Find the top rated trails in Elmira, whether you're looking an easy walking path or a long bike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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The North Link Trail is a 9 mile section of rail-trail which is just one part of an 85-mile loop that winds through the forested hills and valleys of this state forest. Known as the Susquehannock...
The Lackawanna Rail Trail spans Elmira, New York, linking famous Eldridge Park with the city’s waterfront. The paved trail uses a former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad corridor for most of...
In 1979 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers saw value in this corridor near the Tioga River, which was part of the Erie Lackawanna Rail Line. It once passed through the village of Lambs Creek, which is...
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North of Mansfield lies the Railroad Grade Trail, know to locals as Ives Run. The 2.5-mile trail begins on the north end at the Ives Run Recreation area, near the boat launch parking lot. Travelers on...
In the heart of New York's Finger Lakes Region is a rail-trail that is part natural wonder and part industrial archaeology, and the 7-mile trail Keuka Outlet Trail has a unique heritage. Technically a...
The Cayuga-Seneca Canalway Trail is a 5-mile pathway beginning in Waterloo, New York and terminating at Seneca Lake State Park. The current stretch of trail kicks off near Lock 4 in Waterloo and...
The Catharine Valley Trail travels for 12 miles between Seneca Lake in Watkins Glen and Smith Road north of Pine Valley. The trail follows segments of the abandoned Northern Central Railroad and...
The South Hill Recreation Way follows the southern rim of the Six Mile Creek gorge from the outskirts of southeast Ithaca to Burns Road, near the Ithaca Reservoir. The gravel path follows the former...
If you are near Corning, New York, and need a nice walk, check out this charming respite. The Painted Post Trail connects schools, playgrounds, other trails and residential neighborhoods west of...
The East Ithaca Recreation Way on East Hill is primarily built upon the rail bed of the old Ithaca and Cortland Railroad, which later became part of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The trail skirts the...
The Vestal Rail Trail runs for nearly four miles through the town of Vestal along an abandoned right-of-way once used by the Delaware–Lackawana & Western Railroad. Today, the 12-foot-wide trail is...
One of the premier rail-trails in the Northeast, the Pine Creek Rail Trail in Pine Creek Gorge offers travelers a spectacular 62-mile journey through the area commonly referred to as the Grand Canyon...
If you are near Corning, New York, and need a nice walk, check out this charming respite. The Painted Post Trail connects schools, playgrounds, other trails and residential neighborhoods west of...
In the heart of New York's Finger Lakes Region is a rail-trail that is part natural wonder and part industrial archaeology, and the 7-mile trail Keuka Outlet Trail has a unique heritage. Technically a...
Located in scenic Potter and Clinton Counties, the Susquehannock Hiking Trail is an 85-mile amalgamation of old Civilian Conservation Corps fire trails, logging roads and railroad grades through the...
In 1979 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers saw value in this corridor near the Tioga River, which was part of the Erie Lackawanna Rail Line. It once passed through the village of Lambs Creek, which is...
North of Mansfield lies the Railroad Grade Trail, know to locals as Ives Run. The 2.5-mile trail begins on the north end at the Ives Run Recreation area, near the boat launch parking lot. Travelers on...
The George B. Will Trail in Tiadaghton State Forest is named for an early 20th-century Pennsylvania forest ranger. The trail is popular with cross-country skiers and travels through a mixed-pine...
The North Link Trail is a 9 mile section of rail-trail which is just one part of an 85-mile loop that winds through the forested hills and valleys of this state forest. Known as the Susquehannock...
Black Diamond Trail will one day stretch 15 miles to link four state parks in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Currently, 8 miles of the trail are open, which follow the Lehigh Valley Railroad...
The Vestal Rail Trail runs for nearly four miles through the town of Vestal along an abandoned right-of-way once used by the Delaware–Lackawana & Western Railroad. Today, the 12-foot-wide trail is...
Primarily a cross-country ski route, the 13.4-mile Sentiero DiShay Trail can also be enjoyed for hiking and mountain biking. The trail winds through a mixed forest of conifer and deciduous trees. The...
The Catharine Valley Trail travels for 12 miles between Seneca Lake in Watkins Glen and Smith Road north of Pine Valley. The trail follows segments of the abandoned Northern Central Railroad and...
