Explore the best rated trails in Ithaca, NY, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Auburn-Fleming Trail and South Hill Recreation Way . With more than 25 trails covering 463 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.
Driving across NY, wanted an exercise break, & got to see a Finger Lake . This rails to trail reminds one of the variety one can expect to see across the broader network of trails. If one parks at the southern end in Horsehead just off of interstate 86, it is really 27 miles up & back. The northern end is at Lake Seneca and Watkins’s Glen - a fun town with lots of little cafes and interesting stores. Along the way, one can see a beautiful waterfall, pretty churches, a canal, decrepit buildings, forests and marshes. Biking surfaces are definitely varied (grass, dirt, gravel, pavement, bridges) and depending on wetness, better done on tires with better treads. E-bikes were perfect on a moist day. My husband would have been happier if we had driven to a further north trailhead to reduce mileage and take up less time.
We did the trail on a trip to the Finger Lakes. The trail surface was terrible. Evidently, someone decided that the trail surface needed some TLC. The problem was that the remedy was worse than the previous condition. I would describe riding the trail like riding an existing railroad bed with the ties inplace and a layer of talc on top. And that's with a gravel bike with 2.2" tires. When I got back to the car, there were 2 other riders loading their bikes and they both said how they had to turn around because the trail was so bad. The scenery wasn't anything special and there was constant noise from cars on highway 14 which paralleled the trail. Signage was also poor and there were numerous times that you weren't sure where the trail was. All in all not the worst trail but don't think I would ever come back.
En fait, la surface est inégale pour le vélo, parfois poussière de roche, parfois gazon, parfois gravier. Le sentier est mal indiqué lorsqu’on part de Watkins Glen. Et la fin s’arrête brusquement. Sans moyen autre que la route pour accéder au village de horsehead et restos du coin.
Beautiful trail. Well maintained. Headed west from Henrietta first, a little secluded. Only went about 2 miles then headed east to lock 33. Felt safer going east. Full of exercise traffic… love to see that!
Rode this trail on October 31st. Still beautiful colors. At the 1.2 mile had to move 2 trees that fell across the trail. Otherwise trail well maintained. The park at the end is lovely. Crossed over Rt 20 and had lunch at The Beef & Brew. They were very accommodating letting us tuck our bikes in an alcove while we enjoyed a great lunch. Will post pictures too
Took out bikes on this trail on a lovely fall day — some nice fall colors. Negative is lack of signage, which caused us to go the wrong way at one intersection. Found it easier to bike the road than on the hill portion of Maple Avenue than on the very tiny strip of bike trail on the hill. Biked the trail in the flatter portion of the the Maple Ave. trail.
Nice trail for views but very rough in spots especially in the middle. There should almost be a warning for road bikes. Bumpy.
Enjoyed it - very shady and currently a lot of leaves down on much of the trail but a nice gravel ride. Some sections the trail was 1 ft wide and others 12 ft wide, some finely crushed cinder and some even grassy. Is a rail trail with gradual climb going south and a couple of fun little hills/bumps. Signage is a little confusing - we took the road one direction but found the trail coming back. Does require a couple of on road sections.
I have walked & biked this trail for 2 years now. Within the last month, I no longer feel safe on this trail. Certain areas are very overgrown with the bushes. Several homeless encampments have been set up at different areas of the trail. Too bad something nice can’t be maintained.
We biked the trail and it was a beautiful day to get out and ride. The trail was in great shape. There were several benches all along the trail to stop and take a break if needed. The leaves were just starting to turn colors and fall off the trees. We saw a few other people on the trail, walking, biking and enjoying the day.
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