Cider and Trails - The Perfect Autumn Pairing

New York State is fortunate to have such a well-developed network of local and regional trails. It also happens that New York is apple country, with hundreds of orchards harvesting their sweet crop all across the state right now. We’ve done our best to highlight some trails and cideries (both hard and non-alcoholic) with the hope you’ll be able to enjoy a ride along your favorite trail a little more. Remember, though, to always taste responsibly!

North Country

Little Ausable River Trail

When a 1.25-mile segment of the Little Ausable River Trail opened in October 2014, residents of the small Clinton County hamlet of Peru found themselves with a great new place to enjoy the outdoors. Next door, Rulf’s Orchard is the long established Autumn destination for the North County. Next time you head to the Orchard, why not end your day of fresh apples and cider with some fresh air and a family walk on the Little Ausable River Trail.

Rochester

Lehigh Valley Trail

The 3.3-mile Lehigh Valley Trail is a popular rail trail for the residents of Monroe County. Thanks to the recent growth of the New York State hard cider industry, Lehigh Valley Trail users have never been closer to the sweet refreshing taste of hard apple cider. In 2015, Blue Toad Hard Cider started fermenting Finger Lakes apples in Rochester, just 2 miles from the Brighton Henrietta Townline Road trailhead. This fall, enjoy some cider after a nice ride along the Lehigh Valley Trail.

Hudson Valley

Wallkill Valley Rail Trail

The ever-lengthening Wallkill Valley Rail Trail currently extends 22 miles from Wallkill to Kingston. Surrounded by spectacular scenery indicative of the impressive vistas Hudson Valley cliffs afford, a trip along this trail will take you across gorges, through pastoral fields, and into the historic and charming villages of Rosendale, New Paltz, and Gardiner. Along the way, you’ll travel over the Rosendale Trestle, a 940-foot bridge that carries the trail 150 feet above the Rondout Creek. While the Hudson Valley has no shortage of both trails or cideries, the Kettleborough Cider House is located less than half a mile from the intersection of the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and Old Ford Road in New Paltz.

North County Trailway

The North County Trailway is a 22-mile paved rail trail that follows the former “Old Put” line from Eastview, Westchester County north to the Putnam County line, where it turns into the 12-mile Putnam County Trailway . As much of the route follows an old commuter rail line, many restored former station buildings and historical markers add to the experience of riding this popular Westchester County trail. The North County Trailway connects several communities along the way, including Yorktown Heights, which is home to the Wilkins Fruit Farm. In Eastview, the North County Trailway becomes the 14-mile South County Trailway.

Southern Tier

Pat McGee Trail

The 12.1-mile Pat McGee Trail is both a paved and gravel surface trail that includes six bridges crossing several streams and five access points, making this trail easily accessible and a rewarding bike, hike, or run, especially with fall’s beautiful foliage colors. As an added-bonus, the trail crosses one of the eastern continental divides. When you’re done enjoying this gem of a trail, take a trip to Pumpkinville in Great Valley. Pumpkinville features an apple cider mill and a pumpkin patch, providing you with the full fall experience.

Statewide

Erie Canalway Trail

The 360-mile Erie Canalway Trail is New York State’s longest multi-use trail. The trail passes through some of New York State’s most scenic, historic, and culturally-rich landscapes. On many occasions, Erie Canalway Trail users are also treated to a front row seat to one of the world’s modern engineering marvels, with a system of operational, sometimes multi-level, locks that keep America’s original superhighway navigable as the surrounding elevation increases by more than 500 feet between the Hudson River and Lake Erie.

Even if you aren’t completing the entire trail in one trip, ending your ride with some apples is easy since there are at least half a dozen cideries and orchards located along the trail, including Nine Pine Cider Works (Albany), Second Chance Orchard (East Syracuse), Gansz Farms Cider Mill (Lyons), Robb Farms (Spencerport), Kirby’s Cider Mill (Albion), and Smith’s Orchard Cider Mill (Pendleton).

If you’re interested in creating your own trail-cider pairing adventure be sure to check out our Trailfinder page and the New York Apple County Cider Finder map.