This list of rail trails in New York lists former railroad rights-of-way in New York that have been converted to rail trails for public use. Many of these rail trails are also part of the statewide Empire State Trail network, which officially opened Jan. 1, 2021.

Trails

Trail nameLengthLocationOriginal Rail RoadOpening date
Adirondack Rail Trail34 miles (55 km)[1]Essex and Franklin countiesNew York Central RailroadDecember 1, 2023[2]
Akron Clarence Trail12 miles (19 km)Erie CountyWest Shore and Buffalo Railroad[3]2004[4]
Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail9.8 miles (15.8 km) [5]Albany CountyAlbany and Susquehanna Railroad (Delaware and Hudson Railway)2011[6]
Albany-Hudson Electric Trail*36 milesRensselaer and Columbia countiesAlbany and Hudson Electric Railway (Albany Southern Railroad)2020
Allegheny River Valley Trail5.6 miles (9.0 km)[7]Allegany and Cattaraugus countiesWestern New York and Pennsylvania Railway (Pennsylvania Railroad)1998[8]
Andes Rail Trail1 mile (1.6 km) plus 2 miles (3.2 km) Bullet Hole SpurAndes, Delaware CountyDelaware and Northern RailroadJune 2012[9]
Ashokan Rail Trail11.5 miles (18.5 km)Ulster CountyUlster and Delaware RailroadOctober 18, 2019[10]
Auburn Trail12 miles (19 km) from Powder Mills Park through Victor to Canandaigua Farmington Town Line RdOntario CountyAuburn and Rochester Railroad1993[11]
Ballston Bike Path3.5 miles (5.6 km)Saratoga CountySchenectady Railway Company1994[12]
Black Diamond Trail8 miles (13 km) Taughannock Falls State Park to Ithaca, New YorkTompkins CountyLehigh Valley Railroad2016
Black River Recreational Trail3.5 miles (5.6 km)Jefferson CountyNew York Central Railroad
Bog Meadow Brook2 miles (3.2 km)Saratoga County
Canalway Trail*Mostly towpath trails, but parts, like the Mohawk-Hudson Trail (below), use former rail beds.1973
Catharine Valley12.9 miles (20.8 km)[13]Chemung and Schuyler CountiesChemung Railroad (Pennsylvania Railroad)2002[14]
Cato–Fair Haven Trail12.7 miles (20.4 km)Cayuga CountyLehigh Valley Railroad (Auburn Branch)
Catskill Scenic Trail26 miles (42 km) from Bloomville to RoxburyDelaware CountyUlster and Delaware Railroad1990[15]
Cayuga–Seneca Canal Trail6.7 miles (10.8 km) from Geneva to WaterlooSeneca County
Chautauqua Alison Wells Ney TrailChautauqua County
Chautauqua Brocton Area Recreational Trail2 miles (3.2 km)Chautauqua County
Chautauqua Laurie A. Baer Trail1.1 miles (1.8 km)Chautauqua County
Chautauqua Nadine and Paul Webb Trail1 mile (1.6 km)Chautauqua County
Chautauqua Nancy B. Diggs Trail1.5 miles (2.4 km)Chautauqua County
Chautauqua Ralph C. Sheldon Jr. Trail4.5 miles (7.2 km)Chautauqua County
Chautauqua Village of Mayville Trail1.5 miles (2.4 km)Chautauqua County
Cheektowaga Rails to Trails[16]Erie CountyLehigh Valley Railroad2009
Chittenango Gorge TrailCazenovia
Corkscrew Rail Traill3 milesStephentownRutland RailroadJune 6, 2015[17]
Corning Bike Path3.3 miles (5.3 km) Corning-Painted Post Middle School to Princeton Avenue, Corning, New York[18]Steuben CountyDelaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad[19]
DnH Canal Heritage Corridor North
DnH Canal Heritage Corridor South
Dutchess Rail Trail*13 miles (21 km)Dutchess CountyCentral New England Railway2007[20]
Electric Trolley Trail, Pittsford1.8 miles (2.9 km) Shoen Place to Marsh RoadPittsford, Monroe CountyRochester & Eastern Rapid Railway (interurban, aka the Orange Line)
Erie Cattaraugus Rail TrailEast AuroraBuffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad2023[21]
Fonda, Johnstown, and Gloversville Rail TrailFulton CountyFonda, Johnstown, and Gloversville Railroad2007
