ONONDAGA CREEKWALK:
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: September 17, 2021
Length: Onondaga Creekwalk; Northern Section; 2.6 miles
Onondaga Creekwalk Southern Section; 2.3 miles (additional 0.7 miles along a closed Park road)
Difficulty: Easy. Flat paved & cement trail.
Directions:
To Start from the Destiny USA parking lot [Northern End];
From I-81 northbound take exit 23 to park St and turn right. First right on Hiawatha Blvd. Come to the mall on your right. Turn left on Solar St and take your first right into the parking lot. The trail is along your right, between the parking lot & Hiawatha Blvd.
From I-81 southbound take exit 23B to Destiny USA Dr and turn left. Travel past the mall and left out to Hiawatha Blvd. Cross the Blvd to Solar St and take your first right into the parking lot. The trail is along your right, between the parking lot & Hiawatha Blvd.
To Start from the Van Renssellaer Street parking lot [Northern End];
From I-690 westbound take exit 10 to N Geddes St and turn right. Follow to Van Renssellaer St and turn left. The parking lot is on your right.
From I-690 eastbound take exit 9 straight onto Bear St. Take your 3rd right onto Van Renssellaer St. Parking lot is on your left.
To Start from the Hunter Ave parking lot [Southern End];
From I-80 southbound take exit 17 to State St and turn right. Turn left on Colvin St and just after you cross Onondaga Creek turn right on Hunter Ave. Parking lot on your right.
From I-80 northbound take exit 17 and turn left underneath the interstate to S Salina St and head right for 0.6 miles. Turn left on Colvin St and just after you cross Onondaga Creek turn right on Hunter Ave. Parking lot on your right.
The Onondaga Creekwalk; Northern Section travels south from the southern end of Onondaga Lake, following Onondaga Creek. The northern section is also part of the Onondaga Lake Park; Loop the Lake Trail, as well as, the Erie Canalway Trail. It pass through the Inner Harbor before ending in downtown Syracuse in the historic Armory Square district. The Onondaga Creekwalk; Southern Section continues south to Onondaga Park & Kirk Park. For more information visit; ONONDAGA CREEKWALK .
Starting from Onondaga Lake; Benches overlook the lake. The paved Onondaga Creekwalk; Northern Section/ Onondaga Lake Park; Loop the Lake Trail travels south underneath an active RR bridge and alongside the west bank of Onondaga Creek. Benches and lampposts dot the trail. Travel underneath Hiawatha Blvd where the trail turns left passing by the Destiny USA parking lots along your right at 0.4 miles. The trail then turns left and travels east alongside Hiawatha Blvd (Caution narrow trail) crossing over Onondaga Creek where the trail picks up again on your left.
Note; The Onondaga Lake Park; Loop the Lake Trail continues straight to Van Renssellaer St, where a cross-light takes you over Hiawatha Blvd to a BIKE LANE heading west. See; Onondaga Lake Park .
Turn left to rejoin the trail as it now travels along the west bank of Onondaga Creek. Travel underneath Bear St and you'll come to an intersection.
Note; Right this paved trail leads to the Van Renssellaer Street parking lot. It is also part of the Erie Canalway Trail; Syracuse-Rochester .
The Onondaga Creekwalk continues south and is also part of the Erie Canalway Trail; Utica-Syracuse . Come to your first intersection: Right brings you to the Inner Harbor parking lot. Continue straight and you'll pass through the Inner Harbor Amphitheatre before reaching a second intersection at 1.2 miles.
Note; Turn left to check out the Inner Harbor. Cross the iron pedestrian bridge and follow the paved trail alongside an interesting park building. Turn left down the ramp, then right along the brick lined Inner Harbor promenade. Follow the promenade around the harbor towards a boathouse and two large earthen docks.
Straight brings you out to W Kirkpatrick St, so head right. This brings you to the Inner Harbor parking lot where you turn left along a brick pathway and cross W Kirkpatrick St. The trail continues south past the stone Parks Dept. building and out to Spencer St. Turn left to reach a cross-walk. The trail travels alongside Maltbie St before turning left alongside the creek. Cross the creek over an old iron RR bridge at 1.5 miles. This bridge was built in 1911 by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western RR. The trail now follows the east bank of the creek through a more urban section. Pass by the Plum Street Bridge where the trail turns to brick as it travels by two more pedestrian bridges. You'll come to a ramp that leads down to the cement trail alongside the river.
Note; This is the Franklin Square area which contains old brick buildings and Franklin Square Park. Worth a side trip.
The trail then travels underneath I-690 before turning left out to Wallace St at 2 miles. Here the trail follows a "Yellow Stripe" right along a wide sidewalk. Brown signs lead you through the city streets. Cross W Genesee St and head left. Turn right along N Franklin St. Cross Erie Blvd, then look back to spot the 1932 Art Deco Niagara Mohawk Building. Continue straight along N Franklin St and across W Water Street.
Note; The Erie Canalway Trail; Utica-Syracuse continues left along W Water Street.
Head right along W Water Street then left south to W Washington St. Across the street is the site of the old Washington RR Station. Head right along W Washington St to a cross-light that will take you over to the trail that continues straight. Turn left across the creek where a ramp brings you back along the creek. Cross W Fayette St and come to Walton Street.
Note; If you continue straight it will bring you to Armory Square at 2.6 miles and the end of the Northern Section. Parking lot located here (Fee). If you travel left along W Jefferson St it will take you around the old brick Armory which is now the site of the MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY . Lots of places to grab a bite among the old brick buildings.
From Walton Street the Onondaga Creekwalk continues right. I haven't checked out this section. Travel along Walton St where the paved trail picks up straight ahead underneath the RR Bridge. Head left along a separated BIKE LANE, known as a "Cycle Track", along S West St. Come to W Onondaga St after 0.6 miles. Cross the street where you'll pick up the paved trail. Head left, then right back alongside the west side of Onondaga Creek. After several road crossings turn left on Midland Ave crossing the creek, then right along the east side of the creek. Come to Rich St at 1.7 miles and turn right back across the street, then left into Onondaga Park. At the intersection turn left along Lower Onondaga Park Dr and you'll pick up the paved trail on your left at 2.8 miles. Follow the creek south, traveling underneath South Ave, before coming to Onondaga Creek Pkwy after about 2.3 miles. Here you'll find the Hunt Ave parking lot. Onondaga Creek Pkwy is then closed south for use as part of the trail. Come to W Colvin St.
Note; Left across the creek brings you to Kirk Park Dr where you can visit Kirk Park.
You can follow this closed road all the way to W Newell St at 3 miles.
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CLICK HERE FOR ONONDAGA CREEKWALK MAP
CLICK HERE FOR SYRACUSE AREA MAP
CLICK HERE FOR EMPIRE TRAIL MAP
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WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT