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Local Walking Trails!!! Get Active Today!!!
Local Walking Trails!!! Get Active Today!!!
Macsherry Trail
Thousand Islands Land Trust
Description:
The Macsherry Trail at Crooked Creek Preserve is a self-guided
nature trail with 10 sites of interest slong approximately 3 miles of trail
which includes wetlands, woodlands,
a beaver pond, and creek.
Directions:
Take Route 81 North To Alexandria Bay Exit 50 N (Route 21 N).
Follow Route 12 (about 4 miles past Alexandria Bay)
turn left on Kring Point Road and immediately right onto
Day Road (Indian Point Road).
Follow Day Road for approximately two miles.
The trail head and parking are on the right.
Notes:
Closed to hikers during deer season. The Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT) is a not-for-profit land
trust dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of the scenic, recreational,
natural, and historic character of the Thousand Islands Region. TILT owns and manages 4 recreational preserves in the Thousand Islands area.
Approximately 3 miles. Mostly flat but eneven spots.
For more information: www.tilandtrust.org
Calcium Trail
Development Authority of the North Country and Ft. Drum
Description:
A well-maintained, gravel trail that is wide and flat, execpt for a small uphill section near the Calcium end. The trail features wooden bridges and a large pond.
Directions:
From Watertown, take Route 11 North. The Waterrown trailhead and parking lot are approximately 1.1 miles from the junction of Routes 11 and 37,
on the right side of the road. OR you may continue Route 11 until you reach Calcium and then turn right into Calcium on the Sanford Corners Road.
A parking is on the right near the fire station.
2.1 miles (From end to end- the trail does not loop)
The Black River Trail
N.Y. State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Description:
A wide, straight, well-maintained, paved trail that is a favorite with families. This trail is well-used from dawn 'til dusk.
The trail is well-marked with mileage posts from each direction. The Black River end of the trail features a picnic area and
access to wide rocks at the edge of the Black River. The river edge is not fenced off and the current is ofter swift.
A close eye should be kept on children and pets.
Directions:
From Watertown, take Eastern Boulevard (Route 3). Just after crossing the Black River, turn right onto Ridge Road.
Follow Ridge Road for almost a mile. The trail head is on the left and the parking lot on the right.
OR to begin at the trail's other end, continue on Route 3 past the intersection of 342, crossing the river again.
Immediately after the waterfall (on the left) is a road to the right marked with small signs
"Picnic Area" and "Canoe Portage". The trail begins at the parking area.
3.3 miles (From end to end - the trail does not loop)
SacketsHarborBattlefield
N.Y. State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Description:
A lovely (if short) walk through the Sackets Harbor Battlefield. The path features panoramic views of Lake Ontario.
Some of the trail is boardwalk, the reainder crushed stone. Signs along the treail highlight historical information.
Directions:
From Watertown, take Route 3 West. Follow signs to Sackets Harbor, bearing right off Route 3, into the village of
W. Main Street. Turn right on W. Main Street and follow until it ends.
Parking is on the right and trail begins at the end of the street.
Notes:
A fee is charged for entrance to the museums and exhibit areas. The Village of Sackets Harbor is a great place for walking.
More information is available at the Visitor Information Center (301 Main Street) located on the left across from the boat launch.
Less than 1 mile.
Thompson Park Trails
The City of Watertown, John C. Thompson Park
Thompson Park Conservancy
Description:
From flat, paved paths that encircle the playground to rugged hiking trails, Thompson Park offers something for everyone.
Directions:
From the Park Circle entrance located at the intersection of Park Drive (off State Street) and
Thompson blvd. headup the hill to the Park. About 3/4 of the way up the hill on the left is the
entrance to Olmstead Trail On the right is the entrance to one of the park's paved trails.
Other paved trails can be accessed at the top of the hill. Park in the Zoo parking lot,
or at the top of the hill by the playground.
Notes:
The park is open year-round from 7 am - 9 am. The park also has a short exercise trail which begins across
from the entrance to the seimming pool. The Zoo at Thompson Park is also an interesting place to walk
(trail shown at the left).
Admission is charged.
6 miles of trails- paved paths are mostly flat or gently sloping although there are hills and steps in some areas.
Olmstead Trail is more rugged.
Chaumont Barrens Preserve
The Nature Conservancy
Description:
The Chaumont Barrens is a well- preserved example of an unusual "alvar" landscape formed by glaciers more 10,000 years ago. You'll see rocky outcroppings, deep fissures, moss gardens and unusual wildflowers, espically in late May when prairie smoke is in bloom.
Directions:
From Watertown/Brownville travel Route 12E to Chaumont. Take the first right in Chaumont,
on Morris Track Road (County Route 125). Go about 3 miles, turn left on Van Alstyne Road
just after a small cemetery on the right. Go about 1.25 miles to the Chaumont Barrens parking lot on the left.
Notes:
Open daylight hours from early May until early fall. For safety and to protect rare habitats, please respect closure periods indicated on the parking sign.
1.7 miles Mostly flat but uneven in spots.
