The Rutland Trail is a multi-use trail extending for 21.2 miles from Norwood, NY to Moira, NY. Click on the map to view the trail on a Google Maps mashup.
The trail starts from Railroad Ave in Norwood, (proceed eastward along the south side of the Conrail tracks), and is contiguous to Winthrop, where the bridge was removed. In Winthrop you have to cross the St. Regis river on a highway bridge and skirt one mile of inaccessible railbed. Half is unusable because the bridge is out, and the other half is posted. The trail is ridable from there into the village of North Lawrence, where the bridge was removed. Beyond that is another one mile section which is posted by CoolBrands (formerly Kraft Foods). Beyond that section the trail is ridable to Moira.
As you can see from the photograph (more photos) above, the trail is beautiful. Except for one very muddy mile, most of the trail looks like this. There are only 13 road intersections, and no development along the trail. As far as you're concerned, when you're on the trail, you're in the middle of wilderness. Deer, raccoons, ducks, snakes, and turtles are comfortable using the trail.
The trail is owned by Christopher Muka from Norwood through to the Norwood/Knapps-Station Road. From there through most of Winthrop, it is owned by the Town of Stockholm. The last mile is privately owned. The Rutland railbed continues eastward from Winthrop, and parts are publicly owned by the Town of Lawrence, but I'm not sure what is public and what is private.
20-May-2005: the portion of the trail on the east side of the St. Regis River in Winthrop is unusable because the bridge is out and there's no road access. That poses no real problem, however the next portion of the trail is posted with a grumpy "Police Take Notice! Property is being trespassed upon!" and a posted notice below it. Not a real big deal, since you can go no more than 1/2 mile down the road to the next intersection. This next section is owned by Harry Dow.
20-May-2005: the portion of the trail owned by CoolBrands is closed. The closure extends from the east side of the river in North Lawrence to the next road to the east. CoolBrands has their property posted, and separately, the water treatment ponds are posted. On the west end, there is a fence topped with barbed wire and posted.
22-Dec-2006: Verified that the portion of the trail west of the hamlet of North Lawrence is owned by the Town of Lawrence. Also owned by the Town is the section east of the Coolbrands property to the county line. Continuing eastward to Moira is a section owned by Watson Manning Jr. The railbed has been extinguished as a separate piece of property through Moira. Heading out the eastern side of Moira is a section owned by Roger Hughs.
Thanks to all property owners who allow people to traverse their property! Respect adjoining property owners' rights and stay on the trail.
Good news! The Town of Stockholm has received a Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant.
TI-01 MD D/A Town of Stockholm Rutland Railroad Line Trail
St. Lawrence $35,000.00 $28,000.00
The Town of Stockholm, in conjunction with the St Lawrence
County Youth Conservation Corps, plans to maintain and
restore an abandoned railroad bed, develop and rehabilitate
trailside and trailhead facilities and purchase 18.6 acres
for expansion of the Rutland Trail corridor. Other groups
will also participate in this project, including the County
Community Service Brigade, T/Stockholm ATV Association and
volunteer youth service groups.
Some time between June 12th and August 13th of 2005, the Youth Bureau cleared brush from a .71 mile stretch of the trail in the Skinnerville area
09-Apr-2006: a work party of one drained the puddle here and cleared the drainage ditch to drain another puddle..
11-Apr-2006: Drained this puddle. The whole section westward from here has bad drainage and many long-lasting puddles. Upon inspection, the drainage ditches are blocked by old farm crossings. They must go.
29-May-2006: Most of the puddles have been drained as well as they will ever be. Time to get some money together and buy some fill. The wet spots get soft, and the wheels of the ATVs carry material out of the hole, making a bigger hole.Once the hole gets below the level of the drainage ditch, you can never empty it.
21-Apr-2007: I suggested that Nils Peterson and the Community Service Brigade from the Youth Bureau clean out the drainage ditch at the 09-Apr-2006 location. They did fantastic work. I extended their work even deeper, but, really, the drainage ditch on the other side also needs reconstruction. Otherwise the water will continue to flow down the middle of the trail. Also partly dug out a transmission-buster rock, but will need to come back with a come-along and chain. Also closed an ATV go-around of this puddle and mostly drained it.
24-Apr-2007: Come-along and chain successfully moved the transmission-buster off to the side of the trail. Also partly dug out the ditch on the other side.
5-May-2007: working on the eastern end of Christopher Muka's portion of the trail, with his permission. Moved three rocks out of the way. Reconstructed the drainage ditch. Cut brush.
10-May-2007: Found a set of keys. Describe to claim. Call 315-265-5655.
The Town of Stockholm is currently constituting a committee of interested parties. Contact Lowell Kelsey, town supervisor, PO Box 206, Winthrop NY 13697 or 389-5171 for more information.
The Tri-Town ATV Club has been maintaining several bridges against the forces of nature, as well as the forces of evil attempting to destroy them. No, we don't understand; can evil ever be understood?
The Rutland Trail is just a portion of the remains of the Rutland Railroad Northern Division. Originally, the railroad extended across the entire top of New York State, from Ogdensburg in the west to Rouses Point in the east.
George Cameron, a former brakeman on the Rutland, writes in with his reminisces. George remembers working with Steve Mumley's father, "a clean cut, neat, good looking and highly regarded young guy who was considered to be a top notch brakeman."
James R. Jones has produced a DVD entitled "Rutland Remnants, Vol. 1: Ogdensburg to Lake Champlain". Relive the fabled Rutland's Ogdensburg Subdivision in digital splendor. Experience New York & Ogdensburg Railroad's shortline operations over the last surviving 25 miles, classic images from the past, and reminders of yesteryear from every stop on the 118 mile line. You've never seen the Rutland like this!
On February 12th of 2005, Michael Summers, 49, of Norfolk, was
thrown from his snowmobile when the sled hit exposed roots on the
Rutland Trail. Rest in Peace, Michael. His trailside
memorial:
The Rutland Railroad originally extended from Rutland VT through Ogdensburg. Part of the route went through the Champlain Islands and Burlington. A portion of the railbed has been converted to a rail-trail, called The Island Line.
The Rutland Railroad Historical Society is a non-profit historical and educational organization dedicated to the preservation of the memory of the Rutland Railroad.
The Rutland Railway Association maintains the Center Rutland Depot museum, and maintains a historical library. They are located in Center Rutland, VT.
Vermont Rail System operates the New York & Ogdensburg Railway, which is the sole remnant of the Northern Division still in rails.
Tags: 
rutlandtrail, 
railtrail