Tannersville Rail Trail |
 |
|
| |
| |
|
OVERVIEW |
| | Type of Trail: | 100% Public Trails |
| | Other Names: | Huckleberry Rail Trail, Huckleberry Bike Path, Tannersville Bike Path |
| | Distance: | 2.03 miles - From Clum Hill Road to Bloomer Road |
| | Time: | 1 hours one-way (hiking time) |
| | Best Time to Hike: | Any time of the day. |
| | Difficulty: | Very easy. |
| | Elevations: | 1,941' (EAST) to 1,762' (WEST) |
| | Digital Mapper: |
Topo
Terrain
Satellite |
| | Attractions: | Nice easy hike through the Catskill Mountain Forest |
| | Attractions: | Excellent harden base of blue gravel dust that is groomed perfectly. |
| | Attractions: | Walking distance of downtown Tannersville, NY |
| | Unattractions: | Parking is very limited. |
| | Unattractions: | Crosses two roads. |
| | Unattractions: | LOTS of people visit this trail on summer weekends |
| | Access Methods: | Foot, snowshoe, ski, or mountain bike |
|
|
|
| | Directions to RAILROAD AVE in Tannersville, NY |
| | RailRoad Ave Parking Lot WGS84 (DEC): 42.19125, -74.13465 - Elevation is approximately 1,845 feet |
| | RailRoad Ave Parking Lot Deg/Min/Sec: N42 11 28, W74 08 04 - Elevation is approximately 1,845 feet |
| | RailRoad Ave Parking Lot GPS: N 42 11.475, W 74 08.079 - Elevation is approximately 1,845 feet |
| | RailRoad Ave Lot UTM: 18N 571452 4671373 - Elevation is approximately 1,845 feet |
| |
|
| | Take New York State Thruway to Exit 21 (Catskill). |
| | Take a left out of the NYS Thruway entrance road. |
| | Go approximately 1/4 mile |
| | Take a right onto Route 23 West |
| | Go approximately 6.6 miles to Cairo, NY |
| | Take a LEFT onto Rt 32. McDonalds Rest. on corner. |
| | Go approximately 7.7 miles on Rt 32 |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Rt 23A |
| | Go approximately 6.9 miles to the intersection of Rt 23a and Railroad Ave. |
| | Take a LEFT onto Railroad Ave. |
| | Go approximately 0.3 miles on Railroad Ave. |
| | Parking Area on the left OR turn left on Lake Road and park on the side of Lake Road |
| | Park only where there is designated parking. Your car will be TICKETED or TOWED if you park inappropriately. |
|
| | Directions to ALLEN LANE in Tannersville, NY |
| | RailRoad Ave Parking Lot WGS84 (DEC): 42.188817, -74.148783 - Elevation is approximately 1,824 feet |
| | RailRoad Ave Parking Lot Deg/Min/Sec: N42 11 19, W74 08 55 - Elevation is approximately 1,824 feet |
| | RailRoad Ave Parking Lot GPS: N 42 11.329, W 74 08.927 - Elevation is approximately 1,824 feet |
| | RailRoad Ave Lot UTM: 18N 570287 4671091 - Elevation is approximately 1,824 feet |
| |
|
| | Take New York State Thruway to Exit 21 (Catskill). |
| | Take a left out of the NYS Thruway entrance road. |
| | Go approximately 1/4 mile |
| | Take a right onto Route 23 West |
| | Go approximately 6.6 miles to Cairo, NY |
| | Take a LEFT onto Rt 32. McDonalds Rest. on corner. |
| | Go approximately 7.7 miles on Rt 32 |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Rt 23A |
| | Go approximately 7.3 miles to the intersection of Rt 23a and Allen Lane. |
| | Take a LEFT onto Allen Lane |
| | Go approximately 0.5 miles on Allen Lane |
| | Parking Area on the left (loop) |
|
| | Directions to BLOOMER ROAD in Tannersville, NY |
| | RailRoad Ave Parking Lot WGS84 (DEC): 42.186183, -74.157033 - Elevation is approximately 1,762 feet |
| | RailRoad Ave Parking Lot Deg/Min/Sec: N42 11 10, W74 09 25 - Elevation is approximately 1,762 feet |