For more information: www.nature.com
type "Chaumont Barrens" into the search window.
MinnaAnthony Common Nature Center
N.Y State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Description:
The Nature Center, part of Wellesely Island State Park, is located on the St. Lawrence River,
just a few miles from the Canadian border. The Center features miles of hiking trails with river views,
glacial potholes, ponds and woodlands. Trails begin at the Nature Center Museum.
Some trails are relatively flat, others are more challenging.
Directions:
From all points south take Route 81 North over the Thousand Islands Bridge (there is a bridge toll) to exit 51.
Follow signs to Wellesley Island State Park and the Nature Center.
Notes:
The Nature Center trails are open dawn to dusk year-round. A park entrance fee is charged per vehicle
during the summer months. September - May admission to the park is free.
Call for non-summer Museum hours (315) 482 2479.
The Nature Center features a special signage for the visually impaired.
More than 8 miles of trails.
Poor's Island
Brookfield Power
Description:
An easy, fairly short, gravel/dirt trail which runs along the Black River and features water views, mill ruins and fossils (when the water levels are low). Open dawn to dusk all year. At the tip of the island the trail provides boat access to the river at the base of a man-made waterfall and parents should be advised of swift moving currents.
Directions:
From Watertown take Route 3 to Black River. At the light, turn left on Main Street. Just before the bridge, turn right onto St. Regis Street - Provate Way (there is also a brown Kamargo Recreation sign). Drive over bridge, parking area is on right. Walk around gate and down road.
Notes:
Brookfield Power operates many recreational areas in Jefferson and Lewis Counties. For more information go to www.brookfieldpower.com - click on "Coporate Info," click on "Community"
Approximately 2 miles.
Lowville Demonstration Area
N.Y State Department of Environmental Conservation
Description:
The Demonstration Area features a mostly flat, 2-mile trail loop with 23 informational "stops" including a fire tower, an arboretum with over 500 different species pond and an Adirondack lean- to.
Directions:
From Watertown take Route 12 for approximately 25 miles into the village of Lowville. At the first stoplight turn left. Turn right on Bostwick Street. You will pass the Lewis County Fairgrounds, the bus garage and railroad tracks. Take the first left after the railroad tracks. The trailhead parking lot, and handicapped accessible picnic area are approximately 1.5 miles on the left.
Notes:
Open daylight hours year-round.
Approximately 2 miles. Spur trails provide additional miles of additional hiking.
For more information:
www.dec.state.ny.us/website/reg6/dif/arbor.html
WhetstoneGulf
N.Y State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Description:
Whetstone Gulf State Park is built in and around a three-mile-long gorge cut into the Tug Hill Plateau.
It provides a spectacular scenery including waterfalls, fossils,cliffs and a creek.
The gorge trail runs along the creek and can incorporate at 1 mile exercise route.
A North South Rim Trail overlooks the gorge. The Rim Trail is steep with sheer drop-offs
which may not be appropriate for small children or pet.
Directions:
From Watertown take Route 12 for approximately 23 miles to the intersection of Route 177.
Bearing right, cross Route 177 and proceed onto West Road.
Whetstone Gulf is about 6 miles on the right, just before the intersection of Route 26.
Notes:
A fee is charged to enter the park during the Summer months.
More than 6 miles. The North South Rim Trail is 5 miles; the gorge/exercise trail is about 1 mile long.
Wehle State Park
N.Y State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Description:
The newest of northern New York's parks, Wehle State Park has an interesting mix of woodlands and shoreline trails which can keep a family busy for hours. Trail highlights include plenty of open space, interesting bronze dog sculptures in an area which was once a kennel, a log cabin, ans access to the broad, flat rock shoreline of Lake Ontario, which is a great spot for a picnic. There are spectacular, high cliff views of Lake Ontario slong the trails which head west from the parking area. These sheer, unfenced drop-offs may be dangerous for small children.
Directions:
From Watertown take Route 3 west (toward Sackets Harbor). Follow Route 3 past Sackets Harbor and Henderson Harbors to the blinking light at Military Road approximatelt 4 miles until you reach the parking lot, which is on the left.
Notes:
Hunting is allowed in parts of the park during legal hunting seasons. You may check wit hthe NYS Office of Parks and Historic Preservation, Thousand Islands Region Office, for more specific information.
Lakeview Wildlife Management Area
N.Y State Fish wildlife and Marine Resources
Description:
The Lakeview Wildlife Managemtn Area is part of the largest fresh water barrier beach ststem in New York State. The area offers over three miles of foot trails and two viewing towers. Two dune walkover structures of Lake Ontario. The trail travels through diverse habitats and inclides open fields, woodlands,wetlands and natural barrier beach.
Directions:
From Watertown, take Route 3 South about 20 miles to the entrance of Southwick Beach State Park. The main trail (Lake Ontario Dune Trail) begins in a section of hardwoods on the left on the entry road to Southwick Beach State Park OR the trail can be accessed via the parking lot at Lakeview Pond.
Follow Route 3 to Pierrepont Place ,the next right turn after the Southwick Beach entrance.
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