Genesee Valley Greenway59 miles (95 km) Jefferson Road Rt. 252 to Letchworth State Park and Sonyea, New York. Then segments and gaps to Cuba, New YorkMonroe, Livingston, and Allegany CountiesGenesee Valley Rail Road (Pennsylvania Railroad)1992[22]
Gorge Trail2.2 miles (3.5 km)[23]Chittenango Falls State Park, Madison CountyLehigh Valley Railroad (Elmira and Cortland Branch)
Greater Jamestown Riverwalk[24]Chautauqua CountyErie Railroad (Only the portion north of downtown Jamestown along the Chadakoin River)
Harlem Valley Rail TrailDutchess and Columbia CountiesNew York and Harlem Railroad (New York Central Railroad)1996
High Line1.4 miles (2.3 km) Gansevoort Street to 34th StreetManhattanNew York Central Railroad2009
Hojack Trail CayugaCayuga CountyLake Ontario Shore Railroad (the Hojack Line)
Hojack Trail Hamlin14 miles (23 km) Wiler Road to East Kent RoadMonroe CountyLake Ontario Shore Railroad (the Hojack Line)
Hojack Trail Hilton2.8 miles (4.5 km) Salmon Creek Park to North Greece RoadMonroe CountyLake Ontario Shore Railroad (the Hojack Line)
Hojack Trail Hannibal6.6 miles (10.6 km) Viele Rd. to Martville Rd.Wayne CountyLake Ontario Shore Railroad (the Hojack Line)
Hojack Trail Webster3.5 miles (5.6 km) Vosburg Rd. to Orchard ParkWebster, Monroe CountyLake Ontario Shore Railroad (the Hojack Line)1997 [25]
Huckleberry Multi-Use Trail[26]Tannersville, New YorkUlster and Delaware Railroad
Hudson Valley Rail Trail*4 miles (6.4 km)[27]Lloyd, Ulster CountyCentral New England and Western Railroad1997
Jim Schug Trail4.2 miles (6.8 km)Dryden, Tompkins CountyLehigh Valley Railroad[28]
John Kieran Nature TrailVan Cortlandt Park, The Bronx[29]New York and Putnam Railroad (New York Central Railroad)
Joseph B. Clarke Rail Trail3.8 miles (6.1 km)Rockland CountyNorthern Railroad of New Jersey (Erie Railroad)1994[30]
Kaaterskill Rail TrailCurrently 1.5 miles (2.4 km). The goal is to connect the Village of Hunter to North-South Lake[26]Greene CountyUlster and Delaware Railroad
Kennedy Rail TrailWestchester and Putnam CountiesNew York and Mahopac Railroad (New York Central Railroad)
Keuka Outlet Trail6.8 miles (10.9 km)Yates CountyFall Brook Railroad (New York Central Railroad)July 4, 1984[31]
Kings Park Hike and Bike TrailKings Park, Suffolk CountyLong Island Rail Road, Kings Park State Hospital spurAugust 2014[32]
Kingston Point Rail Trail*1.2 miles (1.9 km), extension plannedKingston, Ulster County
Lehigh Valley Trail (Black Diamond)16.2 miles (26.1 km) W. River Rd, Genesee Valley Greenway, Auburn Trail to NY 251Monroe County and Ontario CountyLehigh Valley Railroad2004[33]
Lehigh Memory Trail0.5 milesWilliamsville, Erie County[34]Depew and Tonawanda Railroad (Lehigh Valley Railroad)1990[35]
Link TrailChittenango Falls State Park, Madison County
Long Pond GreenbeltBridgehampton to Sag Harbor, Suffolk CountyLong Island Rail Road, Sag Harbor Branch
Maple City TrailOgdensburg and St. Lawrence County
Maybrook Trailway*28.2 milesDutchess and Putnam Counties.Beacon Line (Metro-North Railroad / New York and New England Railroad) from Hopewell Junction to BrewsterJanuary 4, 2021 [36]
Mohawk Hudson Bike/Hike Trail* (part of Canalway Trail System)86, with gaps in Watervliet, Colonie and PattersonvilleSchenectady and Albany Counties.Schenectady and Troy Railroad (New York Central Railroad) from Cohoes to Schenectady. Towpath trail from there west.1977[37]
Newstead TrailErie CountyWest Shore and Buffalo Railroad
North County Trailway*22.1 miles (35.6 km)Westchester CountyNew York and Putnam Railroad (New York Central Railroad)1981[38]
North Shore Rail Trail10.4 milesPort Jefferson Station to Wading River, Suffolk CountyLong Island Rail Road, Wading River ExtensionJune 10, 2022[39]
Northport Rail Trail0.65 miles (1.05 km)Suffolk CountyLong Island Rail Road, Northport Branch2008
Nyack Rail TrailRockland CountyNew York and Erie Railroad (Erie Railroad)
Ontario Pathways Trail (Canandaigua to Stanley)11 miles (18 km) East Street Canandaigua to Flint RoadOntario CountyNorthern Central (Pennsylvania Railroad)1992[40]
Ontario Pathways Trail (Stanley to Phelps)8.7 miles (14.0 km)Ontario CountyPennsylvania Railroad
Ontario and Western Rail Trail (Kingston to Ellenville)35 miles (56 km)Ulster CountyNew York, Ontario and Western Railway
Orange Heritage Trailway19.5 miles (31.4 km)Orange CountyErie Railroad1996[41]
Oswego Recreational TrailOswego CountyNew York, Ontario and Western Railway1979[42]
Pat McGee Trail12.2 miles (19.6 km)Cattaraugus CountyErie Railroad1987[43]
Pendleton Rail TrailPendletonErie Railroad2006-2007[44]
Portage Trail
Putnam County Trailway*12Putnam CountyNew York and Putnam Railroad (New York Central Railroad)
Railroad RunSaratoga County
Rivergate Trail
Rochester, Syracuse and Eastern Trolley Trail4.3 miles (6.9 km)Monroe countyRochester, Syracuse and Eastern Rapid Railroad
Rutland Trail21.2 miles (34.1 km) from Norwood to MoiraSt. Lawrence and Franklin countiesRutland Railroad
Sodus Point to Wallington Trail2.3 miles (3.7 km)Wayne County[45]
South County Trailway*14.1 miles (22.7 km)Westchester CountyNew York and Putnam Railroad (New York Central Railroad)August 1999 [46]
South Hill Recreation Way4.6 miles (7.4 km)Thompkins CountyIthaca and Owego Railroad (Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad)1988[47]
Spring Run Trail
Stillwater Multi-Use Trail*StillwaterBoston and Maine Railroad
Tarrytown Lakes Extension2.5 miles (4.0 km)Westchester CountyNew York and Putnam Railroad (New York Central Railroad)
Tonawanda Rails to TrailsTonawandaErie RailroadAugust 11, 2016[48]
Town of Edwards Nature TrailSt. Lawrence CountyGouverneur and Oswegatchie Railroad (New York Central Railroad)[49]
Uncle Sam Bikeway3 miles (4.8 km)TroyBoston and Maine Railroad1981 [17]
Vestal Rail Trail2.2 miles (3.5 km)Broome CountyDelaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad2002[50]
Walden–Wallkill Rail Trail3.22 miles (5.18 km)[51]Orange and Ulster CountiesWallkill Valley Railroad (New York Central Railroad)April, 1991[52]
Walkway over the Hudson* (Poughkeepsie Bridge)1.28 miles (2.06 km)[53]Poughkeepsie and HighlandThe Maybrook Railroad Line, Central New England Railway (CNE), New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad (NH), Penn Central (PC) and Conrail, et al.2009
Wallkill Valley Rail Trail*23.7 miles (38.1 km)[54]Ulster CountyWallkill Valley Railroad (New York Central Railroad)1993
Warren County Bikeway9.4 miles (15.1 km)[55] from Glens Falls to Lake GeorgeWarren CountyDelaware and Hudson Railroad1979 as first rail trail in New York state[56]
Zim Smith Trail12 miles (19 km)Saratoga CountyRensselaer & Saratoga Railroad (Delaware and Hudson Railroad)October 31, 2010 [57]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Adirondack Rail Trail". Lake Placid, Adirondacks. 2023-11-27. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ Clarence Pathways (TrailLink)
  4. ^ "Maintenance Practices and Costs of Rail-Trails". Rails to Trails Conservancy. June 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  5. ^ "Section of Albany County Rail Trail to Open June 2". Albany County. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
  6. ^ "Rail Trail Updates". County of Albany. Retrieved 2015-10-25.
  7. ^ "Allegheny River Valley Trail - Town of Allegany". Town of Allegany. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  8. ^ "Allegheny River Valley Trail". John Firkel. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  9. ^ Via, Alan (August 24, 2015). "Half-day hike: The Andes Rail Trail and Bullet Hole Spur". Watershed Post
  10. ^ City of New York
  11. ^ "Maintenance Practices and Costs of Rail-Trails". Rails to Trails Conservancy. June 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  12. ^ "Maintenance Practices and Costs of Rail-Trails". Rails to Trails Conservancy. June 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  13. ^ Catherine Valley Trail (TrailLink)
  14. ^ "Maintenance Practices and Costs of Rail-Trails". Rails to Trails Conservancy. June 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  15. ^ "Maintenance Practices and Costs of Rail-Trails". Rails to Trails Conservancy. June 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  16. ^ Parks and Facilities. "Rails To Trails". Town of Cheektowaga, New York
  17. ^ Partner Trails, Rensselaer Land Trust
  18. ^ Corning Bike Path (AllTrails.com)
  19. ^ 1955 Topographical Map of Corning, New York (Historic Aerials)
  20. ^ County Celebrates Official Opening of Phase II of the Dutchess Rail Trail
  21. ^ New section of Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail opens in West Falls
  22. ^ Genesee Valley Greenway
  23. ^ Gorge Trail (TrailLink)
  24. ^ Parks and Recreation. "Greater Jamestown Riverwalk". City of Jamestown, New York.
  25. ^ "The Hojack Line Story". Friends of Webster Trails. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  26. ^ "Kaaterskill Rail Trail". Archived 2017-10-24 at the Wayback Machine.
  27. ^ "About the Rail Trail". Hudson Valley Rail Trail Association. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
  28. ^ Jim Schug Trail (Town of Dryden, New York)
  29. ^ John Kieran Nature Trail (TrailLink)
  30. ^ "Maintenance Practices and Costs of Rail-Trails". Rails to Trails Conservancy. June 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  31. ^ "Cascade Falls". Crooked Lake Review. May 1, 2008. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  32. ^ Barton, Siobhan (July 29, 2014). "Accessible hiking trail, Long Island's second, to open in Kings Park". Newsday
  33. ^ Mendon Foundation
  34. ^ Lehigh Memory Trail (TrailLink)
  35. ^ "Lehigh Memory Trail". Williamsville.
  36. ^ The Maybrook Trailway is Now Open!
  37. ^ "Niskayuna Chronology". Niskayuna.
  38. ^ Kriss, Gary (August 16, 1987). "New Trailway Section Adds Another Link to County System". New York Times
  39. ^ Long Island's North Shore Rail Trail opens, repurposing abandoned railroad line into recreational trail
  40. ^ "Maintenance Practices and Costs of Rail-Trails". Rails to Trails Conservancy. June 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  41. ^ "Maintenance Practices and Costs of Rail-Trails". Rails to Trails Conservancy. June 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  42. ^ "Maintenance Practices and Costs of Rail-Trails". Rails to Trails Conservancy. June 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  43. ^ "Maintenance Practices and Costs of Rail-Trails". Rails to Trails Conservancy. June 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  44. ^ "2021 Addendum to the Pendleton Town Parks Master Plan of 2007". Town of Pendleton. June 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  45. ^ Sodus-Wallington Rail Trail (TrailLink)
  46. ^ Simpson, Jim (September 26, 1999). "Storm Hit Trail is on the Mend". New York Times
  47. ^ "Maintenance Practices and Costs of Rail-Trails". Rails to Trails Conservancy. June 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  48. ^ Celebration Marks Completition Of Tonawanda Rails To Trails Project
  49. ^ Hiking the Trail to Yesterday; The Edwards Nature Trail
  50. ^ Press Connects
  51. ^ "Park Description and Program Schedules". Walden, NY: Village of Walden Recreation and Parks. Archived from the original on 2010-12-26. Retrieved 2010-12-26.
  52. ^ "Wallkill Rail Trail could double in size". Middletown, NY: Times Herald-Record. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  53. ^ "Fast Facts About the Walkway". Walkway Over the Hudson. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  54. ^ "Wallkill Valley Rail Trail Length Doubles". Open Space Institute. 2009-08-31. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
  55. ^ "Visit Lake George; Bicycling". Lake George Area in New York's Adirondacks. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
  56. ^ "Greenways & Trails Bringing economic benefits to New York". New York Parks & Conservation Association. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  57. ^ "Final link in Zim Smith Trail is officially opened in Ballston Spa". Saratogan. Retrieved 2025-10-25.