Find the top rated bike trails in Ithaca, whether you're looking for an easy short bike trail or a long bike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a bike trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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
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.
Trail is a great ride with a slight increasing grade heading south. Majority of the trail is well shaded from a tree canopy. Trail surface is stable and smooth. Trail markers are pathetic! Extremely lacking heading south and somewhat (not enough)improved heading north.
This is an out-and-back route, though there is a parking lot at S Hibbard Road and also at Sperr Memorial Park.
Parking off S Hibbard Road in Big Flats, there's about a 10-foot incline to get up to the main trail. Once on the trail, it's a mix of packed surface, deep gravel, and some grass. There will likely be walkers to avoid, though not many. At the 1.5km mark there's a steep incline to get up and over Kahler Road, and then the trail continues through grass, but it looks like it used to be paved for vehicles so there are two car-wheel-width tracks available. There is nothing at the far end of the trail - no sign, no turn-around - just trees & weeds. Not a lot to see, but it's a fun ride. On the way back, another steep incline to get up & over Kahler Road. You can to a bit of biking around Sperr Park, but most of it is unmaintained and seldom used to you'd just be exploring.
Overall the trail is well maintained, but lightly used save for the Wineglass Marathon which is always the first weekend in October.
Traveling from Craig Park heading east, the trail is paved with a very slight incline, goes through a tunnel and quickly passes the Painted Post-Erwin Museum at the Depot (an old train station). Then cross Hamilton street and you pass a cemetery and a well-shaded kids playground. Nothing much more to see but you will cross 2 more streets before coming to the end of the paved area which is a bridge over a drainage channel before another tunnel. This is the official end of the trail, but if you can handle some roots and gravel, you can exit the tunnel, take a left, and continue another 1/2 mile and exit through Jerry's Tree Service onto Wardell Street and work your way into Corning. Alternatively, if you can handle the gravel, you can continue next to the rarely-used train tracks all the way to Spruce Street. Then you can turn onto Baker street past the Corning Museum of Glass all the way into downtown Corning.
Unlike most rail to trail venues, this one has a very nice, cleared path but no surface work. The result is walking on railroad ballast which is very tough on feet and joints. I would not consider this a safe bike trail and caution hikers. Hopefully this is just the beginning of more work to come such as seen in the Catherine Valley Trail which is much more user friendly. On the plus side, the signage and clearing work is nicely done and the old RR right of way has many small falls and streamlets to enjoy.
Shared review with Hiking NYS and Beyond.
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