Syracuse, Onondaga County, and Central New York host an exceptional array of multi-use bike paths, canalway links, and technical singletrack for mountain bikers. Whether you are looking for smooth, ADA-accessible city routes like the Onondaga Creekwalk or rugged forest loops in Morgan Hill State Forest, CNY caters to casual riders and experienced mountain bikers alike. Trails vary greatly from flat, paved asphalt surfaces to rolling crushed stone and technical dirt paths laden with roots or stones. Always wear a helmet, check local park hours, watch for shared pedestrian traffic, and respect multi-use guidelines. Community-updated — email jim@syr-area.com with changes, track conditions, or trail corrections.
Featured Biking Trails & Multi-Use Paths
Cycling options, rail-trails, and singletrack networks across the region.
Bear Trap Creek Bikeway – Salina
Address: 5113-5131 Ley Creek Dr, Syracuse, NY 13211Phone: (315) 451-7275
Length: 1.6 Miles
Surface: Paved Asphalt
Difficulty: Easy
An 8-foot-wide commuter path running parallel to Ley Creek Dr and I-81. Great for quick rides, though it features continuous highway noise.
Onondaga Creekwalk – Syracuse
Length: 4.8 Miles
Surface: Paved Asphalt / Concrete
Difficulty: Easy
Superb urban trail linking downtown Syracuse's Armory Square to Destiny USA and Onondaga Lake. Fully paved, highly accessible, and scenic.
Rand Tract Park – Syracuse
Address: Valley Dr, Syracuse, NY 13207Phone: (315) 473-4330
Length: ~2.0 Miles
Surface: Natural Dirt & Grass
Difficulty: Moderate
Tucked off Valley Drive, this quiet park offers wooded paths suitable for rough-tire cross or entry mountain biking. Look for the small green and white signs.
Three Falls Woods (CNY Land Trust) – Manlius
Address: 4618 Sweet Rd, Manlius, NY 13104Length: Varies (~2.5 Miles)
Surface: Natural Dirt & Rock
Difficulty: Moderate / Advanced
Maintained nature preserve with dramatic karst typography. Rugged terrain makes for a challenging off-road bike handling spot. Gate opens at 7:30 AM.
Edgecliff Park – Syracuse
Address: Syracuse, NY 13215Website: Edgecliff Park
Length: Varies (~1.5 Miles)
Surface: Dirt Singletrack
Difficulty: Moderate
Features lots of winding, unpaved trails built for aggressive hiking or mountain biking, coupled with beautiful overlooking valley views. Opens at 6:00 AM.
Green Lakes Perimeter Trail – Kirkville
Address: 7673-7581, NY-290, Kirkville, NY 13082Length: 9.9 Miles
Surface: Crushed Stone & Dirt
Difficulty: Moderate
Allows you to tour the outer perimeter and outer hills of the state park. Well-marked trails. Note: Bikes are banned on the immediate round-lake shore paths.
Pleasant Valley Preserve – Marcellus
Address: 3757 Pleasant Valley Rd, Syracuse, NY 13215Length: ~1.8 Miles
Surface: Natural Terrain & Dirt
Difficulty: Moderate
Clearly marked and well-kept trails running through dense secondary forest landscapes. Best suited for fat-tire or light trail-mountain bikes.
Butternut Creek Trail – Fayetteville
Address: 6852 Kinne Rd, Fayetteville, NY 13066Length: 1.2 Miles
Surface: Crushed Stone / Boardwalk
Difficulty: Easy
Though built primarily with pedestrians in mind, this wide, flat corridor acts as a great, scenic connector bike trail running adjacent to the creek. Opens at 6:00 AM.
Duguid Park – Fayetteville
Address: 5271-5327 Duguid Rd, Fayetteville, NY 13066Length: Varies (~2.0 Miles)
Surface: Dirt Tracks
Difficulty: Easy / Moderate
A multi-use community space highlighted by great, rolling bike trails weaving through woodlands alongside a designated dog park. Opens at 7:00 AM.
Morgan Hill State Forest – Tully
Address: 286-548 Shackham Rd, Tully, NY 13159Phone: (607) 283-1159
Website: Morgan Hill State Forest
Length: Multi-Mile Network
Surface: Rugged Dirt & Gravel Roads
Difficulty: Moderate / Hard
Massive state forest expanse offering seasonal gravel roads and rugged singletrack trails. Ground can stay soft or muddy deep into spring.
Cayuga-Seneca Canal Trail – Waterloo
Address: 8-10 Fayette St, Waterloo, NY 13165Phone: (315) 789-1465
Website: Cayuga-Seneca Canal Trail
Length: 5.0 Miles
Surface: Crushed Stone
Difficulty: Easy
A beautifully flat, scenic multi-use rail-trail path flanking the dynamic historic canal. Perfect for hybrid, gravel, and casual road bikes.
Charlie C. Major Nature Trail – Skaneateles
Address: Charlie Major Nature Trail, Skaneateles, NY 13152Length: 1.0 Mile
Surface: Packed Dirt / Cinder
Difficulty: Easy
An exceptionally flat, well-maintained trail running over old railroad beds that repeatedly crosses an active creek via structural bridges. Opens at 7:00 AM.
Clark Reservation State Park – Jamesville
Address: 6105 E Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville, NY 13078Phone: (315) 492-1756
Website: Clark Reservation State Park
Length: Varies (~4.0 Miles)
Surface: Rocky / Natural Dirt
Difficulty: Hard
Highly rugged, steep paths with jagged limestone features and exposed roots. Best left to expert cross-country mountain bikers navigating the outer loops.
Erie Canal Trailway Access Site – Memphis
Address: Canalway Trail- Erie Section (Camillus to Port Byron), Memphis, NY 13112Phone: (315) 451-7275
Website: Erie Canal Trailway Access Site – Memphis
Length: Connects to 360-Mile Trail
Surface: Stone Dust
Difficulty: Easy
Excellent launch point to access the historic canal path. Features fascinating historic stonework landmarks and a detailed network map at the entrance.
Elmwood Park – Syracuse
Address: 919 Glenwood Ave, Syracuse, NY 13207Phone: (315) 473-4330
Website: Elmwood Park
Length: ~1.0 Mile
Surface: Natural Earth & Stone Steps
Difficulty: Moderate
Beautiful ravine park inside city limits featuring wooded dirt paths and gorgeous historic stone staircases. Requires bike-carrying or careful handling around stairs.
Limestone Creek Greenway Trail – Manlius
Address: Manlius, NY 13104Length: 1.3 Miles
Surface: Crushed Gravel / Grass
Difficulty: Easy
A quiet, smooth multi-use path tracking tightly along a rushing stream. Great for serene, low-effort loops or leisurely hybrid riding. Opens at 6:00 AM.
Erie Canal Park – Warners
Address: 6305 Newport Rd, Warners, NY 13164Length: Varies
Surface: Packed Stone Dust
Difficulty: Easy
Fantastic local hub offering seamless bike entry directly onto flat segments of the historic trail system. Clean, expansive, and relaxing environment. Opens at 6:00 AM.
Great Bear Recreational Trails – Fulton
Address: Great Bear Rd, Fulton, NY 13069Phone: (315) 343-4565
Website: Great Bear Recreational Trails
Length: ~6.0 Miles of Loops
Surface: Unpaved Dirt Singletrack
Difficulty: Easy / Moderate
Widely regarded as an exceptional local woodland mountain biking destination. Well-maintained, terrifically marked dirt paths loop through forests. Opens at 6:00 AM.
Old Erie Canal State Park at Butternut Creek – East Syracuse
Address: East Syracuse, NY 13057Phone: (315) 510-3421
Website: Old Erie Canal State Park
Length: Continual Spine
Surface: Crushed Limestone
Difficulty: Easy
Flat, historic multi-use infrastructure tracing the old towpath canalway. Heavily outfitted with seating, trail signs, and easy town access loops. Opens at 6:00 AM.
Nine Mile Creek Erie Canal Water Trail – Camillus
Address: 6100 Thompson Rd, Camillus, NY 13031Length: ~1.0 Mile segment
Surface: Crushed Stone & Dirt
Difficulty: Easy
A compact, scenic access site to the regional trailway system right where Nine Mile Creek intersects the canal. Ideal for adding a short, historic loop to your ride.