Pat McGee Trail, Salamanca to Cattaraugus, NY

The Pat McGee Trail is a 12.1 mile point to point rail trail from Salamanca to Cattaraugus. The highest point on the trail is the Eastern Continental Divide about 3 miles southeast of the Cattaraugus trailhead. The elevation gain from each end of the trail to the Eastern Continental Divide is 187 feet. The Cattaraugus trailhead has a small parking lot. Other parking lots are shown on the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Pat McGee Trail map.

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 mostly gravel, dirt, and grass. Several sections, including near the Cattaraugus trailhead, can be very muddy after significant rainfall. Most of the trail does have good drainage.

Please consider carefully whether this trail surface is suitable for your activity.

Restrooms

There are no restrooms at the Cattaraugus trailhead. Perhaps there are some at the Pat McGee Trail Parking and Picnic Area in Little Valley or at the Salamanca trailhead.

Points of Interest

The Eastern Continental Divide is encountered on this trail about 3 miles southeast of the Cattaraugus trailhead. This and several other points of interest are shown on the delightful New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Pat McGee Trail map.

There is a Lean-to and picnic table approximately 0.6 miles southeast of the Cattaraugus trailhead.

History

From the Pat McGee Trail description by New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation:

The 12.1-mile Pat McGee Trail in Cattaraugus County connects the city of Salamanca and village of Cattaraugus. This multi-use trail along a former rail bed [ed. Erie Lackawanna Railroad] has connections with the current Finger Lakes Trail and the North Country Trail, which provide links to Allegany State Park in New York State and Allegany National Forest in Pennsylvania.

Named for former state Sen. Pat McGee, the trail opened in 2005 and is used for bicycling, hiking, snowmobiling, and horseback riding. It features a 1.8-acre community park with pavilion and two gazebos in Little Valley, along with five trailheads with parking areas. It also contains six former rail bridges that were rehabilitated for trail use.

The trail runs from the City of Salamanca line, through the Town of Salamanca; the village and town of Little Valley; and the towns of Mansfield and New Albion; ending at Leon Road just outside the Village of Cattaraugus.

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. Warning: this trail is in a less populated area. You may have to wait 15 minutes or more for a ride or you may not get a ride at all. I got stranded at a trailhead once and could not get back to my car at the other trailhead. Thankfully, it was close enough home that my wife picked me up. But I have done this successfully in more populated areas.

Trail Summary

Distance	12.1 miles	24.2 miles out and back
Elevation gain	187 feet
Trail surface	Gravel, dirt, and grass
Difficulty	Easy
Point of Interest	42.27682, -78.83160	Eastern Continental Divide
Cattaraugus trailhead parking	42.30858, -78.87392	About 5 spaces, not paved, not 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?