ONEIDA RAIL TRAIL:
ONEIDA, NEW YORK
LENOX RAIL TRAIL:
CANASTOTA-WAMPSVILLE, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: November 22, 2024
Length: Lenox Rail Trail; 2.6 miles
Oneida Rail Trail: West Shore Division RR Section; 3.9 miles w/some on-road sections.
Oneida Rail Trail: NY Central RR Section; 1.1 miles w/some on-road sections.
Oneida Rail Trail: NY Ontario & Western RR Section; unknown
Lenox Ave Trail; 0.6 miles
Difficulty: Lenox Rail Trail; Easy. Flat, paved rail trail. Short on-road section.
Oneida Rail Trail: West Shore Division RR Section; Flat, stone-dust & paved rail trail w/some on-road sections.
Oneida Rail Trail: NY Central RR Section; Flat, stone-dust & paved rail trail w/some on-road sections.
Oneida Rail Trail: NY Ontario & Western RR Section; unknown
Lenox Ave Trail; Flat, paved trail.
Directions:
To start from Port Street in Canastota for the Lenox Rail Trail [Western End]; From I-90 take exit 34 to (Route 13) N Peterboro St and travel south to Canastota. After a mile turn right on Rasbach St and follow to end. Turn left then an immediate right on Port St. Follow to end. Parking for a couple of cars.
To Start from *N Court Street in Wampsville for the Oneida Rail Trail [Western End]; From the junction of Routes 5 & 10 in Wampsville follow Route 10 north, 0.4 miles to the trailhead on your right. Parking lot here.
The Oneida Rail Trail is a planned trail system of three interconnecting rail beds creating a Loop around Oneida. Three abandoned rail beds, the NY Central RR, West Shore Division RR and the NY Ontario & Western RR all passed through town. The Lenox Rail Trail follows the rail bed of the former West Shore Division RR East from Canastota to Wampsville and into Oneida, where it connects to the Oneida Rail Trail. The Erie Canalway Trail; Utica-Syracuse also travels East-West, through all 3 of these towns, allowing for on-road connections between these trails. For more information visit; ONEIDA RAIL TRAIL .
Lenox Rail Trail:
Starting from Port Street in Canastota [Western End]; The narrow, paved Lenox Rail Trail travels North, to the former West Shore Division RR bed.
Note; To your left a grass lined path (orange arrow signs) travels West, past a small pond and back onto the rail bed. Part of the North County Trail. I haven't checked out this trail.
Heading right, East, the wider Lenox Rail Trail; West Shore Division RR Section travels through the woods. An active RR line follows above along your left. Come to S Main St after 0.8 miles.
Note; To your right is the James Street parking lot.
The rail bed is blocked ahead, so you'll need to detour 0.3 miles around it. Head left, North, (Caution no crosswalk) on-road, underneath the RR bridge to Railroad St on your right.
Note; If you continue North, on-road along S Main St, you can access the Erie Canalway Trail; Utica-Syracuse after 0.25 miles.
Turn right, East, on-road, along Railroad St (low traffic), then your next right on S Peterboro St and back underneath the RR bridge. Pick up the paved Lenox Rail Trail on your left, next to the Skate & Bike Park at 1.1 miles (Caution no crosswalk). Informational board and small brick building? I haven't checked out this section yet. The wide, paved trail continues East, below the RR line, passing by the Skate & Bike Park and soon entering the woods. It then bears left, off the old rail bed, to the former NY Central RR rail bed. The Lenox Rail Trail; NY Central RR Section continues East, to the Willow Acres Road parking lot at 2.6 miles. Map Board.
Note; Straight, East, the old NY Central RR bed is now Donald Hicks Dew Dr. Right, on Willow Acres Rd, quickly brings you back to the old West Shore Division RR rail bed on your left. Not accessible.
Note; Construction of a paved trail, alongside Donald Hicks Dew Dr, to *N Court Street is planned.
To connect to the Oneida Rail Trail, travel East, on-road, along Donald Hicks Dew Dr to N Court St. Crosswalk. Turn right, along a narrow sidewalk and you'll come to the Oneida Rail Trail after about 0.9 miles, which starts from *N Court Street in Wampsville.
Note; If you travel North, on-road along *N Court Street, you can access the Erie Canalway Trail; Utica-Syracuse after 0.7 miles.
