Ellicott Trail

New York

1 Reviews

The Ellicott Trail is a crushed stone rail-trail in Batavia, Genesee County. The trail provides the best of both worlds, winding through the heart of downtown while also providing an immersive journey into nature. The trail is well-signed and easy to follow from start to finish. Beginning in the developing Oakwood Hills neighborhood on Seven Springs Road, the trail takes the converted railbed past wetland and over the active railroad tracks on a newly refurbished covered bridge. Crossing Route 5, the trail enters the DeWitt Recreational Area, where it skirts the north and west shoreline of the lake.

The trail exits the park and takes Edwards Road to the historic Elmwood Cemetery. From there, the trail parallels SR 63 through the center of town, where there are plenty of things to tempt you off the trail, including local restaurants and ice-cream shops. At Jackson Street, the trail resumes its course on the former rail corridor and travels west, with a bridge delivering users over Tonawanda Creek. Williams Park is a good place to terminate your trip or turn around. The trail's actual endpoint is on Pear Street, just north of Industrial Boulevard.

Note that dogs are not allowed in Dewitt or in the Elmwood Cemetery portions of the trail. Dogs are welcome on the rest of the trail.

Parking and Trail Access

Parking can be found in Williams Park (69 Pearl Street) and Dewitt Recreation Area (115 Cedar Street, Batavia, NY). Street parking can also be found in downtown Batavia.

An Interesting Ride With Lots of Variation

October 2021 jgwallis

4 (or 5) stars

On October 28th my wife and I parked in the parking lot of the old Batavia Daily News building, now for lease or sale, at the southwest corner of Industrial Blvd. and Route 33
(Pearl St.) and directly across Industrial Blvd. from the western trailhead.
The trail is as varied as advertised in the TrailLink writeup. It seemed longer than it is as a result of the changes in scenery.
The Ellicott St. section is well signed and safe, but with a traffic level we try to avoid. Directional markers are both above ground and embedded in the sidewalk.
The pleasant, but short section through Elmwood Cemetery was a pleasant contrast to Ellicott St.. We’d never before encountered a rail trail through a cemetery.
The DeWitt Recreation Area, through which the trail travels, is outstanding in its diversity in scenery, side trails and outdoor opportunities.
Near the end of the ride and to lengthen a short ride for us, we took a left at Red Oak Ln. riding through the Oakwood Hills neighborhood, then made a right on Seven Springs Rd. along which we picked up the eastern trail head.
On our return ride, we avoided Ellicott St. by crossing it onto Clifton Ave. from Harvester Ave. and then riding through a residential neighborhood to regain the trail at Evans St.
Glenn and Joan Wallis