New York has one of the richest collections of rail-trails in the country. Dozens of former railroad and interurban corridors have been converted into public paths, ranging from short in-town greenways to long regional routes that string together several old lines. This directory organizes New York's rail-trails by region so you can find one near you — or plan a trip built around several. For trail-by-trail maps and current surface reports, the TrailLink New York listings are an excellent companion to this guide.
Understanding the Trail Types
Rail-trails in New York fall into a few broad families. Some are paved suburban greenways built for commuting and family riding, like the linked North County, South County, and Putnam County trailways north of New York City. Others are crushed-stone rural trails that run for miles between small towns. A few are rough, remote grades — barely improved railbed — that reward the adventurous. Knowing which kind you are heading for tells you what bike to bring and what to expect, a subject the rail-trail guide covers in full.
The Hudson Valley and the East
The eastern edge of the state has some of New York's best-known rail-trails. The Harlem Valley Rail Trail runs north through Dutchess and Columbia counties past stone-walled farmland and the shoulders of the Taconic hills. The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail crosses the Shawangunk foothills near New Paltz on a spectacular former railroad trestle. Nearby are the Hudson Valley Rail Trail, the Dutchess Rail Trail, the Shawangunk Rail Trail, the Orange Heritage Trailway, and the Joseph B. Clarke Rail Trail, all within easy reach of one another.
The Capital Region and the Adirondacks
Around Albany, Saratoga, and the southern Adirondacks you will find the Zim Smith Trail, the Ballston Bike Path, the Uncle Sam Bikeway in Troy, and the Warren County Bikeway between Glens Falls and Lake George — one of the earliest rail-trails in the state. The Catskill Scenic Trail follows a former Ulster & Delaware branch west of the Catskills, and the Delaware & Hudson Canal Heritage Corridor traces an even older transportation route through the southern reaches of the region.
The Finger Lakes and Central New York
Central New York and the Finger Lakes are dense with trails. The Ontario Pathways Rail Trail, the Outlet Trail between Penn Yan and Dresden, the Auburn–Fleming Trail, the Cato–Fair Haven Trail, the Oswego Recreational Trail, and the Jim Schug Trail in Dryden all follow old rail lines. Around Ithaca, the Black Diamond Trail, the East Ithaca Recreation Way, and the South Hill Recreation Way link parks and gorges. The Lehigh Valley Trail preserves part of the Lehigh Valley Railroad's route west of the lakes, and the Catharine Valley Trail runs south from Watkins Glen.
The Genesee Valley and Western New York
To the west, the Genesee Valley Greenway runs for dozens of miles along a former canal and railroad corridor between Rochester and the Southern Tier. Around Buffalo and the Niagara Frontier are the Akron–Clarence trails, the Cheektowaga Trail, and the Newstead trail, while several Chautauqua County trails and the Allegheny River Valley Trail reach into the state's southwestern corner. The Portage Trail and the Maple City Trail add still more mileage across the western counties.
The Lake Ontario Shore and North Country
Along the Lake Ontario shore, the Cayuga and Webster Hojack trails follow the old Hojack line of the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg system, and the Sodus Point to Wallington Trail reaches toward the lake. Far to the north, the Rutland Trail carries you across the top of the state, while the Black River Recreational Trail, the Town of Edwards Nature Trail, and the Rivergate Trail preserve other North Country grades. Statewide connectors like the Erie Canalway Trail and the Empire State Trail tie many of these local paths into routes that cross New York end to end.
Building a Trip Around Several Trails
Because rail-trails are linear, they reward point-to-point planning: leave a car at each end, or ride out and back. Many of the trails above sit within an hour of one another, so a weekend can easily take in two or three — a Finger Lakes tour, say, or a Hudson Valley loop of trestles and river towns. Advocacy groups such as Parks & Trails New York are steadily closing the gaps between them. Start with a corridor that interests you, read up on its condition, and pair it with the practical advice in our rail-trail guide.