Oswego County Recreational Trail

Info: This trail system is built on the old railroad bed of the New York Ontario & Western Railroad, abandoned in 1957 and has been resurfaced. It is 25-28 miles long but unfortunately Route I-81 splits the trail into two – an East trail and a West trail. 
The western part of the trail begins on Maple Avenue in Fulton and extends east to South Main Street in Central Square.  The eastern part of the trail (on the other side of Route 81) begins at Swamp Rd and extends east into Cleveland around Center Street. 
It also does continue roughly on the eastern side of North Street in Cleveland and into Oneida County, but it is in bad condition along this stretch.
On the eastern section the ATV clubs who seem to use this the most keep it cleaned and fixed from the looks of it. Real good walking and bike riding and no large potholes or puddles that can’t be gotten around or stepped over. It passes by woods (including DEC woods in some areas) as well as by residences and villages, golf courses, Toad Harbor Swamp and other swamps, a dam at Scriba Creek, beaver meadows and lots of forests of all types, over old well-kept railroad bridges and near a park (Scriba on the east leg) and the city of Central Square and Fulton the West side.
Many of the roads that cross the trail can be parked on (some do have no parking signs near the trail, just keep an eye out), and there are some parking areas along parts of it.
Thanks to Russell Nelson’s website at http://russnelson.com/oswego-recreational-trail.html for some of the info on this trail.

Directions/Location: Parking near Fulton end of western trail – N43.30509 W76.34878, Ingalls Crossing, Volney, NY 13069. Parking near east end of the western part of the trail – N43.27784 W76.14279, 534 US-11, Central Square, NY 13036. Near west end of eastern trail – N43.27630 W76.08300, Toad Harbor Rd, West Monroe, NY 13167. 42 North St, Constantia, NY 13042, N43.23639 W75.88059 – Cleveland end, east end of eastern trail. 

Webmaster note – you can park on many of the roads that pass across the trail system, as long as they do not have “no parking” signs.  We have parked at the parking lot shared by three businesses near the corner of Route 11 (S. Main Street) and Railroad Street in Central Square.

Trail Map (interactive OpenStreetMaps):
Oswego County Recreational Trail

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Oswego County Recreational Trail - parking near Fulton end/western end of western side of the trail: 43.305090, -76.348780
Oswego County Recreational Trail - Central Square Parking/east end of the western part of the trail: 43.277840, -76.142790
Oswego County Recreational Trail - Parking at west end of the eastern side of the trail: 43.276300, -76.083000
Oswego County Recreational Trail - Cleveland/east end of the eastern part of the trail: 43.236996, -75.884800
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Oswego County Recreational Trail - parking near Fulton end/western end of western side of the trail
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Oswego County Recreational Trail - Central Square Parking/east end of the western part of the trail
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Oswego County Recreational Trail - Parking at west end of the eastern side of the trail
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Oswego County Recreational Trail - Cleveland/east end of the eastern part of the trail

Trail Map (static):

Trail Map

Trail Distance: 25-28 miles, split into two trails – western side and eastern side, Route 81 bisects the trail system and there is only on-road access to connect the two sides.

Date/Time Open: ?

Mountain Biking Allowed: Yes.  Some sections of this trail system can be quite rough, and might not be suitable for hybrid bikes or light-duty mountain bikes, other sections are smooth and easy and can be ridden with any bike.

Hiking/Walking Allowed: Yes.

Cross-Country Skiing: Yes.

Fishing: Yes.

Pets Allowed: Yes.

Built on Former Railroad Bed: Yes.

Special Instructions/Information: Horses can use this trail.  ATV’s are allowed on the eastern part of the trail.

For More Information: http://russnelson.com/oswego-recreational-trail.htm

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