KEUKA OUTLET TRAIL:
DRESDEN-PENN YAN, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: August 1, 2016
Length: Keuka Outlet Trail; 6.7 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Flat paved, stone-dust, hard packed dirt, grass and gravel rail trail.
Directions:
To Start from Dresden [Eastern End]; From the junction of Routes 14 & 54 in Dresden head east on Main St. Take your first right on Seneca St. The parking lot is on your right just before the RR tracks.
To start from Penn Yan [Western End]; From the junction of Routes 14A & 54A in Penn Yan head west on Route 54A (Elm St) for 0.4 miles. Turn left into the Village of Penn Yan Sports Complex. The trail begins near the left corner of the parking lot.
The Keuka Outlet Trail follows the rail bed of the former Fall Brook RR (1884-1974) which, in turn, follows the towpath of the historic Crooked Lake Canal (1833-1877) that once connected Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake by dropping 270 feet over 8 miles (27 Locks) through the ravine created by the Keuka Outlet Creek. The trail runs between the old canal bed and the creek, except at Seneca Mills Falls where the trail drops into the canal bed and passes through Lock #17. For more information visit; KEUKA OUTLET TRAIL .
Starting from Penn Yan [Western End]; From the parking lot head left past the ball fields, concession stand and playground and you'll come to the narrow paved Keuka Outlet Trail. Head east into the woods crossing a boardwalk over Sucker Brook and you'll soon pass by a playground, skateboard park, restrooms and the Water Street parking lot. Cross Water St where the trail travels past some picnic tables and docks to an iron arched bridge over Keuka Outlet Creek. Travel underneath Liberty St and alongside the creek and you'll pass by the Lake Street Park parking lot at 0.5 miles. The wide paved trail travels underneath the stone arched Main Street Bridge then across an old narrow wooden RR bridge over the creek. Here the trail becomes packed gravel as it continues through the woods along the river. Travel underneath a high RR trestle before coming to the Cherry Street parking lot at 1 mile. I haven't checked out this next section. The trail continues with a hard packed dirt, grass and gravel surface. Cross Foxs Mill Rd at 1.5 miles. The trail travels through a river valley above the creek crossing Milo Mill Rd at 2.2 miles. You come to a picnic pavilion 3.4 miles that overlooks Seneca Mill Falls. I've checked out this section. The stone-dust trail then travels downhill along the Falls through a gorge. Look left and you'll see the rock cut where the old rail line ran. The trail turns back to hard packed dirt and gravel (varies the whole way). Pass by an old stone culvert on your left as you approach the Outlet Road parking lot at 3.7 miles. Porto-Potty located here. Cross Ridge Rd at 4.2 miles before coming to Cascade Mills & Falls at 4.8 miles where you'll find a Visitor Center. Continue east finally traveling underneath Route 14 and coming to the Seneca Street parking lot in Dresden just before the RR tracks after 6.7 miles. Map Board and Porto-Potty located here.
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT