ELLICOTT CREEK TRAILWAY:
AMHERST, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: July 30, 2017
Length: Ellicott Creek Trailway; 6 miles (0.8 miles through Ellicott Creek Park)
Trail A; 1 mile
Trail B; 0.6 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Flat paved trail.
Directions:
To Start from the Ellicott Creek Trailway parking lot off N Forest Road; From I-290 take exit 5B to Millersport Highway heading north. Take the ramp on your right to Maple Rd and head right. Travel 1.4 miles and turn left on N Forest Rd. The parking lot is on your left.
To Start from Ellicott Creek Park/Erie Canalway Trail; From I-290 take exit 3 to Route 62 north. Travel 1.4 miles and just after crossing over Ellicott Creek turn left into Ellicott Creek Park. Travel through the park where you'll find ample parking lots.
The Ellicott Creek Trailway follows Ellicott Creek from the Ellicott Creek Trailway parking lot off N Forest Rd northwest to Route 62. You can then continue west through Ellicott Creek Park out to the Erie Canalway Trail. Two Spurs off the Ellicott Creek Trailway, labeled Trail A & B on the map serve as both an alternate route for the Trailway, as well as, take you around Auburn Town Park to the Auburn Recreation Complex and the University at Buffalo. For more information about other bike trails in Amherst click on Maps below .
Starting from the Ellicott Creek Trailway parking lot off N Forest Road; A gazebo, tennis courts and restrooms located here. The 0 Mile marker starts here along with a map board. The paved Ellicott Creek Trailway travels north alongside N Forest Rd before turning left alongside the Amherst Audubon Golf Course. Cross a bridge over Ellicott Creek where the trail turns north again. Along your left is a wide, grass lined depression (flood plain?). Come to an intersection after 0.5 miles where you'll find a map board.
Note; Left is referred to as Trail B on the map and connects to Trail A, which runs between the Ellicott Creek Trailway and the Auburn Recreation Complex and the University at Buffalo. Both trails have separate mileages from the main trail. SEE BELOW.
Continuing north the trail parallels Ellicott Creek along your right and the grass lined depression taking you past the Amherst Memorial Hill Grove at 0.8 miles. The trail bears west bringing you to an intersection at 1.5 miles.
Note; Left is the start of Trail A and takes you to the Auburn Recreation Complex and the University at Buffalo, passing by Trail B.
Continuing straight you travel underneath Route 263 and out to St Rita's Lane. A short detour away from the creek starts here. Head left alongside St Rita's Lane where the paved trail turns right through a field out to Frontier Rd. Lake La Salle is across the road. Continue straight out to John James Audubon Pkwy and turn right along the paved trail.
Note; Left takes you to the University at Buffalo.
The trail returns alongside Ellicott Creek and heads left underneath John James Audubon Pkwy. Pass by a pedestrian bridge over the creek at 2.4 miles. Nice open creek views along this section. Cross the creek at 2.8 miles over an iron bridge, passing by a shelter. Travel through an open field away from the creek before rejoining the creek along its eastern bank and coming to another iron bridge.
Note; Left takes you out to N Forest Rd.
Cross the bridge to an island (the creek splits with a wide canal like section that this trail follows), followed by a second bridge off the island where you travel underneath I-990 at 3.6 miles. Again the creek splits as the trail follows the wide canal section. Travel underneath Sweet Home Rd at 4 miles and come to Niagara Falls Blvd after 5.2 miles. This is the official end of the trail in Amherst, but you can continue through Ellicott Creek Park. A cross-light take you over busy Niagara Falls Blvd where the paved trail continues through Ellicott Creek Park. Parking areas, picnic tables, pavilions, playgrounds, sports fields and restrooms. The trail follows Park Rd out to Creekside Dr where you may cross over to the Erie Canalway Trail; Rochester-Buffalo after 6 miles.
Trail A:
Starting from the Northern Connection to the Ellicott Creek Trailway; The open paved trail travels south parallel to Route 263. Come to the intersection of Trail B after 0.4 miles. The trail continues south a bit before turning west bringing you to the Audubon Recreation Complex parking lot after 1 mile. Map board located here. Right leads to Route 263 where you can enter the University at Buffalo.
Trail B:
Starting from the Eastern Connection to the Ellicott Creek Trailway; The open paved trail travels across the grass lined depression connecting into Trail A after 0.6 miles.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO MAP
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT