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 South Hill Recreation Way . With more than 24 trails covering 461 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 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.
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.
It's a nice safe ride without slot of hassle.
Nicely shaded most of the way, which follows a waterway. Goes by several waterfalls. The trail itself is a mix of gravel and grass with a few rough spots. I had my hybrid bike and my wife her e-bike. Overall a good ride giving us a decent workout.
The trail is well marked it's a bit tough going on roads through parts of Lockport. Once back on the trail, is well maintained.
In early June, we rode the section of the Erie Canal from Camillus to Syracuse. We also took a side trip on the Onondaga Lake West and East Shore Trails. Round trip, we biked approximatel 30 miles.
We parked at the June Reed Webster Park. The bathrooms were open. With that said, we have been there before and they have been closed. I would not count on them 100%.
The trail was in excellent shape. The Erie Canal section was hard a packed with small gravel. We did encounter hills, which we did not expect on a canal trail. They were small and manageable. Most of the hilly sections were paved, making them easy to navigate. The Onondaga Lake trails are paved and in fantastic condition. We only came across two small sections with tree root bumps.
This section of the Erie Canal Trail goes through the New York State Fairgrounds. It was eerie and strange to be at the Fair when no one else was around. Made for a unique experience.
The Onondaga Lake Trails were a pleasure with views of the lake, woodlands, birds, and flowers. We saw several bluebirds, which is not something we encounter routinely.
The Onondaga Lake Trails are part of the Onondaga Lake Park which has multiple bathroom facilities and picnic tables. We ate our lunch with a view of the lake and pickleball courts. There were a people playing, which provided our lunch time entertainment.
The only potential downside is the trail near Camillus is next to a garbage dumb. It is landscaped nicely with wild flowers in abundance and we did find a turtle on the path. We noticed an odor on our way back when the temperature was hotter. On the positive side, it is a productive use of the land.
We give this trail a thumbs up and will ride it again.
I am on a quest to complete a lot of the rail trails by bike on this app in the upstate NY area. So far I have completed most of the Rochester and Syracuse trails. This sets the bar high as one of the best trails I have done. It has a lot of diverse surface types and scenery. Rode it on 650b x 47mm road plus tires. I wouldn’t recommend going much smaller in width. Some sections can be a bit bumpy. Excellent trail! Highly recommend
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