Info: DEC state forest area, the trail is well maintained (volunteers including some from a group of Black River Adventure Shop -affiliated volunteers maintain or help to maintain this trail). It can be a bit muddy, probably more so in wet Springs and Falls. This is a great trail for mountain biking and hiking and snowshoeing.
A new four mile trail section is being opened.
Also check out the Facebook Page – Friends of Pinckney State Forest Facebook Page.
Original trail section (Yellow Loop) 
Original trail section (Yellow Loop) 
Original trail section (Yellow Loop) 
Dogs enjoying new trail section (Blue Trail) 
Huge vines on tree, new trail section (Blue Trail) 
New trail section (Blue Trail)
Directions/Location:
To get to the original trail (Yellow Loop)- take Route 12 north from Watertown heading from the city, look for Route 161/Eames Corners Road on the right. Go down this until you reach the end and take a right onto Churchhill Road/69 and an immediate left onto Odell Road. Stay onto it and bear/turn right to stay on the Odell Rd when you get to the corner of O’Brien Road (dead end). Continue to Knapp Road/Curtis Road on the right, look for a grass parking lot area on the left (you will pass where the trail goes across the road – it also crosses the road further down a short distance). If you go too far you will reach the dead-end which has a sign that says “End of Town Road”. There is no usable 911 address to enter, find Curtis Road or Knapp Road with a Watertown NY address on your GPS.
Google Map’s “Pinckney State Forest” will show the southern end of the original trail, you can park along the road there or follow the above directions for a nicer parking lot if going on the original trail section.
For the new trail section (Blue Trail) – you can either park at the above directions and walk one section of the original trail to get to the new section or follow the above directions but stay on the Odell Road and do not turn right at Knapp Road/Curtis Road. Eventually this road turns into a gravel road and comes to a T corner – take a right onto Pinckney Road. About .6 miles, right past the bridge and before the hill, is one entrance to the new trail while there is another entrance up the hill on the right. Parking would be along the road.
There is another parking location off the road for this trail section, about 2 miles from the corner of the Odell/Parish Road corner watch for a grassy section on the right. About .2 of a mile west is the trailhead.
Google Map for Yellow Loop parking:
Google Map for Blue Loop parking:
The OpenStreetMap.org map below does not have the new trail section listed as yet, see the trail map near the bottom of the page.
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GPS Coordinates: For original trail (Yellow Loop) parking (Curtis/Knapp Rd Parking Lot) – 43°53’18.0″N 75°47’04.6″W / 43.888282, -75.785191
For parking along road near southern end of original trail section (Yellow Loop) and trailheads of new trail section on Pinckney Road (Blue Trail) – 43°52’23.4″N 75°48’44.8″W / 43.87143, -75.78476
For a parking space near the western trailhead of the new trail section along Pinckney Road (Blue Trail) – 43°52’23.4″N 75°48’44.8″W / 43.8731667°, -075.8124444°
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Trail Distance: Two trail systems, one around five miles total (Yellow Loop) and a new section of around 4 miles (Blue Trail; please note – the 4 mile section is not a loop so to return to your starting point factor in the return to your original via a walk along the road or returning on the trail).
Trail Surface: Dirt.
Date/Time Open: ?
Mountain Biking Allowed: Yes.
Hiking/Walking Allowed: Yes.
Cross-Country Skiing: Yes.
Fishing: ?
Pets Allowed: Yes.
Built on Former Railroad Bed: No.
Trail Map (static): Original trail (Yellow Loop) and approximate map of new trail (Blue Trail). Map from Friends of the Pinckney State Forest Facebook Page
Trail map of new section (Blue Trail) only:
Special Instructions/Information: Friends of the Pinckney State Forest Facebook Page
For More Information and Trails Maps: DEC Website on the forest area and DEC Map Link
Have a trail review, trail photos, corrections, or questions about this trail? Click the Contact Page or leave a reply below.
