RAYHILL MEMORIAL TRAIL:
NEW HARTFORD-WHITESTOWN, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: July 31, 2016
Length: Rayhill Memorial Trail; 5.3 miles.
Whitestown Loop; 4.1 miles
Difficulty: Rayhill Memorial Trail; Easy. Paved trail with some slight hills.
Whitestown Loop; Easy. Paved trail and sidewalk alongside road plus an on-road section with wide shoulders.
Directions:
To Start from the New Hartford Street parking lot; From Route 840 exit to Routes 5 & 12 (North-South Arterial Hwy) south. Take the first exit onto Wilbur Rd-Old Campion Rd to Campion Rd and turn left. Turn left on New Hartford St. The parking lot will be just a ways up on your left.
To start from the Clark Mills Road parking lot; Travel Route 840 north until it ends at Clark Mills Rd. The parking lot is on the right.
The Rayhill Memorial Trail travels between the towns of New Hartford and Whitestown along the former West Shore RR bed and is dedicated to Phillip A. Rayhill. For more information visit; TOWN OF NEW HARTFORD .
Starting from New Hartford St parking lot; A map board is located here.
Heading Left; The paved Rayhill Memorial Trail travels east crossing New Hartford St, Caution no crosswalk, before crossing a bridge over Sauquoit Creek after 0.2 miles. This open trail follows the river north where it crosses some RR tracks over to Burrstone Rd at 1.1 miles.
Note; If you follow the two cross-lights over Burrstone Rd and Main St a sidewalk crosses the RR tracks and river along Clinton St. Just past the first house after the river you'll find a paved path on your right that will bring you to Pietryka Park.
Heading Right; Traveling northwest along the paved Rayhill Memorial Trail, just below Route 840. A sound barrier helps cut down on the traffic noise. The trail parallels Route 840 up to Commercial Dr where it heads right to a cross-light that will get you across Commercial Dr. Head left back towards Route 840, then right up alongside Route 840. It soon veers right away from the highway and brings you to Middle Settlement Rd at 1.6 miles. A cross-light takes you over this road and the trail continues right along a double wide sidewalk. Re-join the paved trail on the left and you'll come to a map board and parking lot. The trail now travels through meadows, marsh and open woods. Come alongside a pond on your left at 2.3 miles and a large marsh on your right. Several platforms overlook the pond. The trail returns alongside Route 840 at 3 miles. Come to the Clark Mills Rd parking lot at 3.5 miles. Continue alongside Route 840, crossing Halsey Rd and ending after 4.1 miles alongside Judd Rd.
Note; If you wish to extend your ride you can complete the Whitestown Loop. Continue on-road utilizing the wide shoulder along Judd Rd. Mostly woods and meadows along this road. Come to Westmoreland Rd after a mile. Here you'll pick up a narrow paved trail on your right that travels alongside this residential road. After 2.1 miles turn right on Gibson Rd utilizing the same paved trail. This road is a bit less residential with more woodland and fields. Pass by the entrance to Whitestown Town Park at 3 miles before coming to Halsey Rd at 3.7 miles. Turn right utilizing a sidewalk which will bring you back to Judd Rd and the Rayhill Memorial Trail after a 4.1 mile loop.
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT