Explore the best rated trails in Potsdam, NY, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Edwards Nature Trail and Maple City Trail . With more than 6 trails covering 61 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
This trail is relatively new. The trail is in great condition with part of it covered with crushed stone and part covered with asphalt. It is pretty much flat with slight up and down grades. The bridges and railings are all in excellent condition. There are numerous parking areas with access to the trail. I started in Lake Placid and could not find any signage indicating where the trail started or where the parking was.
The newly renovated Rivergate Trestle and a wetlands overlook within the S. Gerald Ingerson Preserve make a great area to hike. Good parking at the preserve within easy access to the old rail trail.
Hard to find, no signage in Redwood or Theresa, chained gate at the feed store in Redwood. My GPS found access at Rivergate, with parking. Don't wear sunglasses! The deep shade and black trail surface (cinders, maybe?) make it difficult to see the rocks, deep sand, potholes and craters. The single star was earned because of all the nice people I met, asking directions.
While scouting the trail for the first time prior to going on a ride, I found difficulty at the Douglas Crossing portion. The trail appeared to be obstructed by equipment belonging to Hick's Ice. After speaking with an individual and researching tax records, the portion of the trail that runs parallel to the business is owned by Allen Hicks. Hicks is reportedly denying access to this portion after some irresponsible riders caused damage to land or property a couple years ago. Riders must detour along Countryman Rd., Pink Schoolhouse Rd., to Drake Rd. which turns in to Snell Rd., on to Rt. 411. which is approximately 6.9 miles. Also, a trellis/bridge that runs through this portion has collapsed. Hopefully a solution to this can be found to re-open this portion of the trail.
This trail sorely tested the idea that a bad day biking is better than a good day at work.
Looks like it is used by ATVs a lot ... the surface is not particularly flat or smooth, anywhere. It's a constantly bouncing ride, which gets old after a while. That's really saying something for me, because I ride a fat bike and enjoy that sort of thing.
As of June 2016, there were two major problems as I went north from Philadelphia: The trail toward Clayton all but disappeared into overgrowth at Douglas Crossing. Okayyyy ... double back and settle for the shorter trail to Redwood. That turns into deep sand in places and is heavily rutted in others. The washout was passable by walking the bike, but it was really hard riding beyond that so I gave up.
Periodically there were places where I dared not go too fast, then bogged down in soft stuff because I was going too slow. Luckily I never actually fell, just had to do a panic dismount jump a few times.
Finally, the scenery isn't anything special, mostly overgrown fields.
Don't make a special trip for this one.
This trail is fun, and one of the only published trails for Jefferson county. Riding from Philadelphia to Redwood is quite fun. Tried going to Clayton but the trail looked as if it's hardly been used after Douglas Crossing. Does anybody know if the Clayton trail is still open?
Terrible half of it is closed some one put boulders in front of the road crossings and crossed out atvs with a sharpie and a lot of it is posted and blocked by gates so you can only ride some of it the black creek road is blocked of go on Jack st
Just rode this trail 7/26/16 from Route 86 - nice trail - from about 2.3 - 2.6 miles, there are a lot of roots across the trail making for a bumpy and slow ride - at about 4.5 miles, the trail begins to get sandy and the pedaling gets tougher - the trail was dry and did not appear to be impacted by any beavers - in the open areas, there are great views of the bog and some lower mountains - even this late in July, there were a few black flies that hovered and swarmed when stopped - overall a nice ride to spend about 1-2 hours on
Attempted to run from Philadelphia to Clayton. Trail is made for mountain bike or off road vehicle. Not really suited for running. Also, trail portion west of Douglas Junction over the black creek is un-passable. Could not find a detour as you're 30 feet above the water standing at a cliff with no way across. Had to double back and detour to side streets to get needed miles.
Not sure why the map shows the trail going where it goes. That's not the route of the Maple City Trail. Look instead on the opposite side of the Oswegatchie River where you will see a trail marked "Maple City Trail". That's the rail-trail. What you see on the map may or may not be a trail, but it's definitely not a trail-trail.
Anyway, all that aside, the trail follows the route of the DeKalb Branch of the New York York Central. It came off the current CSX line in a wye, and headed straight up to Heuvelton where it curved through the town, then straight up to Ogdensburg. Parts of the railbed are kept open by private landowners, some of whom don't post the property.
The rail-trail itself is marked, paved, and goes from the middle of the city to the first bridge over the Oswegatchie. It's a nice bicycle ride, if rather short. It's more appropriate for walkers, which it sees plenty of. There are a few park benches along the way to enjoy a view of the river.
Trail has potential as there is a wide path area and level but it is not maintained at all.
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