D&H CANAL TRAIL-O&W RAIL TRAIL CORRIDOR:

HURLEY RAIL TRAIL:

MARBLETOWN O&W RAIL TRAIL:

MAMAKATING O&W RAIL TRAIL:

SULLIVAN & ULSTER COUNTIES, NEW YORK

-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-

Last Updated:              August 31, 2025

Length:                        Hurley Rail Trail; 2.2 miles.

                        Marbletown O&W Rail Trail; 12.3 miles.

                                      D&H Canal Trail: High Falls; ｽ mile.

                                      O&W Rail Trail: Accord to Kerhonkson; 3.3 miles.  

                              O&W Rail Trail: Ellenville to Napanoch; 2.6 miles.

                              O&W Rail Trail: Wawarsing; 1.2 miles.

                                      D&H Canal Linear Park; 6.3 miles [Phillipsport to Wurstboro/Mamakating Town Court parking lot]

                                      Mamakating O&W Rail Trail; Southern Section: 1.4 miles. Northern Section: Unknown, looks to be 1.2/3 miles.

                                      O&W Rail Trail: Bashakill Wildlife Management Area; less than 6 miles.

Difficulty:                    Hurley Rail Trail; Easy. Flat, paved rail trail.

                                       Marbletown O&W Rail Trail (Russell Rd to Route 213); Easy. Flat, stone-dust rail trail.

                                      Marbletown O&W Rail Trail (Route 213 to Rest Plaus Rd); Moderate. Flat, narrow rail trail. Hard packed cinder & grass with some root issues. 

                                      Marbletown O&W Rail Trail (Rest Plaus Rd to Kyserike Rd); Difficult. Soft grass surface with root issues. Tough biking. Upgrades along this section so it may be Easy now.

                                      O&W Rail Trail: Accord to Kerhonkson; Easy. Wide, flat, crushed gravel rail trail.

                              O&W Rail Trail: Napanoch to Ellenville; Easy. Wide, flat, crushed gravel rail trail. 

                              O&W Rail Trail: Wawarsing; Wide, flat, crushed gravel rail trail. 

                                      D&H Canal Linear Park; Moderate. Flat, hard packed gravel and grass trail.

                                      Mamakating O&W Rail Trail; Moderate. Flat, hard packed dirt grass & gravel trail.

                                       O&W Rail Trail: Bashakill Wildlife Management Area; Moderate. Flat, grass and hard packed dirt trail. Mt Bike recommended.                          

Directions:     

To start from Hurley for the Hurley Rail Trail [Northern End]; From I-87 (NY State Thruway) take exit 19 to Route 28 west. Exit onto Route 209 south and follow for about a mile. Just after crossing over Esopus Creek, on your left will be a parking lot for the trail.

To start from the Marbletown parking lot for the Marbletown O&W Rail Trail [Northern Section]; From I-87 (NY State Thruway) take exit 19 to Route 28 west. Exit onto Route 209 south and follow for about 4 miles. Just after the paved trail enters the woods on your left will be a road leading to the parking area. The stone-dust section of trail starts here.

To visit High Falls for the D&H Canal Trail); Follow Route 209 to the junction of Route 213. Take Route 213 into High Falls.

To start from Kerhonkson for the O&W Rail Trail [Central Section]; From the junction of Routes 55 & 209, Follow Route 209 northeast into Kerhonkson. At the traffic light turn right down Frances Lane and follow across the Rondout Creek Bridge. Take you池e first left onto Main St (does not look like a normal Main St) and you'll come to the Firehouse on your left. Parking is located on your right. To reach the Town of Rochester Park continue past Main St on Frances Lane and take a left onto Church St. At the end of Church, turn right on East St, then left onto Berme Rd. Follow Berme Rd to Route 27 and head left. After 0.9 miles turn left on Tobacco Rd into the park. Parking lot on your left at the trailhead.

To start from Ellenville for the O&W Rail Trail [Central Section]; From Routes 52 & 209 in Ellenville travel east on Route 52 (Canal St not Center St) across Sandburg Creek and take your first left on Edwards Pl, where you'll find a Map Board. This road route also has O&W trail signs. A sharp right, then left takes you along Sewer Plant Rd, past the Ellenville Little League fields (more parking). Come to the end of the road next to the Ellenville Wastewater Treatment Plant and park here next to the trailhead.

To start from Phillipsport/Summitville for the O&W Rail Trail-D&H Canal Trail [Southern Section]; From Route 17 take exit 113 to Route 209 north  and after 5.8 miles look for Bova Rd on your left and the entrance to D&H Canal Interpretive Center.

To start from Wurstboro for the O&W Rail Trail-D&H Canal Trail [Southern Section]; From Route 17 take exit 113 to Route 209 north into the village of Wurstboro. Then take a right down Sullivan St (Route 171) and you'll see a small pavilion on your left between Canal St and Burger Lane. This is where the D&H Canal Trail crosses. Continuing along Sullivan St, just as you start to leave town, on your left will be the start of the Mamakating O&W Rail Trail.

For the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area for the O&W Rail Trail-D&H Canal Trail [Southern End]; From Route 17 take exit 113 to Route 209 south. Travel 1.9 miles, ignoring the first sign you see for Bashakill on your left, until you come to Haven Rd on your left. Your first right on Towpath Rd brings you to the D&H Canal. Continuing on Haven Road across the Bashakill you'll cross the O&W Rail Trail. Take a left along the gravel road to the parking lot. 

The D&H Canal Trail-O&W Rail Trail Corridor follows the Delaware & Hudson Canal [See; D&H Canal Historical MAP] and New York, Ontario & Western Railroad [See; O&W Historical MAP] route from Kingston South, to Spring Glen in Ulster County and Phillipsport (Hamlet of Mamakating) South, to Wurtsboro in Sullivan County. Another section of the D&H Canal Trail can be found in Port Jervis, near the Pennsylvania border in Orange County. See; D&H Canal; Port Jervis . 

The D&H Canal Trail-O&W Rail Trail Corridor begins in Kingston in Ulster County [See; Kingston Historical RR Map] . 

Along the Delaware & Hudson Canal remains of the original Locks, dry-dock & waste weirs are visible from the towpath trail. As a result of the War of 1812 Americans were faced with an energy shortage due to the blockade of shipments of soft (bituminous) coal from England. Designed as a system of transportation between the coal fields of Pennsylvania and the ports of New York along the Hudson River, the Delaware & Hudson Canal was one of many towpath Canals constructed in the early years of the nineteenth century. The coal passed over a gravity railroad to haul coal from the mines to the Canal terminus at Honesdale, PA. From its opening in 1828 to its demise in 1898, the D&H Canal transported millions of tons of anthracite coal. The Canal was 108 miles long (Honesdale, PA to Kingston, NY) and contained 108 Locks, 22 aqueducts, 136 bridges, 22 reservoirs, 16 dams and 14 feeders. See; D&H CANAL LINEAR PARK for more information.

Two sections of the old O&W RR intersect in Summitville. For more information visit; O&W Rail Trail (Sullivan County) .

Northern Section:

Hurley Rail Trail-Marbletown O&W Rail Trail:

[Hurley South to Town of Rochester/Accord]

Starting from the Route 209 parking lot in Hurley [Northern End]; The paved Hurley Rail Trail follows the old rail bed of the former O&W Railroad South. A Map Board is located here and there are informational signs scattered along the trail. The trail parallels Route 209. However, a nice buffer of plantings helps separate you from the road. Cross over a culvert (tunnel allowed farm animals to pass underneath Route 209) before coming to a Map Board and Spur Trail on your left at 0.3 miles.

Note; This is the Western End of the paved O&W Connector , which travels 1.8 miles Northeast, to Washington Ave in Kingston and is part of the  KINGSTON GREENLINE .

Continuing South, along the trail, you'll travel underneath the Main St bridge at 0.8 miles, and pass by a spur on your left.

Note; This spur leads to Depot St. Left will take you up to Main St. Heading right, Southeast, on-road along Main St, will bring you to Historic Hurley. Main St has the oldest concentration of privately owned Stone Houses in the United States, dating back to 1680. See; HURLEY HERITAGE SOCIETY .

One mile brings you to a signboard and the Russell Road parking lot. Keep an eye out to your left at 1.4 miles to spot an old RR Mileage Marker that reads E24/K3, meaning 3 miles to Kingston & 24 miles to Ellenville. These RR Mileage Marker were located every mile along the trail. The paved trail then heads into the woods and ends after 2.2 miles at the Marbletown parking lot. This is the start of the stone-dust section of trail along the Marbletown O&W Rail Trail. A Map Board is located here. The trail here is wide as you cross a wooden bridge and head South, into the woods. Continuing along the trail you値l pass by a ｽ Mile Marker on your right. These Mileage Markers start from the parking lot and continue every ｽ mile, although they eventually disappear. The trail travels along a ridgeline with a steep drop along your right. You travel alongside a large marsh with several beaver lodges at 4.4 miles. You reach the Marcott Road parking lot after 5.6 miles. Here you値l find a Map Board and bench. After crossing the road, the trail gets a bit narrower. Keep an eye to your right at 6.4 miles after crossing a wooden bridge and spot an old cement RR Whistle Post. + See; RR Whistle Post Below. The trail soon veers to the left off the old rail bed and brings you around the Cottekill Firehouse parking lot and past the old Cottekill Train Station, now a private residence. You next cross Cottekill Road where you'll find another parking lot and  Map Board. You come to an old bridge abutment at 7.1 miles and have to head downhill to a wooden bridge across Cottekill Brook and then head back up the other side. Very scenic area. Must have been a long railroad bridge at one time. You cross another wooden bridge at 8.1 miles and come to the Leggett Road parking lot at 8.6 miles. Here you値l find another Map Board and picnic tables. The trail continues across the road and consists of a hard packed gravel & grass surface with some root issues. Mountain bike is recommended. You cross a couple of wooden bridges before the trail turns to single track as it passes by the old High Falls Train Station which is now a residential home. This brings you to Route 213 in High Falls after 9.2 miles. 

Note; A quick ｽ mile detour from here to visit a section of the D&H Canal is highly recommended. If you head left, East, on-road, down Route 213, you値l first cross Lucas Turnpike (Route 1) and then Rondout Creek. Soon you値l come to High Falls. The D&H Canal passed through here and you can take a short ｽ mile trail along the old Locks. You can also visit the D&H CANAL MUSEUM . The trail starts just off of 2nd Street, next to the old Depuy Canal House which was built in 1797. A sign indicates the start of the stone-dust trail that takes you South, up to a wooden bridge and over one of the Locks. The trail then takes you past 3 more Locks and ends after just a ｽ mile. Directly across from the old Canal House is a platform overlooking an 1825 stone aqueduct. If you continue up Route 213 and take a right onto Mohonk Rd, this will bring you to the museum. 

The trail continues across Route 213. No crosswalk. Head left to access a cross-light. Travel up a short berm to rejoin the rail trail where you'll find a Map Board. This section has been partially developed with a narrow, hard packed cinder & grass surface. Travel through a rock cut, along a berm and across a small bridge at 9.8 miles before you follow a ridge line above a stream. You'll cross a bridge over Rest Plaus Road at 10.9 miles where you'll find a Map Board and parking lot below left. Wide, crushed gravel surface. You'll come alongside Kripplebush Creek where you will spot the scenic Rest Plaus Grist Mill with waterwheel across the creek, as well as, a small dam and waterfall. Informational signs. You cross a bridge after 11.5 miles above Kripplebush Creek where the trail crosses into the Town of Rochester/Accord. Pass by an old RR Mileage Marker E14/K13 (Kingston 13 miles to Ellenville 14 miles) on your left. The trail then bears left, then right past Williams Lumber and out to Kyserike Rd at 12.3 miles. 

Note; Plans are to continue the trail another 1.2 miles to Lucas Tnpk. Not started as of Sep. 2023.

Note; Another 2 mile Gap exists from Lucas Tnpk South, to the Town of Rochester Park in Accord. Need to acquire land.

Central Section:

O&W Rail Trail:

 [Town of Rochester/Accord South to Napanoch]

Starting from Town of Rochester Park in Accord [Northern End]; There is a picnic pavilion and playground here. The trail begins next to a Map Board by the Park entrance. The crushed gravel O&W Rail Trail travels South, into the woods following the rail bed of the former O&W Railroad. You quickly pass through a rock cut. Benches located along the trail. You'll cross several culverts and bridges along the way. The trail turns West and soon affords views of Rondout Creek below. You'll come to some picnic tables on your right, that overlook the river at 2.1 miles. Map Board located here, along with a spur to the Berme Road parking lot on your left. You soon cross a wooden bridge. Cross another bridge at 3 miles, where the D&H Canal continues along your left. Lose views of the creek. Come to Main St and continue on-road (residential) 0.1 miles, before coming to the Main Street parking lot, on your left, across from the Kerhonkson Fire Dept after 3.3 miles in Kerhonkson. Map Board.

Note; A Gap exists South, to Foordmore Road in Kerhonkson. Need to acquire land as of 2024.

From Foordmore Road in Kerhonkson; As of Sept, 2024 I didn't see any sign of the trail, however, further South, from Towpath Road in Wawarsing, the trail has been improved with a crushed gravel surface and a new bridge for 1.2 miles North, towards Foordmore Road. I didn't check out this section, as there was no place to park and a tree across the trail.

From Towpath Road, if you travel a short distance South, to Port Ben Rd, you'll find the old O&W Port Ben RR Station. 

Note; A Gap exists South, to the NYS Dept of Corrections Facility in Napanoch.

Central Section:

O&W Rail Trail:

[Napanoch South to Ellenville]

Starting from the Sewer Plant Road parking lot in Ellenville [Southern End]; The parking lot is next to the Ellenville Wastewater Treatment Plant. Map Board.

Note; In Ellenville, you can check out the old 1875 D&H Canal office building, now located at the corner of Canal St and Berme Rd (entrance to Berme Road Park), next to the old D&H Canal. Also, just West, of Berme Rd, along Canal St, if you look right you can spot the old O&W Ellenville RR Depot. Also, the D&H Canal, which still exists alongside Berme Rd, travels North, from Lower Berme Road Park and eventually combines with the O&W Rail Trail, but it has not been developed. There is an old Lock located along this section, but hidden by brush.

Heading North, the wide, crushed gravel O&W Rail Trail passes by the Ellenville Wastewater Treatment Plant before entering the woods. Look right past a clearing and you'll spot a stone structure. I believe this is where the D&H Canal joins the O&W Rail Trail. Possibly an old Lock. After 0.7 miles you cross a bridge over Sandburg Creek. Here the trail combines with the old D&H Canal. Notice the old stonework. Possibly the location of an old Lock, now filled in. You then follow a berm before coming alongside Rondout Creek along your left. Scenic section. You then cross a driveway at 1.3 miles. This will take you past an old Canal House, now a private residence. Enter the woods and look right. Here you'll find a stone section of the old D&H Canal Lock 27. Travel above the creek and after 1.5 miles the trail continues as hard packed dirt, grass & gravel. Come to a split rail fence on your right, and look for a gate at 1.8 miles.

Note; Here you can check out the old 1902 NY, O&W RR Napanoch Station , which now houses a museum. An old red caboose resides next to it along with an old Freight House? Great views of the stone Eastern Correctional Facility. Impressive structure. The prison first opened as the "Eastern New York Reformatory". Its imposing main building, with medieval-style turrets and long green copper roof, was designed by architect John Rochester Thomas. The site was chosen partly for its easily available stone, and the transport provided by the adjacent Delaware & Hudson Canal. The state's Ulster Correctional Facility was built on the grounds in 1990.

Continue along the creek via a short cement trail, passing a small gazebo, which brings you to Institution Rd in Napanoch at 2 miles. Cross the road where a gravel road continues alongside the creek. You travel past the prison cemetery (notice the inmate numbers on the headstones) and come to a grassy berm. Continue straight along this berm to the wooden Decker's Crossing Bridge which crosses the old D&H Canal out to Berme Rd at 2.6 miles. Informational sign. The next section continues North, alongside Rondout Creek, but has not yet been improved. If you look North, you can see where the D&H Canal started off the river. Lock 26 located North, somewhere. 

Central Section:

O&W Rail Trail:

[Ellenville South to Spring Glen]

A 5 mile section of the old rail bed has been acquired from Ellenville South, to Spring Glen, with plans to convert it to a rail trail. No known progress as of 2024.

Southern Section:

D&H Canal Linear Park:

[Phillipsport South to Wurstboro]

Starting from Phillipsport [Northern End]; Located here off Bova Rd is the D&H Canal Interpretive Center. Lock 50 of the D&H Canal is located here (there were a total of 108 Locks between Hornsdale, PA and Kingston, NY) as well as informational signs and wooden Mileage posts. This is a grass lined trail that follows alongside the old D&H Canal (called Basher Kill).

Note; Heading North, the D&H Canal Trail ends at Route 209. See the Map Below for directions to visit Locks 42-45 nearby. I have been unable to locate these Locks.

Heading South, the D&H Canal Trail follows the old D&H Canal, along your right and a marsh along your left. After a mile you come to Summitville Rd. Turn right and cross the bridge You'll pick up a gravel trail on your left which takes you up to the old O&W RR bed. Information signs (D&H Canal/O&W RR) and picnic tables here lead to an overlook of Route 209 and the old Canal across the road. A trail leads down to the Route 209 parking lot in Summitville at 1.1 miles. Cross over Route 209 where the D&H Canal Trail continues. USE CAUTION AS THIS IS A HIGH SPEED ROAD AND THERE IS NO CROSS-WALK.  

Note; To access the Mamakating O&W Rail Trail; Northern Section. Head left, North, from the D&H Canal Trail along Route 209 and take a quick right on Ferguson Rd. A small incline takes you past a yellow gate on your right. Continue around a bend to spot the trailhead and the start of the Mamakating O&W Rail Trail; Northern Section. I haven't checked out this section.

Continuing South, the D&H Canal Trail follows the old D&H Canal, along your right. The Canal is wider and more open along this section with a marsh along your left side. The trail is double-track grass and gravel, but contains multiple wooden culverts that you must cross over. Can be annoying on a bike. There is also a picnic table and Porto-Potty here. Soon you enter the woods. This was as far as I traveled. Somewhere the Mamakating O&W Rail Trail; Northern Section joins from your left. You come to Leadmine Rd, which brings you to the intersection of  *McDonald Road, Leadmine Rd, a bridge over the D&H Canal & the D&H Canal Trail at 3.5 miles.

Note; To access the Mamakating O&W Rail Trail; Southern Section, head left, East, along the gravel McDonald Rd. You'll come to a gate & Map Board on your right after 0.1 miles and the trailhead. I've checked out this section. See Below.

I've checked out this section. Informational boards and benches located along the trail. Continue South, past the gate, along the hard packed dirt, grass, gravel and the occasional tree root D&H Canal Trail. Old Canal along your right. Cross an iron bridge over Willsey Brook at 3.8 miles, as the trail turns West. A marsh and the old Canal are along your right and open fields left. Re-enter the woods and come to an intersection at 4.2 miles, next to a wood bench on your left. 

Note; Right leads 0.1 miles to the Hornbeck's Basin parking lot, which has a Map Board & Porto-Potty.

The trail continues South, through the woods, before crossing the dirt, Ferguson Lane parking area, at 4.7 miles in Wurstboro. Informational board. Here the trail is crushed gravel. Cross another bridge over Willsey Brook, before passing by the FD and coming Pine St. Right, just down this road is the Pine Street parking lot. The now, cement trail, takes you through a small pocket park, with picnic tables & a large Map Board. Travel underneath a trail sign to Sullivan St at 5.1 miles in Wurstboro. To your right, spot an historical sign about the old D&H Canal office. A crosswalk takes you across Sullivan St, where you follow a gravel road past a sub-station. Here the trail is hard packed dirt and grass as it follows the power lines. The trail crosses Pennsylvania Ave to a Map Board at 5.3 miles. Parking lot here. Granite marker here from 1825, for the groundbreaking of the D&H Canal. This is the 0 Mile Marker.

The D&H Canal Trail continues South, past Emma Chase School. Here the grass trail follows a berm along a power line before coming to a gravel road at 5.6 miles. Continue along the gravel road before coming to a stone-dust trail on your right after 6 miles.

Note; Heading right, West, up this wide stone-dust trail brings you to the Mamakating Town Court parking lot after 0.3 miles.

The D&H Canal Trail continues straight as a hard packed dirt, grass & gravel trail South, through the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area. This was as far as I traveled.

Southern Section:

Mamakating O&W Rail Trail/D&H Canal Trail Loop:

[Wurstboro]

Starting from the Sullivan Street parking lot in Wurstboro [Southern End]; A Map Board & paper maps are located here. 

Note; Across Sullivan St is the old Wurstboro RR Station, but the old station and RR bed is not accessible heading South, to S Rd. You can access the old rail bed off S Rd (See Map) but the trail is only partially developed (hard packed dirt, grass and tree roots) as it travels South, through the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area.

The Mamakating O&W Rail Trail; Southern Section heads North, into the woods, consisting of a hard packed dirt, grass and gravel surface. Cross an old RR bridge over Basher Kill at 0.4 miles where a causeway takes you through a marsh. Pass a gate and come to McDonald Rd. Map Board. Head left, West, along the gravel road. Come to the intersection of  *McDonald Road, Leadmine Rd, a bridge over the D&H Canal & the D&H Canal Trail at 1.5 miles. 

Note; Here you can continue North, along the D&H Canal Trail, by heading right, up Leadmine Rd, where you'll pick up the trailhead. I haven't checked out this section.

I Looped back by heading left, South, past the gate, along the hard packed dirt & grass D&H Canal Trail. Cross a small bridge at 1.8 miles and cross the dirt, Ferguson Lane parking area, at 2.7 miles. Here the trail is crushed gravel. Cross another bridge over Willsey Brook, before passing by the FD and coming Pine St. Right, just down this road is the Pine Street parking lot. The now, cement trail, takes you through a small pocket park, with picnic tables & a large Map Board. Travel underneath a trail sign to Sullivan St at 3.1 miles. 

Note; The D&H Canal Trail continues South, across Sullivan St.

Then travel left, East, on-road, back to the Sullivan Street parking lot after a 3.5 mile Loop.  

Southern Section:

Bashakill Wildlife Management Area:

[Wurstboro in Mamakating]

The Bashakill Wildlife Management Area consists of 2,175 acres and is the largest freshwater wetland in Southeastern NY. There are 15 miles of trails and several observation towers. One trail follows the D&H Canal, which borders the Bashakill on the West Side and another follows the old O&W Rail Trail along the East Side.

From the Mamakating Little League parking lot in Mamakating [Northern End]; Head right, on-road, along South Rd to the trailhead  on your right. The dirt and grass O&W Rail Trail travels South, along the old RR bed. I didn't check out this section. The trail is less than 6 miles passing through the Haven Road parking lot, Main Boat Launch parking lot, Nature Trail parking lot and ending near the South Road parking lot at the end of the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area.

Old Railroad Equipment:

+ RR Whistle Post:
The Whistle Post, was a post with a large "W" engraved or painted on it. This meant the railroad engineers were to start sounding the trains Whistle. The Whistle posts were usually placed 0.25 miles in advance of a road crossing, bridges, tunnels and other points. Usually, there would be a post placed on both sides of the crossing, covering both directions.

HH

CLICK HERE FOR O&W RAIL TRAIL HURLEY to ELLENVILLE MAP

CLICK HERE FOR O&W RAIL TRAIL ACCORD to NAPANOCH SECTION MAP

CLICK HERE FOR O&W RAIL TRAIL NAPANOCH to ELLENVILLE SECTION MAP

CLICK HERE FOR D&H CANAL FIVE LOCK MAP

CLICK HERE FOR D&H CANAL LINEAR PARK MAP

CLICK HERE FOR MAMAKATING O&W RAIL TRAIL/D&H CANAL MAP

CLICK HERE FOR BASHAKILL SECTION MAP

 

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