Signage coming into Rome traveling east, or leaving Rome traveling west, is non-existent. Expect to travel on busy city roads. Trail Links is a bit better than the Erie Canalway booklet in navigating this, but it’s still a challenge. Lots of construction in Utica and the trail east of Leland Ave is closed.

Parked at Clarence Town Park on Rt 5 in Clarence. Nicest public park restrooms I have ever seen. Thank you!!! Rode NE on the West Shore trail to the end in Akron. Wide open rural area with very little shade. Took a right on Cedar, left on Main, and right on Parkview. Probably about 2 miles on road. Food available in Akron. Very little traffic on a weekday evening. Think I was passed by only 5 cars. Gentle grades and the steepest one was a downhill on Parkview. Stretch along 93 is only a couple hundred feet on a sidewalk.

Rode NW on Peanut Line to end in East Amherst. Narrower than West Shore with some shade. Clarence Center to East Amherst had several easy street crossings and lots of walkers and dogs.

Rode back SE to Strickler Rd and headed S for about 3 miles. Fairly quiet country road. Only passed by about a dozen cars. All were very nice and gave me plenty of room. One even waited for oncoming car to clear before passing. Had a slight uphill grade to Rt 5.

Rode to the SW end of the West Shore trail. This was my favorite part. Well shaded through wetlands. I suspect it might be mosquito heaven certain times of the year.

Headed back NE to my starting spot at the park. Odometer showed 31 miles. Nothing exciting scenery-wise, but well maintained trails with great signs and milemarkers every .2 miles. Thanks.....bikin-Mike May 2021

I biked the eastern section, between Greigsville (63/Genesee St) and Peoria Rd. It appears to be used almost exclusively by 4-wheel ATVs (except for winter).

I parked at the crossroads of Federal Rd and Craig Rd. Google Maps claims there is a trailhead at Dow Rd, but there is no parking there, not even enough room to get your vehicle off the road. This website says there is a trailhead at 63/Genesee St in Greigsville, but I can't confirm that, and the satellite imagery doesn't look encouraging.

As others have noted, there is considerable ballast, at least on this section. My bike has 4.8" tires, and I had their pressure at 4 psi. With that marshmallow tires setup, the ballast was still definitely annoying but not terrible. On the large majority of bikes, this ride would probably be bad.

The wooded setting was nice.

Regarding winter use: A ranger said snowmobilers use and even groom this trail.

This trail was a great disappointment. Very poorly maintained. When you get to the part along the river it’s horrendous. You have to be very careful because there are holes and it’s extremely rough. Will never go on the trail again

Wide trail, very active but nice ride from North Buffalo to the river!

Great asphalt trail. A lot of signage to explain where you are. Numerous benches for rest stops. A nice eatery at the end of trail in Clarence Center.

Great trail for a run through nature. Well maintained asphalt path. Plenty of parking.

This is a beautiful trail, very well groomed and serene surroundings. If the rating was for those issues, I would give it a 5 star, HOWEVER, if you wish to use it for cross country skiing, you will be assaulted w/ the sounds, smells and close encounters w/ snowmobiles, and, if my experience on Sunday is any indicator, many of them. This greatly compromises the experience if you are hoping for a quiet, fresh air commune w/ nature type of skiing. I definitely will not be going back. Please understand, I am not dissing snowmobiles, just saying they are incompatible w/ Xcountry skiing, at least on this trail,

New off road section was created along Broadway in Albany after coming out of the tunnel. Watch for the signs for the Empire Trail also