North Buffalo Rails to Trails, Buffalo, NY

The North Buffalo Rails to Trails is a 0.8 mile point to point (1.6 miles out and back) trail in North Buffalo. It starts in Shoshone Park, proceeds through Minnesota Avenue Linear Park and then to Kenmore Ave. Shoshone Park parking lot is shared with ball game teams and spectators. The Kenmore Ave parking lot is dedicated to Tonawanda and North Buffalo Rails to Trails though much smaller than Shoshone Park lot.

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 completely paved from Shoshone Park to Kenmore Ave. Its elevation is higher than Shoshone Park but there is access via a ramp. If you park at Kenmore Ave you have to cross the street to access the trail. There is a crosswalk and traffic light.

Restrooms

There are restrooms in Shoshone Park. I’m not sure whether they’re open 24/7.

Points of Interest

Shoshone Park is a large, popular park in North Buffalo.

The trail goes right between a pair of railroad bridge abutments. The railroad that crossed overhead here was possibly the International Branch or Black Rock Branch of an unknown railroad.

History

A short history of the rail lines from a sign near the bridge abutments:

Following the First World War and shortly after the Second World War, Buffalo stood as the second largest railroad hub in the United States, second only to Chicago. More than a dozen railroads ran through the city, in which over 700 miles of track provided long distance passenger service and freight transportation. Despite the economic recession of the 1920’s and 1930’s, the railroad industry provided ample employment. However, during the mid-60’s the railroad industry across the United States failed to compete with the automobile advancements that followed the rise of the Interstate Highway System.

In Buffalo, movement by train began to decline significantly as traveling by automobile became more convenient and attractive mode of transportation. The rails also suffered from outmoded regulations as well as burdensome taxes. The once flourishing rail system withered further due to a mass exodus of downtown Buffalo residents moving to the suburbs.

In the railroad heyday, two main railroad lines ran through the current North Buffalo Rail Trail. They were the Erie Railroad and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western (DL&W). In an effort to streamline operations, the Erie Railroad and DL&W Railroad were merged in 1960 to create the Erie Lackawanna Railroad (EL). Known as the Friendly Service Route, the EL was once recognized as, mile for mile, the most highly developed railroad in the US. The EL was later taken over by the Conrail in 1976.

NYS legislation passed in 1988, resulted in the sale of the right-of-way from Conrail to the NFTA. The North Buffalo Rail Trail was later completed in 2016 and is an extension of the Tonawanda Rail Trail located just outside of Buffalo’s city line.

Hiking Solo (and Running, etc.)

Solo hikers who find themselves able to do the whole point-to-point trail distance but not the out and back may consider using Uber or Lyft to get a ride from where they parked to the other trailhead. Then you can walk to your car from there. Since this trail is in a populated area, you won’t have long to wait for a ride. I’ve done this several times (on other trails) because I usually hike solo.

Trail Summary

Distance	0.8 miles point to point	1.6 miles out and back
Elevation gain	36 feet
Trail surface	Asphalt
Difficulty	Easy
Point of Interest	42.95433, -78.83483	Railroad bridge abutments
Kenmore Ave Parking	42.95865, -78.83729	6 spaces + 2 handicap, paved and striped
Shoshone Park Parking	42.94769, -78.83224	Plenty + 2 handicap, paved and striped

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?