Pendleton Rail Trail, Pendleton, NY

The Pendleton Rail Trail is 6.1 miles point to point (12.2 miles out and back), stretching from its trailhead on Townline Road at the Town of Pendleton border to the terminus at the Town of Pendleton northern border on Lockport Road. The northern terminus coincides with the southern trailhead of the Lockport Rail Trail.

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 well paved from the Townline Road trailhead to Killian Road. It is wide and in good condition for about 3.5 miles.

Starting at Killian Road, the trail is very poor. It’s just a dirt trail with very deep ruts filled with mud and/or pooled water. Once the water and mud dries up, you’ll still be navigating the deep ruts.

This may be partly due to opposition by the Tonawanda Sportsman’s Club which operates a gun range near the trail. In the Aug 11, 2016, edition, the Niagara Gazette reports “Members of the Tonawanda Sportman’s Club have concerns about the trail running on town property. Several members spoke at the July town board meeting, concerned about public safety.”

At Meyer Road, the surface is paved again and not too bad. Beyond Mapelton Road to the Lockport Road terminus, it is paved but poor and well worn.

From Killian Road to the terminus on Lockport Road, Pendelton Rail Trail shares the rail bed with an ATV trail.

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

Restrooms

There are no public restrooms at the trailheads or along the trail.

Points of Interest

The significant point of interest along the trail is the Pendleton water tower.

History

From 2021 Addendum to the Pendleton Town Parks Master Plan of 2007:

Pendleton Town Park is also the main trailhead for Pendleton’s Rails-to- Trails, constructed over the past 15 years or so along the abandoned railbed of the former Erie-Lackawanna Railroad Line, and passing along the southern edge of the park. The first three phases, begun in 2005 with a matching grant from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, constructed 3.3 miles of asphalt trail along the old Erie Railroad lines traversing through the center of Town from Mapleton Road to Meyer Road.

In 2013 the Town was awarded a NYSDOT grant for Phase IV and constructed additional asphalt non- motorized trail from Killian Road to Townline Road. The Town looks to further expand both non-motorized and motorized trail improvements where feasible.

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	6.1 miles point to point	12.2 miles out and back
Elevation gain	27 feet
Trail surface	Asphalt, dirt, ruts
Difficulty	Easy
Point of Interest	43.10682, -78.77405	Pendleton water tower
Townline Road parking and trailhead	43.06986, -78.82249	4 spaces + 1 handicap, paved and striped
Meyer Road parking	43.09854, -78.78445	4 spaces + 1 handicap, paved and striped
Lockport Road parking and trailhead	43.13308, -78.73821	3-4 spaces, 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?