CHENANGO CANAL TOWPATH:
TOWN OF MARSHALL TOWPATH:
KIRKLAND TRAIL:
DEANSBORO-KIRKLAND, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: November 23, 2024
Length: Kirkland Trail; 2.8 miles
Town of Marshall Towpath; 2.5 miles
Difficulty: Kirkland Trail;
Town of Marshall Towpath; Easy. Flat, grass lined & stone-dust rail trail. Mt bike recommended.
Directions:
To Start from the O & W RR Deansboro Depot in Deansboro [Central Section]; From the junction of Routes 12B & 315 in Deansboro travel south on Route 315. On your right you'll spot a sign reading "Town of Marshall Towpath". Park by the old RR Depot.
The Chenango Canal Towpath follows the Chenango Canal Corridor. It begins in Kirkland and is known as the Kirkland Trail. It then travels South, to Deansboro, where the trail is known as the Town of Marshall Towpath and continues South. Because some sections of the Canal have been abandoned or returned to private ownership, some of the trail uses sections of the O&W RR right of way. The Chenango Canal was built and operated in the mid-19th century in Upstate New York. It was 97 miles long and for much of its course followed the Chenango River, from Binghamton Utica. It operated from 1834 to 1878 and provided a significant link in the water transportation system of the Northeastern U.S., connecting the Susquehanna River to the Erie Canal. The Chenango Canal was 42 feet wide at the top and 26 feet wide at the bottom and averaged 4 feet deep. It had 116 Locks, 11 Lock houses, 12 dams and 19 aqueducts. The Chenango Canal was unique in that it was the first reservoir-fed Canal in the U.S. In this design, reservoirs were created and Feeder Canals were dug to bring water to the summit level of the Canal. In 1878 the Canal was abandoned with the arrival of the O&W RR. For more information visit; CHENANGO CANAL and KIRKLAND TRAILS . Another trail section along the Canal is located South in Hamilton. See; Chenango Canal Heritage Trail .
Starting from the O&W RR Deansboro Depot in Deansboro [Central Section]; The old O & W RR Deansboro Depot is located here, along with some signs describing the local history. The Utica City RR horse drawn streetcar traveled between Utica and New Hartford in 1863. Became the Utica & Waterville RR in 1864. Extended to Clinton in 1866 as the Utica-Clinton & Chenango Valley RR. Extended to Deansboro in 1867 and in 1868 became the Utica-Clinton & Binghamton RR. This is the oldest surviving depot along the O&W RR Line.
Chenango Canal Towpath:
Kirkland Trail:
Heading North; I have not checked out this section. Cross Route 315 and utilize the Town of Marshall Highway Dept access road. The trail picks up to the left of the entrance. Mile Markers along the trail. You quickly cross into Kirkland, where the grass lined, crushed gravel Kirkland Trail travels through a wooded corridor, past marshes and fields, to Dugway Road parking lot at 1.8 miles. Map Board. The trail then continues another mile to the junction of Routes 128 & 233 where it currently, as of 2024, ends after 2.8 miles.
Note; Funds were secured in 2024 for Phase 2, which will add another 0.9 miles of trail North of Clinton (part of Kirkland), along with a parking lot.
Town of Marshall Towpath:
Heading South; The stone-dust Town of Marshall Towpath travels past the right side of the old O&W RR Deansboro Depot. Bear left at the intersection and travel past the black gate. Mile Markers start from here along the trail. Follow the grass lined, stone-dust trail along the old RR bed. The trail travels through open woods, then along a berm at 0.7 miles with the Oriskany Creek down to your left and a marsh on your right. Scenic. Access to the creek at 0.9 miles, which then veers away from the trail. Travel along a causeway through a marsh before crossing Burnham Rd at 1.6 miles. Travel through another marsh and enter deep woods. The trail currently ends after 2.5 miles at Van Hyning Rd. An undeveloped dirt trail continues straight, South, towards Oriskany Falls, but I believe the trail is blocked by a large sand & gravel pit.
HH
Kirkland Trail Map:
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT