Chautauqua Rails to Trails has some of the most scenic and serene trails in the area.  Chautauqua County is blessed with beautiful unused rail corridors winding through picturesque countryside vistas and quaint villages.  Chautauqua Rails to Trails provides safe, attractive trails for non motorized trail users.  The trail segments wind through wetlands, pine forests, hardwood forests, pastures and vineyards.  Observing and learning about nature, about the history of the area and getting healthy physical exercise is what trail users can expect.  Below are the segments of the Chautauqua Rails to Trails that await your exploration!

Reports for any trail maintenance items like downed trees can be submitted through our contact form.

The Rosie Billquist Trail Segment (0.9 mile) 

Begins at the Sherman Village Park behind the Corral restaurant and runs through wetlands and pasture to the railbed on the East side of the Village.

Taking the trail from downtown Sherman, you would be on the trail to the east of the Village of Sherman, and the trail ends at Park St. Turn left on Park and take the first right, Kendrick Rd. Follow Kendrick till it comes to a ‘T’ (about a mile) and turn right and go about 200 yards. The Sheldon Trailhead is on your left.

Parking is available at the Sherman Park.

Click here to view Sherman Area Trail Map

Click here for driving directions

The Park to Titus Roadwalk Trail Segment (0.9 miles)

If heading north, turn left on Park and take the first right, Kendrick Rd. Follow Kendrick till it comes to a ‘T’ (about a mile) and turn right on Titus and go about 200 yards. The Sheldon Trailhead is on your left.

Click here to view Sherman Area Trail Map

The Ralph C. Sheldon Jr. Trail Segment (4.3 miles)

Begins at Titus Road and running northward to Summerdale Road, passes through woodlands and through wetlands which offer habitat suitable for beavers and migrating waterfowl.

Parking is available at Titus Road and Summerdale Road.

Click here to view Sherman Area Trail Map

The Summerdale to Hannum Roadwalk Trail Segment (1.5 miles)

If heading north, turn left on Summerdale Rd and take it until it comes to a ‘T’. Turn right onto Hannum Rd and take it for about a mile, until you see the trail begin on your left. If you get to Bentley Rd, you’ve missed the entrance. If so, take a left onto Bentley, go about 150 yards and enter the trail on your right.

Click here to view Sherman Area Trail Map

The Nancy B. Diggs Trail Segment (1.5 miles)

Begins at Hannum Road and runs northward past Bentley Road to State Route 430, passing through woodland and offering first peeks at the agricultural diversity of the area.

Parking is available off of Bentley Road.

Click here to view Mayville Area Trail Map

The Nadine and Paul Webb Trail Segment (1.7 miles)

Begins at State Route 430, passes through woodlands and farmland, ends at the Mayville lakefront area [which passes the top of Chautauqua Lake]. Park at the Rt 394 crossing of the trail in Mayville.

When you get to Mayville, you cross a bridge into an open field leading to Rt 394. The trail goes across Rt 394, past the Chautauqua Belle (a sternwheeler steam boat), the old train depot, and on through the village.

Click here to view Mayville Area Trail Map

The Village of Mayville Trail Segment (1.4 miles)

Runs from the lakefront area by State Route 394 to State Route 430 by the State Department of Transportation facility. This trail is asphalt paved.

When the trail meets Rt 430, you need to turn left onto Honeysette Rd. (While the trail does continue past Rt 430, it stops about ¾ mile from Rt 430.) Take Honeysette over the bridge, (from which you can see the end of the trail from Rt 430) till it comes to a ‘T’ and turn left onto Plank Road, a highway. Go ¾ mile till you see the overhead high tension electric lines and the entrance to the trail on your right.

Parking is available at the Mayville Park and Depot.

Click here to view Mayville Area Trail Map

The James “Jim” Fincher Trail Segment (1.0 miles)

Runs from Rt 430 north through woodlands to Honeysette Road.

Click here to view Mayville Area Trail Map

The Seasonally Restricted Trail Segment (1.3 miles)

Runs from Honeysette Road to Plank Road. The trail segment is closed for hunting seasons between Honeysette and Parker Roads from October 1st to January 1st.

Click here to view Mayville Area Trail Map

The Laurie A. Baer Trail Segment (1.0 mile)

Begins at Plank Road on the right-of-way of the Niagara Mohawk Corp, passing north through woodlands, over one bridge, ending at Bliss Road.

Parking is available at Plank Road.

Click here to view Mayville Area Trail Map

The Alison Wells Ney Trail Segment (9.8 miles)

Begins at Bliss Road, and gently descends the Lake Erie Escarpment, and running north to Prospect Road and then through Brocton to Fuller Road, offering vistas of Lake Erie.

Parking is available at Prospect Station, Thayer Road, Ellicott Road, Highland Ave, School Street, and Fuller Road.

The trail crosses Prospect, Finley, Wolebon, Thayer, Ellicott Road, Highland Ave, School Street, and Route 20. There is about 1.1 miles roadwalk on Ellicott Road that connects the trail from Colt and Webster. The segment from Highland to School Street (in back of the High School) is specially surfaced as a “Healthy Heart” trail.

Click here to view Brocton Area Trail Map

The Portage Trail Segment (1.0 mile)

At the request of the property owners, the Portage Trail sections from Qulliam to Parker, and from Parker to the south of the beaver pond are now closed. You can still hike the Portage Trail section from the Rail Trail Junction to Lakeview, Lakeview to Route 430, and then Route 430 to where the trail is closed. The old railbed of the Portage Trail was previously used as trail by American Indians and French Canadians to gain access to Chautauqua Lake and the Ohio country. The trail segment is closed for hunting seasons from October 1st to January 1st.

Click here to view Mayville Area Trail Map