The East Ithaca Recreation Way on East Hill is primarily built upon the rail bed of the old Ithaca and Cortland Railroad, which later became part of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The trail skirts the...
The Cayuga-Seneca Canalway Trail is a 5-mile pathway beginning in Waterloo, New York and terminating at Seneca Lake State Park. The current stretch of trail kicks off near Lock 4 in Waterloo and...
The Ridgeway Trail skirts the banks of Willseyville Creek along the abandoned rail bed of the Delaware & Lackawanna Railroad and the former Lehigh Valley Railroad. From south Willseyville the trail...
The Jim Schug Trail offers a short, sweet excursion in New York's Finger Lakes region. The trail was known as the Dryden Lake Trail until it was renamed in 2002 in memory of the late town supervisor...
The South Hill Recreation Way follows the southern rim of the Six Mile Creek gorge from the outskirts of southeast Ithaca to Burns Road, near the Ithaca Reservoir. The gravel path follows the former...
A pleasant walk between wetland habitat and farmland, this short community trail sits atop a sewer line that Corning Glassworks installed to serve its Big Flats plant. Corning provided the crushed...
The Lackawanna Rail Trail spans Elmira, New York, linking famous Eldridge Park with the city’s waterfront. The paved trail uses a former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad corridor for most of...
Located at 2,100 feet and next to the Loyalsock State Forest in northeast Pennsylvania, this trail in the small town of Eagles Mere has a rich history. In 1892 the Eagles Mere eight-mile narrow gauge...
The Cayuga-Seneca Canalway Trail is a 5-mile pathway beginning in Waterloo, New York and terminating at Seneca Lake State Park. The current stretch of trail kicks off near Lock 4 in Waterloo and...
The South Hill Recreation Way follows the southern rim of the Six Mile Creek gorge from the outskirts of southeast Ithaca to Burns Road, near the Ithaca Reservoir. The gravel path follows the former...
In 1979 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers saw value in this corridor near the Tioga River, which was part of the Erie Lackawanna Rail Line. It once passed through the village of Lambs Creek, which is...
Located in scenic Potter and Clinton Counties, the Susquehannock Hiking Trail is an 85-mile amalgamation of old Civilian Conservation Corps fire trails, logging roads and railroad grades through the...
The East Ithaca Recreation Way on East Hill is primarily built upon the rail bed of the old Ithaca and Cortland Railroad, which later became part of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The trail skirts the...
A pleasant walk between wetland habitat and farmland, this short community trail sits atop a sewer line that Corning Glassworks installed to serve its Big Flats plant. Corning provided the crushed...
The Jim Schug Trail offers a short, sweet excursion in New York's Finger Lakes region. The trail was known as the Dryden Lake Trail until it was renamed in 2002 in memory of the late town supervisor...
The Ridgeway Trail skirts the banks of Willseyville Creek along the abandoned rail bed of the Delaware & Lackawanna Railroad and the former Lehigh Valley Railroad. From south Willseyville the trail...
The Lackawanna Rail Trail spans Elmira, New York, linking famous Eldridge Park with the city’s waterfront. The paved trail uses a former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad corridor for most of...
The North Link Trail is a 9 mile section of rail-trail which is just one part of an 85-mile loop that winds through the forested hills and valleys of this state forest. Known as the Susquehannock...
In the heart of New York's Finger Lakes Region is a rail-trail that is part natural wonder and part industrial archaeology, and the 7-mile trail Keuka Outlet Trail has a unique heritage. Technically a...
Located at 2,100 feet and next to the Loyalsock State Forest in northeast Pennsylvania, this trail in the small town of Eagles Mere has a rich history. In 1892 the Eagles Mere eight-mile narrow gauge...
The Catharine Valley Trail travels for 12 miles between Seneca Lake in Watkins Glen and Smith Road north of Pine Valley. The trail follows segments of the abandoned Northern Central Railroad and...
The Vestal Rail Trail runs for nearly four miles through the town of Vestal along an abandoned right-of-way once used by the Delaware–Lackawana & Western Railroad. Today, the 12-foot-wide trail is...
One of the premier rail-trails in the Northeast, the Pine Creek Rail Trail in Pine Creek Gorge offers travelers a spectacular 62-mile journey through the area commonly referred to as the Grand Canyon...
