The Oswego County Recreation Trail is a multi-use
rail trail
A rail trail is a shared-use path on railway right of way. Rail trails are typically constructed after a railway has been abandoned and the track has been removed, but may also share the right of way with active railways, light rail, or streetcar ...
in
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
.
The Oswego Recreational Trail actually comprises two trails which are separated by an on-road section. It follows the route of the former
New York, Ontario and Western Railway, abandoned in 1957.
The east portion runs from the city of
Fulton's Maple Avenue to the village of
Central Square, just short of
Interstate 81. I-81 was built following the NYO&W abandonment and no provision was made to preserve the railroad right-of-way by creating a grade separation.
To get around I-81, you must travel on roads through Central Square. North on
U.S. Route 11, east on
New York State Route 49 across I-81, and south on
County Route 37 takes you back to the trail. At that point, the trail to the west (back towards I-81) is ridable, but it ends at a creek where the railroad bridge has been removed. Once back on the trail, it is to
Cleveland and the
Oneida County line. The right-of-way continues as a privately owned trail, open for some uses.
The trail has not been resurfaced except in a few eroded spots. The railroad used crushed rock
ballast that remains as the surface of the trail. The trail crosses many steams on the original railroad bridges. They have been decked over with steel. Any road which crosses the trail may be used to gain access to the trail. Convenient parking is available at
County Route 6, south of Fulton; on Toad Harbor Road, off Route 49, near
Three Mile Bay; and in the village of Cleveland on North Street.
External links
The Oswego County Recreational TrailRoute of the trailOpenStreetMap west of I-81OpenStreetMap east of I-81
Protected areas of Oswego County, New York
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