| | RailRoad Ave Parking Lot GPS: N 42 11.171, W 74 09.422 - Elevation is approximately 1,762 feet |
| | RailRoad Ave Lot UTM: 18N 569609, 4670792 - Elevation is approximately 1,762 feet |
| |
|
| | Take New York State Thruway to Exit 21 (Catskill). |
| | Take a left out of the NYS Thruway entrance road. |
| | Go approximately 1/4 mile |
| | Take a right onto Route 23 West |
| | Go approximately 6.6 miles to Cairo, NY |
| | Take a LEFT onto Rt 32. McDonalds Rest. on corner. |
| | Go approximately 7.7 miles on Rt 32 |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Rt 23A |
| | Go approximately 8.5 miles to the intersection of Rt 23a and Bloomer Road. |
| | Take a LEFT onto Bloomer Road |
| | Go approximately 0.7 miles on Bloomer Road |
| | Parking Area on the left (After Rail Trail, but before going over bridge) |
|
|
Mileage Chart for the Eastern Trannersville Rail Trail |
| | Mile Point | Altitude | Notes |
| | 0.00 | 1,848' | EASTERN Trail - Boat House by lake |
| | 0.63 | 2,079' | EASTERN Trail - Clum Hill Road |
| |
Mileage Chart for the Western Trannersville Rail Trail |
| | Mile Point | Altitude | Notes |
| | 0.00 | 1,848' | WESTERN Trail - Boat House by lake |
| | 0.92 | 1,793' | WESTERN Trail - Allen Lane |
| | 1.40 | 1,766' | WESTERN Trail - Bloomer Road |
|
|
Parking Areas along the Tannersville Rail Trail |
|
The center point between the Eastern Trail and the Western Trail is at Rip Van Winkle Lake. Most people park around the lake to hike or bike the Tannersville Rail Trail. The boat house is right across from this rock. There are also benches to sit on, Main Street Tannersville is just a short walk away from the Tannersville Rail Trail.
|
|
 |
RAILROAD AVE - This is the small parking area by Rip Van Winkle Lake. It is located on Railroad Ave, and holds about 4-5 cars. If this lot is full, then Lake Road is 50' away and has significantly more parking spaces on the side of Lake Road. In the summer months, all the parking areas can be busy during a weekend day.
|
|
 |
LAKE ROAD - This is the parking area along Lake Road that goes near Rip Van Winkle Lake. Usually, you can find a spot here to park.
|
|
 |
ALLEN LANE - There are also a few parking spots off the side of the road on Allen Lane. The picture you see here is owned by the Hunter Foundation, which owns some of the land around the Tannersville Rail Trail and the Huckleberry Bike Park across the street.
NOTE: This is a turn-around, so do NOT park on the roadway of the turn-around. Park on the grass. Do NOT park on the side of Allen Lane either.
|
|
 |
BLOOMER ROAD - There are a few parking spaces on the side of Bloomer Road. This is the western end of the Tannersville Rail Trail.
|
|
|
EASTERN SECTION of the Tannersville Rail Trail |
|
The EASTERN SECTION of the Tannersville Rail Trail starts here, and goes east for 0.63 miles until it reaches Clum Hill Road. center point between the Eastern Trail and the Western Trail is at Rip Van Winkle Lake. Most people park around the lake to hike or bike the Tannersville Rail Trail. There is NO parking off Clum Hill Road.
Head east towards the RED BRIDGE you see in the picture. Follow the Tannersville Rail Trail for 0.63 miles.
|
|
 |
For most of the eastern section, you will be walking parallel to the Rip Van Winkle Lake. There are numerous things to do at the lake.
|
|
 |
The eastern section of the Tannersville Rail Trail passes over the outflow of the lake. The red railing of the bridge help you know that you are on the eastern section of the path.
