Jim Schug Trail

Overview

This trail follows the old Lehigh Valley railroad bed, called the Jim Schug Trail. Interpretive signs describe historical sites & information. Park on George St. offers: walking trails, x-c skiing, picnic area, restrooms and fishing pier. Trails approx. 4 miles. surfaces are hard-packed gravel, flat. It is also known as the Dryden Lake Trail*

Trail Length: 4.2 miles
Trail surface materials: Gravel & grass
Difficulty: Easy
Handicap Accessibility: The trail is handicap accessible.

Located in the Village and Town of Dryden, the Jim Schug Trail was originally named the Dryden Lake Trail and was created sometime in the early 1990s. It was renamed on April 10, 2002 as The Jim Schug Trail in dedication to the late town supervisor, who helped acquire much of the land that it runs on. The trail presently begins in the Village of Dryden and goes on to the Town of Harford in Cortland County, at which point the trail merges with the Finger Lakes Trail.

The trail provides area residents and visitors of all ages with an opportunity to get fit while enjoying the beautiful environment around them. Permitted activities include walking, bicycling, hiking and horseback riding, as well as snow shoeing and cross country skiing when weather permits. Specifically noted activities that are NOT allowed include snowmobiling, in-line skating and camping. Dryden Lake also provides the opportunity for boating, fishing and ice fishing. There are also wheelchair accessible fishing platforms and a pavilion for picnicking.

The scenic trail features benches as markers for every ½ mile. Posts that share some historical or natural information of the area accompany many of these benches. There is also a vast variety of animals that can be spotted on the trail, including turtles, rabbits, chipmunks, birds, beavers and snakes, among many others.

The future of the trail looks promising as a 3.3-mile addition is currently in the works. This addition would extend the trail to the Village of Freeville along the former Lehigh Valley Railroad bed, connecting the two villages. The trail already runs past local schools, including Tompkins Cortland Community College, as well as the Village Business District. Other future aspirations include a possible connection to the Ithaca Recreation Way through Etna and Varna, further linking communities in the region.

TCAT bus routes: 43 and 75

More information on http://www.dryden.ny.us/Dryden%20Trails/jim_schug_1.htm

Ecotourism & Sustainability Map
updated 03/2012 by Ithaca - Tompkins County NY