Primarily a cross-country ski route, the 13.4-mile Sentiero DiShay Trail can also be enjoyed for hiking and mountain biking. The trail winds through a mixed forest of conifer and deciduous trees. The...
North of Mansfield lies the Railroad Grade Trail, know to locals as Ives Run. The 2.5-mile trail begins on the north end at the Ives Run Recreation area, near the boat launch parking lot. Travelers on...
Black Diamond Trail will one day stretch 15 miles to link four state parks in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Currently, 8 miles of the trail are open, which follow the Lehigh Valley Railroad...
If you are near Corning, New York, and need a nice walk, check out this charming respite. The Painted Post Trail connects schools, playgrounds, other trails and residential neighborhoods west of...
The George B. Will Trail in Tiadaghton State Forest is named for an early 20th-century Pennsylvania forest ranger. The trail is popular with cross-country skiers and travels through a mixed-pine...
As other reviewers have noted, this is an absolutely beautiful shaded trail. It is slowly, ever so slowly, being developed by a not-for-profit organization of volunteers. These volunteers need someone to help them prepare grant applications to New York State's current method of funding, the Consolidated Funding Application as well as to private foundations making grants in New York State's Finger Lakes Region.
Without a significant infusion of funds this Trail has no chance of reaching its potential as a major tourist destination as well as an outstanding recreational facility for residents of Yates County.
Walking the trail is a wonderful experience biking it not so wonderful.
Some sections of the Keuka Outlet Trail are now single track and double track trail surfaces. Fine for walking, not good if you are bicycling on an non-suspension bicycle. The Penn Yan Rotary & other organizations have placed very nice benches along the KLOT/KOT.
I bicycled the entire Trail on a folding (20" wheels & tires with a well defined but not mtb tread) touring bicycle without suspension but I'm a very experienced bicycle who wears well padded bike shorts!
The Keuka Outlet Trail is much smoother, even in the gravel and single track sections than the NPS's C&O Trail between Cumberland MD & Hancock MD.
I recommend the KOT or KLOT as a walking trail with much to see (waterfalls, remains of mills) and admire along its route. Go to the Yates County Chamber of Commerce office for a map & brochure of the Trail. Make a contribution to the "Friends of the Outlet, Inc." to improve the trail surface. There are "lock boxes" along the Trail for you to make contributions but a nice sized check would certainly help.
I rode the entire trail from Wellsboro Junction to Jersey shore and back over Labor Day weekend. The Pine Creek Gorge is immaculately maintained even with rain on my ride I didn't experience any sections that were rutted or riddled with mud pools. There are clean bathrooms every 4-6 miles as well as multiple access points to create your own ride length. The trail is very tightly packed gravel, it almost seems like asphalt at times. There are no hills but you will be riding against an almost imperceptible grade going from Jersey Shore to Wellsboro. Even with it being a holiday weekend I didn't find the trail too busy and most riders were friendly and considerate.
The first 26 miles from Wellsboro Junction to Blackwell includes the entire PA Grand Canyon. This area has varied scenery but no places to get supplies right off the trail so plan accordingly. The next 25 miles from Blackwell to Waterville has many general stores all of which offer good food, basic supplies and plenty of rustic souvenirs. The last 10 or so miles from Waterville to Jersey Shore offers a few bathrooms and a nice finish to a long ride but no supply stops. Cell service is sporadic at best so plan on not having any until you get to the last 5 miles of the trail near Wellsboro or Jersey Shore. Overall it is a perfect ride.
My son and I rode the trail together August 13th and 14th 2017. We parked the van with our two bicycles at the Jersey Shore parking lot at about noon on the 13th and biked to Waterville for lunch. It was then an easy bike to Hoffman's Camping Area where we set up our tents early. This campground was simply gorgeous and we shared it with one other camper. The sites are grassy, level, have shade, picnic tables and fire rings. The restroom was very clean. The water pump worked and because the sign said the water was not frequently tested, we put it through a Sawyer filter before we used it. The water tasted good. About 3 am, a coyote made a howl in the campground adding a bit of excitement as it woke us both. The next morning we broke camp and rode to Tiadaghton Campground turning around there to head back to Jersey Shore. The ride back to Jersey Shore was wonderful. The scenery was perfect, and we saw wildlife all along the way. Highlights were an eagle, 4 rattlesnakes, and a black bear loping across our path just past Waterville.
The trail is flat and very well maintained. My son, who has ridden the Dirty Kanza race (200 miles in one day on 4 wheel drive gravel roads in the Kansas flint hills) chose to ride on road tires instead of hybrid tires. He said they worked just fine. I was riding a hybrid set of tires, and they were perfect for the trail conditions. Unless the weather has been bad, almost any bicycle tire would work.
I would rate this as the best bike trail I have experienced.
My wife and I decided to do a short get-away to Gaines Pa. and ride the Pine Creek Trail. We rented a small house about 8 miles from the Darling Run parking area. One day we rode about 8 miles to the north end of the trail and then we found a really nice paved road just past a local produce store to put in some really pleasant miles on some paved road. The following day we headed south for about 12 miles and took in the scenery along the Pine Creek. The scenery is beautiful and the trail is great. We both had road bikes with 700x25 tires and it's absolutely fine for that in case your concerned. There was hardly anyone along the trails both days and you can really relax and just pedal along. If you want to ride at a good pace it's quite doable for training or leisure. The trail is described as gravel, its pretty hard packed and great to ride you don't need a mountain bike to do it. The southern direction is in the Pa. grand canyon, heading north you can see further to the horizon and view nice farm land. There are some good places to eat in the area I highly recommend the The Burnin' Barrel Bar along Route 6 just before the turn off to rt 362 that goes to the Darlin run parking area. They have probably the best food in the area. If you love chocolate you have to check out Highland Chocolates in Wellsboro. If your into woodworking you need to checkout Irion Lumber too. I think the entire area is just fantastic and beautiful.
This trail is paved but the asphalt is cracked and in pretty rough shape. Definitely not for skating and biking only at a slow pace. The scenery is great: very quiet for being close to the highway.
I tend to agree with a previous post about this trail. We pulled in to Cass Park and rode our bikes all around the park amd found no signs. Had to ask park assistant. If he didnt give us directions we would have never found it. Other than that we will definately drive 2 hours to visit this trail again and again. I cant wait for it to be completed.
I walked 1-3 miles of the trail 4 times from Penn Yan with cousins in mid-July. It was a great, well-shaded trail for walking with the chance to meet friendly bikers and walkers. It also reflected a heavy rain on the last day's hike; what had been a gentle shallow creek the first walks was a deep, surging, bank-full small river the last day.
Great trail for biking or walking. It was just my husband and I, but this trail is perfect for families with kids also. Well maintained and not too crowded
We love this trail and have completed every mile at least twice. The trail is crushed stone and maintained with excellence and very minimal grade change. Last summer, 2016 my husband and I rode each part approx 12-17 miles in one direction and then back to our parking spot making many nice 25-35 mile rides . There are many trail parking areas along the way. Jersey Shore PA trailhead is a great starting point, Waterville and Blackrock are also good parking areas. The views all along the way on the Pine Creek are simply beautiful. The trail follows right next to the Pine Creek crossing nice bridges back and forth over the creek. We have seen amazing wildlife! Big birds, rabbits, chipmunks, deer, ducks, snakes and one bear. Never too windy and mostly shaded all the way. We have encountered horseflies south of the Grand Canyon of PA but only where the trail allows horses on a separate shared trail. Again, the maintenance crew clears debris and smooths the trail regularly. This is our Favorite trail even over the Katy and GAP.
My wife and i took our tandem bike from Cass Park to Gorge Rd. yesterday. It was a very pleasant ride and beautiful through the shady woods mostly. The interchanges with crossing roads were well marked. One problem was finding it in the first place. We didn't see any signs from the Cass Park trail and ended up crossing several grassy areas to find our way onto the trail. I don't see how a visitor to the area would find it at all.
Began in Watkins Glen. Rather than riding through town which is very crowded during the summer especially holiday weekends and race weekends, I parked at Watkins Glen High School where the trail runs right next to one of their parking lots. School is closed and the only other cars had bike racks on them also. It is a GREAT trail and you will love it but let me give you some pointers. The trail is NOT well marked. I made two errors and would have made more if I hadnt asked directions. The trail twice puts you onto city roads with no signs which way to go, in each case go left and look for signs. The trail is almost exclusively uphill from Watkins with a very long but gradual grade. Great ride, lots of shade, saw deer in my path and many small critters. Very few people. The end is not marked at all just turns to heavy stone and grass.
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