Oneida Rail Trail; West Shore Division RR Section:
Starting from *N Court Street in Wampsville [Western End]; [Re-zeroing Mileage] I haven't checked out this section yet. The paved Oneida Rail Trail; West Shore Division RR Section travels East, along the former West Shore Division RR bed, along an open corridor, before entering the woods as you cross into Oneida. Cross the Bridge at Hubbard Place, over Cowaselon Creek, before crossing Hubbard Place at 0.7 miles. Here you'll find the Hubbard Place parking lot. Picnic table & Map Board. I haven't checked out this section since it's been upgraded. The stone-dust trail continues East, through the woods. You emerge at **Lenox Ave after 1.7 miles. Map Board.
Note; The paved Lenox Ave Trail crosses here. This trail travels alongside Lenox Ave. Heading left, Northeast, for 0.5 miles, this trail brings you to a stone-dust Spur Trail. This short Spur Trail takes you North, to the Oneida Rail Trail; NY Central RR Section. See Below.
Note; GAP. The old West Shore Division RR bed continues across the road, but currently is not accessible.
To connect to the next section of the Oneida Rail Trail; West Shore Division RR Section head right, Southwest, along the paved Lenox Ave Trail. After only 0.1 miles, the trail ends. A crosswalk takes you over to Willow Meadow Way. You'll now travel on-road through a residential development. Quickly come to an intersection and continue right along Driftwood Dr to Cedarcrest Ln and head right. Continue along Patio Circle Dr to Sayless Street and head left, on-road, returning you to the Oneida Rail Trail; West Shore Division RR Section after a 1.1 mile detour.
Note; Left, West, the old West Shore Division RR bed continues back towards **Lenox Ave but is not accessible. Future construction.
[Continuing Mileage from **Lenox Ave; 2.8 miles] I've checked out this section. Continuing East, the crushed gravel & grass Oneida Rail Trail; West Shore Division RR Section travels along a wooded corridor, along a berm, passing by the Oneida High School sport fields. I haven't checked out this next section. Cross Seneca St at 3.3 miles and continue to Broadway. Left, a short distance up Broadway, before turning right, East, through Allen Park and out to Broad Street at 3.7 miles.
Note; In 2024, this last section from Sayless Street to Broad Street is scheduled to be upgraded with stone-dust, crosswalks and slope reductions.
Cross Broad Street and travel on-road, along Shattuck Ave (residential), crossing Main St and continuing along Elizabeth St. Sharp left turn will bring you to a brown gate on your right at 3.9 miles. This is the start of the Oneida Rail Trail; NY Ontario & Western RR Section. See Below.
Oneida Rail Trail; Ontario & Western RR Section:
Starting from the Lenox Ave Trail in Oneida [Southern End]; I haven't checked out this next section. The Oneida Rail Trail; NY Ontario & Western RR Section travels North, I believe along the former NY Ontario & Western RR bed, through Duross Conservancy and past Maxwell Field. Not sure what the trail surface consists of.
Oneida Rail Trail; NY Central RR Section:
Starting from the Lenox Ave Trail in Oneida [Southeastern End]; [Re-zeroing Mileage] I haven't checked out this section. A short Spur Trail takes you North, to the Oneida Rail Trail; NY Central RR Section.
Note; Left, Southwest, I believe the former NY Central RR bed is undeveloped. It travels 1.5 miles to Hubbard Place.
Heading right, Northeast, the stone-dust trail follows the partially open corridor to N Willow St at 0.4 miles. Bear left then right, on-road, along Railroad Ave (residential) to N Warner St. Head left and quickly pick up the stone-dust trail on your right at 0.6 miles. Continue Northeast, quickly coming to Liberty St and continue on-road (residential) to N Broad St. Turn right and quickly pick up a wide, paved trail on your left at 0.9 miles. This section travels alongside W & E Oneida St to Williams St at 0.1.1 miles. Left, then a quick right on-road, along E Railroad St (residential) to Lake St at 1.2 miles.
Not sure if the trail continues straight, Northeast, to the intersection of the former NY Ontario & Western RR bed and the Oneida Rail Trail; NY Ontario & Western RR Section. From here the trail is supposed to continue straight to Sconondoa Park? Left, North, I believe a crushed gravel trail will take you to Harden St. I know the trail is complete at Harden St, but not sure how far it South it extends.
HH
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