.
Are there any future plans to update?
This is the first of a multi-part review, since the trail is so long. It takes me and hour and a half to drive from New Paltz, NY to one of the parking areas.
Last year I rode the section from the Corning Center in Albany along the Hudson River to end at a parking lot in Watervaliet. Right next to the the river, there is a lot to see and hear on this paved trail, as the highway is sometimes very close. There are plenty of areas to stop and touch the water while on a break. Just do it sometime anytime. I would like to revisit this section after the leaves have fallen, just before winter.
Last month I rode from the through the Albany suburbs of Watervaliet, Green Island, and Cahoes. Though it is fairly flat and well paved, it is totally on-street section of the trail. One nice side trip is north up to Waterford, which goes over several bridges to Van Schaich Island and Peebles Island. When you cross the steel bridge you can see the beginning of the actual canal and its first lock near the Waterford Harbor Visitor Center. Just go down Cannon Street.
Last week, Tuesday August 20, 2019 I went to the section that includes the towns of Latham and Colonie, turning around at Lock 7 on the Mohawk River. This is a very nice section of the trail, good pavement, mostly shady and offers a few nice views of the Mohawk River. There is a short on-road section in Dunsbach Ferry where you ride underneath Route 87. Then a significant hill back to the trail. Headed west, from the Lions Park in Niskayuna ( a good parking area) there is one very straight and flat section of about a mile or so for time-keepers and racers. Lock #7 is a pleasant park to stop for a break and watch the boats navigate the rise or fall of the lock, next to a waterfall.
It may take several years for me to complete the entire Erie Canal trail, but it is a fun goal.
We have been loving this trail from Herkimer ( starts at Movac parking lot rt 5s Mohawk) , past Fort Herkimer Church about 4 miles is paved and mostly flat. A beautiful ride. Will be great when the connection at rt 167 in LittleFalls is finished. The trail continues to be paved across rt 167 ( Little Falls). Mostly flat and very scenic. Turns to stone dust at Finks Basin rd. LF ( parking). Paved again@ STJ
My wife and I had a nice ride in spite of some on and off rain during our ride. The trail was well drained and it was not muddy. My only complaint is that there could be a little better signage on some of the road sections of the trail. As we traveled west out of Mertensia Park we had to guess which way to travel on the road when the trail hit the back of the golf course.
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