A large part of the Eastern Section of the Tannersville Rail Trail follows the southern shore of the Rip Van Winkle Lake. It is mainly flat until you reach the end of the lake.
|
|
 |
Once past the end of the lake, the trail will start to head uphill slightly, until you reach Clum Hill Road, which is the end of the eastern section of the Tannersville Rail Trail.
|
|
 |
This is the end of the eastern section of the Tannersville Rail Trail. The road is Clum Hill Road.
|
|
|
Western Section of the Tannersville Rail Trail |
|
The center point between the Eastern Trail and the Western Trail is at Rip Van Winkle Lake. Most people park around the lake to hike or bike the Tannersville Rail Trail. The boat house is right across from this rock. There are also benches to sit on, Main Street Tannersville is just a short walk away from the Tannersville Rail Trail.
You want to head away from the lake, but walking down the sidewalk towards Railroad Ave. Once you reach Railroad Ave, turn LEFT and walk another 50' to the small parking area on Railraod Ave. Then you want to turn RIGHT and walk across Railroad ave to the entrance of the Western Section of the Tannersville Rail Trail.
|
|
 |
This is the entrance of the Western Section of the Tannersville Rail Trail. As you can see, the trail is NOT marked. Just walk between the two railings and over the bridge.
|
|
 |
The beginning of the western portion of the Tannersville Rail Trail runs next to the backyards of homes. Please do NOT go into their backyards. In the beginning, please stay on the path.
|
|
 |
As you further down the path, the trees will surround the path on both sides. The wooden fence will end at some point.
The path has a beautiful base to hike or ride mountain bikes on.
|
|
 |
Then the forest canopy will engulf the path completely to give you a beautiful feeling of being in nature. It is one of the most beautiful paths in the Catskill Mountains.
As you walk along, there will be a very slight downhill incline that is almost impossible to realize.
|
|
 |
Further down the path you will get an opening of the forest, to give you a view from high above the Gooseberry Creek. There is a fence there to ensure no one falls down upon the rocks along the banks of the creek.
|
|
 |
As you pass the overlook of the Gooseberry Creek, the forest canopy will engulf you again. But, you will still be able to see the Gooseberry Creek off the south side of the path.
|
|
 |
As you get towards the end of the first portion of the western end of the Tannersville Rail Trail, you will pass over this bridge. The beautiful conifer forest will end with an opening of the forest with a few deciduous trees. You are approaching Allen Lane.
|
|
 |
This is the end of the first portion of the western end of the Tannersville Rail Trail. On your right is a place were some people do park. On your left is the Tannersville water treatment plant.
Continue STRAIGHT across Allen Lane to the final portion of the Tannersville Rail Trail.
Please do not go down to the Tannersville Water Treatment plant. It is off-limits to the public.
Off to your right you will see a dirt road that goes up a steep hill. This road leads to the Huckleberry Bike Park. It also goes to the Tannersville Soccer field. This is open to the public. The Huckleberry Bike Park is one of two Mountain Bike Parks in Tannersville.
|
|
 |
Again, you go back into a the beautiful conifer forest that you were in the previous portion of the western section of the Tannersville Rail Trail.
|
|
 |
As you travel down further, you will begin to see an opening at the end of the Tannersville Rail Trail.
On your right you will see the Huckleberry Bike Park.
|
|
 |
This is the end of the western section of the Tannersville Rail Trail. The road you see is Bloomer Road. Bloomer Road connects Rt 23a with Platte Clove Road (Rt 16). You CANNOT continue across the road. This is the end. On your left is a small parking area. At this point, you will need to turn around and head back.
If you would like to continue further down the railroad tracks, you can go into the Hunter, and walk along the section of railroad tracks further west. That section is call the Hunter Rail Trail.
|
|
|
S E C T I O N S
|
W E A T H E R
|
O T H E R
|
