CLARENCE PATHWAYS:
AKRON-AMHERST-CLARENCE-NEWSTEAD, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: July 30, 2017
Length: Peanut Line Trail; 8.3 miles
West Shore Trail; 8.7 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Flat paved rail trail.
Directions:
To Start from the Wehrle Drive parking lot [Clarence]; From I-90 take exit 49 to Route 78 and head left (north). Travel 0.6 miles and turn right on Wehrle Dr. Travel 2.5 miles to the parking lot on your left.
To Start from the Clarence Center Road parking lot [Akron]; From I-90 take exit 48A to Route 77 and head right. Take your next right on Route 5 and travel 5.7 miles. Turn right on Cummings Rd and follow to end. Turn left on Clarence Center Rd. Parking lot is on your right.
To Start from Meadowlakes Park [East Amherst]; From I-90 take exit 49 to Route 78 and head left (north). Travel 4.4 miles and turn right on Clarence Center Rd. Travel 1.1 miles to the park on your left.
Clarence Pathways consist of two old rail lines connecting at Akron Junction. The Peanut Line Trail follows the rail bed of the former NY Central RR, dubbed the "Peanut Line" for its short length, from East Amherst to Newstead. The West Shore Trail follows the rail bed of the former West Shore & Buffalo RR from Clarence through Newstead and out to Akron. The two trails intersect in Newstead at Akron Junction. Unfortunately all the towns involved have separate maps that only include their sections, along with different names. Check out TRAIL LINK for a complete map.
West Shore Trail:
Starting from the Wehrle Drive parking lot (West Shore Trail); Map Board located here. Green Mileage Markers every 0.1 miles. Heading northeast along the paved wooded corridor you'll cross Gunnville Rd and come to another Map Board at 0.9 miles. Map Boards at all road crossings. Cross Shisler Rd at 2.3 miles and continue straight on-road (low traffic) between Clarence Town Park before picking up the paved trail again at 2.7 miles. Cross an iron bridge over Ransom Rd before crossing Sawmill Rd and traveling past the Clarence Hollow Farmers Market parking lot out to Main St in Clarence. Head right along a wide sidewalk to a cross-light over Main St. Continue along Salt Rd via a wide sidewalk past an old 1810 stone building to the Salt Road parking lot at 3.5 miles where you'll pick up the paved trail again. Map Board. Trail more open here. Cross Davidson Rd where you'll enter the Newstead Section at 4.1 miles. I haven't checked out this next section. Trail continues northeast along a wooded corridor. Mileage Markers every 0.1 miles and map boards at all road crossings still. Cross Barnum Rd at 5.6 miles and you'll come to Akron Junction at 6.6 miles. Map Board.
Note; This is where the Peanut Line Trail enters from the left. This trail utilizes Blue Mileage Markers every 0.1 miles. The old rail bed would have continued east, instead this trail joins the West Shore Trail and combined they travel northeast.
Continuing northeast along both the West Shore Trail / Peanut Line Trail. [Mile 8.3 & Mile 6.6] Cross Clarence Center Rd [Mile 9.2 & Mile 7.5] Hake Rd and Jackson St [Mile 10 & Mile 8.3] before entering Akron where the trails end at Cedar St. [Mile 10.4 & Mile 8.7].
Peanut Line Trail:
Starting from Transit Road (Peanut Line Trail); Map Board located here and at all street crossings. Blue Mileage Markers every 0.1 miles. The paved trail follows a residential corridor crossing several residential roads before coming to an intersection at 1.2 miles next to a gazebo.
Note; Right leads to the Meadowlakes Park parking lot. Playground, sports fields and restrooms.
I haven't checked out this next section. Continuing east cross over Stanley Rd passing by the small Clarence Center Road parking lot at 1.7 miles. Cross Heise Rd where a spur trail right services a neighborhood. Cross Clarence Center Rd before crossing a bridge over Ransom Creek at 2.6 miles. Goodrich Rd passing by the Railroad Street parking lot at 3.1 miles. Here the trail follows an open corridor past fields and woodlands. Cross Herr Rd then Kraus Rd where the trail travels alongside an access road for sports fields. Parking lots located here. Cross Strickler Rd, Salt Rd and Utley Rd at 6.7 miles as you enter Newstead where you'll find a map board at every road crossing. Cross Clarence Center Rd, Barnum Rd and you'll come to Akron Junction after 8.3 miles.
Note; This is where the West Shore Trail enters from the right. This trail utilizes Green Mileage Markers every 0.1 miles. The old rail bed would have continued straight (east), instead this trail joins the West Shore Trail and combined they travel northeast.
Continuing left (northeast) along both the West Shore Trail / Peanut Line Trail. [Mile 8.3 & Mile 6.6] Cross Clarence Center Rd [Mile 9.2 & Mile 7.5] Hake Rd and Jackson St [Mile 10 & Mile 8.3] before entering Akron where the trails end at Cedar St. Map Board, water fountain and BIKE STATION. [Mile 10.4 & Mile 8.7].
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CLICK HERE FOR CLARENCE SECTION MAP
CLICK HERE FOR NEWSTEAD/AKRON SECTION MAP
CLICK HERE FOR WEST SHORE TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR PEANUT LINE TRAIL MAP
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WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT