East Hill Recreation Way

Town of Ithaca

Last Update: 24Mar99

Topography and Environs

Game Farm Road Entrance and Parking

The East Hill Recreation Way is a trail system maintained by the Town of Ithaca. Most of the trail is constructed on top of an old 19th century railroad bed of the East Ithaca and Cortland Line. Section from Mitchell St. south to Brooktondale, Caroline Depot & Spencer was abandoned in 1936. Section north and east saw its last service just before Hurrican Agnes in June 1972 (washout between Stevenson & Game Farm Rds.) and the rest of the line was formally abandoned in 1976 (info thanks to David Rossiter, see also "A History of Railroads in Tompkins County" by Hardy Campbell Lee, revised Winston Rossiter; DeWitt Historical Society, Ithaca, NY 1977). The Town received grant funding from the State and in 1992 widened and made substantial improvements to the trail system. A very similiar Town of Ithaca trail is South Hill Recreation Way.

Since it follows old railroad construction the bulk of the trail system is flat, with a slight 2-3% grade. The surface has been graded and asphalted. All forms of non-motorized use are permitted hiking, biking, running, skiing, snowshoeing, etc. The wooded privacy, improved surface, year-round maintenance, and proximity to Ithaca and especially Cornell are the major features of this trail.

Maple Ave. Entrance - Overlooking Cornell
Veterinary College (note winter plowing)

The Town of Ithaca deserves much credit for improving and making this right-of-way accessible. The Town provides clearing, mowing and surface repair to a width roughly 20 feet over the entire length. The trail is maintained year round including plowing and limited sanding throughout the winter. This feature makes the trail unique in the Ithaca area and is one of the few trails guarentteed to be open in almost any weather.

Distance markers are maintained every 1/4 mile and there are several benchs located at premier landscape views. There is also a picnic area at the mid-point between Game Farm Rd. and Maple Ave.

Distance Markers every 1/4 mile

The proximity of this park to walking distance to roughly 15,000 Cornell, Ithaca City and Town of Ithaca residents results in heavy use. In spite of this the trail maintains a sense of privacy by passing through densely forested and shrubbed areas.

The heavy use also means this is a very safe trail for those concerned about personal safety. It must be however noted that all trails in Ithaca are relatively safe as Ithaca is in general a very low crime area.

Hiking, Jogging, Walking

The trail itself is substantial enough for a short hike. A round trip from Game Farm Rd. to Honess Lane will take most people 1 hours and traverse roughly 7km. horizontally and around 150ft. vertically.

Wildlife

Wildflowers	Birds	Mammals

White Trillium Painted Trillium Blood Root	Red Tail Hawk	White Tail Deer Wood Chuck Cotton Tail Rabbit

Old Structures, and the like

A few Remnants of the former railway still exist. The old East Hill railway station was formerly located across Maple Ave from Maplewood Apartments. In 1978 the rail station was lifted and moved to it present location on Judd Falls Rd. (currently the 'Coyote Loco' Restuarant.

Trail passes by several Cornell research laboratory including the electric Pulse Power Laboratory, Veterinary College dog kennels, Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory and the Agriculture College poultry barns.

History

Picnic Area - mid-way at former
Cornell dam site