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 Dryden Rail Trail . With more than 21 trails covering 397 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.
I really enjoy hiking this trail. There are lots of marked side trails off of the main trail that can really get your heart rate up if your looking for a more challenging hike.
From the beginning we got after a mile or so. Lacking in signage and painted bike markings on the road. We gave up after a few miles after getting lost a few times .
On August 12, 2022 I rode my bicycle on the Erie Canalway trail from Port Byron to the Erie Canal Park and Museum in Camillus (which is on the trail) and back, approximately 19 miles each way. It was a dry, sunny day in the 80’s. The surface was mostly crushed gravel and packed earth with a few stretches on asphalt in the breakdown lane of some local roads where the trail diverged from the canal. The condition was good to excellent except for the final short stretch near Camillus which was unacceptable because erosion in two areas created the dangerous possibility of falling into the canal and because the trail was too narrow for two bikes in opposite directions to safely pass each other. For this small section, I recommend riding on the local road on the other side of the concrete barrier dividing this path from the local road. The surface on this local road was only fair secondary to potholes and cracks in the asphalt.
The museum in the Camillus Erie Canal Park is open 12-4 PM on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday and is open from 1-5 PM on Sunday. Most sections of the Erie Canalway Trail from Port Byron to Camillus run along a non-navigable branch of the Erie Canal which is very shallow and is overgrown with algae or cattail plants or is filled in with dirt. Other sections go through wooded areas, rural areas, farmland and the small town of Weedsport.
Excellent conditions today, even after a couple days of heavy rain. Looks like some recent work has been done between the Dunning trail head and first bridge!
Jogged here in July,2022.As soon as I exited the car at the Waterloo entrance,was surrounded by mosquitoes and large biting flies.Trail is nice,well maintained but at end of jog had many bites/welts.Bring bug spray folks.
Not much to see on this trail. Well maintained and one landowner landscaped it beautifully but other than that really nothing to see. The Penn Yan to Dresden is way nicer with much to see.
Some beautiful parts of the trail. However, in many places the trail is poorly marked and the southern end (3-4 miles), requires some technical skill. It’s probably fine for hiking. Stick with the northern portion, e.g., Watkins Glen or Montour Falls for about 8 miles south.
Road stretch of trail from Canastota to Route 290 trail head and return. Total 28.6 miles. Trail in great condition but stretches of Erie Canal are still standing/ stagnant algae. It was 90+ degrees. Lovely gift of a case of cold water at 290 trail head. The surprise gift was much needed by riders/runners. Posting this to keep track of completed sections as I don’t see that feature on trail link. Perhaps it will be added.
We parked at the Finger Lakes Visitors Center and rode to the trail. An employee at the visitors center told us to ride on the bike/walking path to the children’s water play area, turn left, go over small bridge at creek, make immediate right, and follow trail. Trail will take you beside creek, up over rail road tracks and then underneath highway to trail. We would have never found it without these wonderful directions. Hopefully this is helpful to you too!
I rode the length of the Catharine Valley Trail in both directions. It's a very average trail. It's basically a crushed stone surface through the woods without anything to distinguish it from a thousand other trails. Signage is fair - there are a few places where a sign indicating the direction to the trail would have been helpful, but after fumbling around for a couple minutes you can figure it out. Portions of the trail follow Rt. 14, so there's a fair amount of traffic noise. There are a few points of interest in Watkins Glen and Montour Falls at the far north end, but other than that, there's really nothing else to see when you're on the trail. I would not recommend making this a "destination" trail - it's really not worth it. I would only suggest using it if you intend to bike from Watkins Glen down to Horseheads or Elmira. The trail allows you to avoid Rt. 14, which, although a designated New York State bike route with ample shoulders, has heavy high-speed traffic.
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