Greater Jamestown Riverwalk, Jamestown, NY

Tour Chautauqua describes the Greater Jamestown Riverwalk:

The Jamestown Riverwalk is a 5-mile urban trail system that follows the Chadakoin River through Downtown Jamestown NY, perfect for walking, jogging, biking and rollerblading. The Jamestown Riverwalk connects with several municipal parks including Jackson-Taylor (Chadakoin) Park, Comedy Center Park, McCrea Point Park and Boat Launch, and JTNY Power House Skatepark.

A portion of this trail is a former railbed of the Jamestown, Westfield and Northwestern Railroad’s electric trolley line. That portion is the rail trail described here.

The northern trailhead has a small gravel parking lot at 60 Clifton Avenue. The southern trailhead has a larger paved, striped lot with one designated accessible spot. It is off West 8th Street west of the intersection with Brewers Alley.

Note on the map above that the rail trail is just a small portion of the whole trail. Download the map if you’d like your own copy.

Leave No Trace, Ten Essentials

While you’re enjoying the outdoors, please leave no trace to minimize your impact and preserve these special places for others to use as well. If you’re walking or hiking, please pack the REI ten essentials for your own safety. When cycling, consider using this REI checklist. For other activities, review the hiking and biking essentials and use your judgment.

Trail Surface

The trail is 100% asphalt in very good condition.

Restrooms

There are restrooms in Chadakoin Park (AKA Jackson-Taylor Park) which is accessible via an asphalt pathway near the midpoint of the rail trail.

Parking

The northern trailhead has a small gravel parking lot at 60 Clifton Avenue. The southern trailhead has a larger paved, striped lot with one designated accessible spot. There is also parking in Chadakoin Park (AKA Jackson-Taylor Park).

Points of Interest

Points of Interest include:

• Mostly deciduous forest and open meadow
• Several excellent bridges across small streams
• Views of the Chadakoin River seen from a lovely little picnic area

• Side path to Chadakoin Park (AKA Jackson-Taylor Park)
• Mysterious blue sculpture entitled “Breakwater”

Breakwater in Jamestown is both a playground and a sculpture:

Canadian designers Julia Jamrozik and Coryn Kempster have made Breakwater, a concrete sky-blue playground in Jamestown, New York out of repurposed wave breakers.

Breakwater is made from dolosse, heavy prefabricated concrete blocks normally used to prevent coastal erosion, that have been repurposed as a climbing frame.

Formed of complex geometric shapes, piles of dolosse are positioned along coastlines to form breakwaters – barriers that protect the land against the impact of waves.

History

Jamestown, Westfield and Northwestern Railroad :

This line, last known as the Jamestown, Westfield and Northwestern Railroad, can trace its roots back to 1881, when the Mayville Extension Railroad built a line between Mayville and Chautauqua in New York, on the north side of Chautauqua Lake. The line was subsequently extended as its owners underwent various purchases and reorganizations up until 1913, when the JW&NW purchased the entire line and operated it up until its abandonment. During its time under the JW&NW, it was electrified for both passenger and freight service. However, passenger operations ended on November 30, 1947, after which the line became diesel- and freight-only until its abandonment in 1950.

Trail Summary

Distance	1.2 miles point to point	2.4 miles out and back
Elevation gain	20 feet
Trail surface	Asphalt
Difficulty	Easy
Clifton Ave parking and trailhead	42.115639, -79.254955	small gravel lot, not striped
West 8th St parking and trailhead	42.099367, -79.250879	paved lot, striped, 9 spots plus one accessible

Maps

All Trails

Both free and premium All Trails accounts provide the capability to load and navigate this map. Tap/click the trail name on the map to enlarge. Scan the QR code to load the map into All Trails app on your smartphone.

Why have we chosen All Trails for maps for this site?