EAST ITHACA RECREATION WAY:
SOUTH HILL RECREATION WAY:
ITHACA, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: August 17, 2025
Length: East Ithaca Recreation Way; 2.7 miles.
East Ithaca Recreation Way; Vincent and Hanna Pew Trail; 0.8 miles.
South Hill Recreation Way; 5.7 mile Loop
Upper Trail: 2.3 miles.
Lower Trail (including Connecting Trail): 1.1 miles.
Difficulty: East Ithaca Recreation Way; Easy. Flat paved rail trail with one steep hill.
East Ithaca Recreation Way; Vincent and Hanna Pew Trail; Moderate. Paved trail. One section flat, the other travels up a steep hill.
South Hill Recreation Way; Slight grade. Wide, crushed gravel/stone-dust rail trail.
Directions:
Starting from the Game Farm Road parking lot for the East Ithaca Recreation Way [Northeastern End] & Dryden Rail Trail [Western End]; From the junction of Routes 13, 34 & 79 in Ithaca travel east on Route 79 for a mile. Turn left on Route 366 (Mitchell St-Ithaca Rd-Dryden Rd) and follow for 2.1 miles. Turn right on Game Farm Rd and travel 0.7 miles to parking lot on your right.
Starting from the Snyder Hill Road parking lot for the East Ithaca Recreation Way [Southern End] & East Ithaca Recreation Way; Vincent and Hanna Pew Trail [Northern End]; From the junction of Routes 13, 34 & 79 in Ithaca travel east on Route 79 for 2 miles. Turn left on Honness Ln and follow to Pine Tree Rd. Head left, then a quick right on Snyder Hill Rd. Parking lot on your right.
Starting from the Burns Road parking area for the South Hill Recreation Way [Southern End]; From the junction of Routes 13, 34 & 79 in Ithaca travel east on Route 79 for 3.7 miles. Turn right on Burns Rd and travel less then a mile where you'll find some off road parking along your right.
The East Ithaca & South Hill Recreation Ways are built along former rail beds. The South Hill Recreation Way rail bed was first constructed in 1834 by the Ithaca & Owego RR, using horsepower to tow rail cars up the steep grades, and was the second railroad chartered in New York State. In 1843 it became the Cayuga & Susquehanna RR until 1855 when it was purchased by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western RR and operated until 1956. By means of a zigzag or switchback, it reached the top of South Hill. The switchback line was turned into the South Hill Recreation Way in the 1980s. The middle part of the switchback is missing, though, substituting a steep Connector Trail between the Upper Trail and Lower Trail portions. The East Ithaca Recreation Way on East Hill is primarily built upon the rail bed of the old Ithaca & Cortland RR, which later became part of the Lehigh Valley RR. See; ITHACA's RR's for more information. The East Ithaca Recreation Way begins from the Western End of the Dryden Rail Trail and travels West, then South to the Snyder Hill parking lot. Here, the East Ithaca Recreation Way; Vincent and Hanna Pew Trail continues South, to Tudor Park. The South Hill Recreation Way travels Northwest, from Burns Rd to Vincenzo Iacovelli Park, where the trail splits. The Upper Trail continues straight, Northwest, out to Hudson St, while a Lower Trail travels parallel, below the Upper Trail Northwest, out to Hudson St. You can then travel on-road between these 2 trails to create a Loop. Also in Ithaca is the Cayuga Waterfront Trail . For more information visit; ITHACA TRAILS .
East Ithaca Recreation Way:
Starting from the Game Farm Road parking lot [Northeastern End]; Map Board located here. Mile Markers every 0.5 miles.
Note; The Dryden Rail Trail [Western End] begins across the street heading Northeast, through Varna.
The paved East Ithaca Recreation Way heads West, into the woods, with a stone-dust jogging path alongside. Catch a glimpse of Cascadilla Creek which parallels the trail on your left at 0.4 miles. Cross a bridge over the creek, followed by another bridge over Pine Tree Rd before coming to an Intersection at 1.1 miles. Here, you lose the old rail bed.
Note; The paved Pine Tree Road Path travels left, South, to Maple Ave, where the Maple Ave Path continues West, up a slight hill, where it re-joins the East Ithaca Recreation Way on your right after 0.5 miles.
Note; The paved Pine Tree Road Path travels right, North, to Dryden Rd. Cross to another intersection.
Note; Straight, a stone-dust Cornell University Trail travels West, to the Cornell University Oxley Lot parking lot, then back out to Dryden Rd after 0.4 miles.
Note; Heading right, across Synchrotron Dr, a Cornell University Trail crosses a bridge over Cascadilla Creek, where a paved Trail travels North, alongside Judd Falls Rd to Campus Rd after 0.25 miles. Here you can access all the cement paths that travel through Cornell University.
The East Ithaca Recreation Way continues straight, South, up a steep hill to the Maple Ave Path at 1.2 miles.
Note; The paved Maple Ave Path travels left, East, downhill to the Pine Tree Road Path.
Head right, West and follow the paved Maple Ave Path alongside Maple Ave, past the greenhouses of Cornell University. The trail narrows as it heads downhill. When you come alongside a parking lot on your right at 1.5 miles, a cross-walk takes across the road to a wide plaza. Just past this plaza you'll rejoin the flat, wide, paved East Ithaca Recreation Way as it travels South, through a residential corridor along the old rail bed. Cross Mitchell St at 1.8 miles and travel around the building to rejoin the rail trail. This section is more wooded. Come to Honness Lane after 2.4 miles and the end of the old rail bed. Head left, East and follow the paved trail up and alongside Honness Lane to Pine Tree Rd at 2.6 miles. Utilize the cross-walk and continue past a Map Board to an intersection.
Note; On your right is the Northern End of the Vincent and Hanna Pew Trail. See Below.
Continue left to the Snyder Hill Road parking lot and the end of the East Ithaca Recreation Way after 2.7 miles.
East Ithaca Recreation Way; Vincent and Hanna Pew Trail:
Starting from the Snyder Hill Road parking lot for the Vincent and Hanna Pew Trail [Northern End]; I haven't checked out this trail. [Continuing Mileage] From the parking lot follow the paved trail to an in intersection.
Note; Right, West, the East Ithaca Recreation Way continues.
Travel left, along the paved Vincent and Hanna Pew Trail as it travels South, into the woods up a slight grade, before the trail levels out next to a water tower at 0.4 miles. A Spur on your left takes you out to Regency Ln. The trail now starts to descend. Pass by a sign for the Nature Preserve and a pavilion. Road on your left leads to Park Ln & Joanne Dr. Come to Tudor Park and a playground before the trail ends at Park Ln after 0.8 miles [3.5 miles Total].
South Hill Recreation Way:
Starting from the Burns Road parking area [Southern End];
Note; Plans are underway in 2024, to extend the South Hill Recreation Way, Southeast, another 3 miles to Middaugh Rd in Caroline. Further plans will extend the trail another 5 miles to the Tioga County border. See; EXTENSION PROJECT . See; Map Below.
The steep, paved South Hill Recreation Way takes you down to the old rail bed where you'll find a Map Board and informational signs. This heavily forested crushed gravel trail travels Northwest, alongside a ridgeline with some steep drop offs. Very scenic. Gorge-like. Mile Markers every 0.5 miles. Trail turns to stone-dust after 1.5 miles and becomes more open. Pass by a Map Board on your right and the small Juniper Drive parking area on your left before coming to an intersection at Vincenzo Iacovelli Park at 1.7 miles. Here the South Hill Recreation Way splits.
Note; The paved Connector Trail to your right leads Northeast, down to the parallel Lower Trail. I Looped back to here along this trail.
The Upper Trail now travels Northwest, along a more residential corridor. Pass a Map Board and come to Hudson St and the end of the trail after 2.3 miles.
Note; Across Hudson St a paved Trail zig zags 0.3 miles South, up to Ithaca College.
Note; To Loop back to the Upper Trail via the Lower Trail turn right and travel on-road (sidewalk available) North, downhill along Hudson St. Pick up the Lower Trail at 2.8 miles on your right at the sign. Map Board located here. The wide crushed gravel Lower Trail travels Southeast, up a slight hill along the ridgeline and travels through the woods. After 3.6 miles you reach the Connector Trail. This paved trail zigzags South, up past the playground and picnic pavilion at Vincenzo Iacovelli Park, before returning you to the Upper Trail at 3.9 miles. Head left, Southeast, to return back to the Burns Road parking lot for a 5.7 mile Loop.
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT
