LACKAWANNA RAIL TRAIL:
ELMIRA, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: June 13, 2018
Length: Lackawanna Rail Trail; 8.7 miles
Eldridge Park Loop; 1.1 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Flat paved rail trail.
Directions:
From I-86/Route 17 take exit 56 to E Water St and head west. The East Water Street parking lot is on your left. Enter and head left to the trail head.
The Lackawanna Rail Trail follows the rail bed of the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad connecting north to Eldridge Park. Here the trail leaves the old rail bed heading east alongside Diven Creek. For more information visit; LACKAWANNA RAIL TRAIL & ELDRIDGE PARK .
Starting from the East Water Street parking lot; The paved Lackawanna Rail Trail travels underneath E Water St and comes to an intersection. Map Board here.
Note; Right the paved trail travels across an old railroad trestle over Newtown Creek near Jones Island bringing you alongside I-86. I haven't checked out this section. Here the trail follows the old rail bed south alongside I-86, ending at Lowman Crossover in Lowman after 5.5 miles. It parallels the Chemung River, however, there are only occasional views of the river, especially after the leaves have fallen. If you head left along Lowman Crossover, cross the highway you'll come to the Oneida Road parking lot on your right.
Heading left the trail travels north below a Levee on your left and Newtown Creek. Travel underneath E Church St at 0.5 miles. You then cross over the Levee and Sullivan St along a high berm. Pass by a spur to Quatrano Park at 1.3 miles. Informational board. Cross over Madison Ave, Lake St and E Washington Ave before coming off the berm and traveling through a commercial district alongside Route 14. Cross Maxwell Pl and Division St then follow alongside Baldwin St coming to Diven Ave where you follow a narrow sidewalk straight out to E Thurston St. Two cross-lights will get you across busy Route 14 and some RR tracks. Head right along a sidewalk into Eldridge Park and you'll come to a paved trail at 2.6 miles. To your left is the Eldridge Park parking lot.
Note; This is the start of the Eldridge Park Loop. See Below.
Head right past Eldridge Lake to another intersection and continue straight. Travel past a second parking lot and across Diven Creek to another intersection. Head right along the paved Lackawanna Rail Trail crossing the RR tracks and a crosswalk over Grand Central Ave. Here the isolated trail travels alongside Diven Creek before ending at Lake St after 3.3 miles.
Eldridge Park Loop:
Starting from the Eldridge Park parking lot; This paved trail circles both Eldridge Lake and the sports fields. Head north alongside Eldridge Park Rd and Eldridge Lake before quickly coming to an intersection.
Note; Left takes you between the Lake and sports fields past the Mark Twain Mini Golf Course and Train ride, carnival rides, paddle boats and the Eldridge Park Carousel. Facilities. See; ELDRIDGE PARK .
Continue right past a second parking lot and across Diven Creek to another intersection.
Note; The Lackawanna Rail Trail continues right.
Continue straight around the sports fields passing by an old Erie RR car along the RR tracks. The trail utilizes Eldridge Park Rd, but is separated from the road. Return to the paved trail as you come to an intersection next to Eldridge Lake at 0.8 miles. Continue right around the Lake passing by a Dog Park and you'll return to the Lackawanna Rail Trail and Eldridge Park parking lot after a 1.1 miles Loop.
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT