The Gorge Trail

The Gorge Trail is a level, gently sloping path which follows 2 ½ miles of Chittenango Creek, and is popular spot for hikers and skiers.

It is part of the Link Trail and runs along the old Chittenango-Canastota Railroad bed. Also known as the Lehigh Valley Railroad, the line was in operation from 1870-1967. The old railroad station is now Gissen’s Photography Studio. As you travel along the path, you will see the remains of the Shelter Valley Mill, which made wool felt for paper mills in the 1860’s. At Bingley Road, you may catch a glimpse of the remains of an old grist mill. Continue on to the corner of Clark and Sweetland Streets and you will see an old building that was once a canning factory. Where the Niagara Mohawk Garage is now, there was once a sawmill and turning shop. At the lower end of the trail, you may see the remains of the old Cazenovia-Chittenango Plank Road, which was paved with timber. This was how goods were transported even before the railroad was in service.

Soon after the railroad was out of commission in 1967, CPF began talks with Niagara Mohawk to place an easement on the parcel. The CPF Board Minutes from February 13th, 1973 are largely dedicated to the acquisition of the property. In 1985 CPF bought the parcel from NIMO for the sum of $8,000 to create one of the most widely used trails in Cazenovia.

Since the purchase of the property, CPF has invested considerable funds and volunteer hours into the maintenance of this trail. The current summer 2015 project will be a full replacement of one of the stone culverts which washed out in 2014. This project will be completed with support from the CNY Chapter of the Link Trail.