Find the top rated birding trails in Corning, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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Such incredible views and scenery that you and your bike might wander right off the trail if you're not careful (I came close to doing this at least 3 times). I spent 3 days riding this trail in October, logging 95 miles. The only part of the trail that I did not cover was the southernmost 8 miles. This was my first visit, and certainly won't be my last. Rural, peaceful, away from it all. Trail surface is excellent and well-maintained. It is very flat, and you can expect to pedal most of the time.
My wife and I rode out tandem from Cass Park to the north end at Taughannock Falls. Starting at Cass Park, the trail has a long, steady (but gentle) climb for about 4 miles. The surface is crushed stone like it says, but the size is like fine gravel (think fish tank). Although I didn't ride with them, I plan to switch to my MTB slicks to reduce the rolling resistance. There is a small parking lot near the northern end, by the falls, where we found a picnic table to eat a bag lunch at. There are otherwise no services or restrooms along this trail. The return ride back to Cass Park was a bit faster, being downhill most of the way.
Did about 12 miles of this trail from north to south from the trailhead in Ansonia. Beautiful scenery from a well maintained trail with campgrounds available if desired. I will be back to do the entire trail with a few friends in the spring!
Stunning, serene, smooth. Biked this trail in three days, with round trip rides, in late June. Gorgeous rhododendron, day lilies, and other blooms along the trail. Very few road crossings. Wonderful.
Parked at the Millport parking lot and rode just past Montour Falls and back. Around 18 miles and most of it is on a covered, well maintained trail - only a few spots where you have to cross roads. I can’t wait to ride it again when I’m in the area!
The Ontario Pathway is exactly that; a pathway. It is a wide grassy path with a narrow-worn bike path. I was not expecting such a primitive trail. It is a beautiful trail that is under a canopy of trees that travels through lush farms. On our ride, the weather was great but the trail could be a problem in wet weather.
The Ontario Pathway seems to be lost in time. I felt I should have been riding a balloon tire Schwinn instead of my hybrid. It was a great experience but a little more strenuous that we expected.
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.
Ran from the trail intersection and Freshour Rd to Canadaigua YMCA. Beautiful tree canopy made sun protection unnecessary. This portion of the trail was about 50/50 wide enough to run on the path vs. in the grass.
About 3/4 had a taste in the mouth manure smell. Not sure time of year, wind direction or weather its a common occurrence.
I live within 200 yards of this trail so it's my go to for exercise, love it!
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.
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