South County Trailway

[[File:Old Put enters VCP.JPG|thumb|Paved (Yonkers) and unpaved (Bronx) portions]] [[Image:Old Put fallen tree jeh.JPG|thumb|upright|Sometimes blocked by fallen trees]] [[Image:Palmerover.jpg|thumb|Northbound past a replica of the Bryn Mawr Park station, under Palmer Road and towards the summit, in 2007 before paving]] [[File:Paving the Old Putnam rail trail.jpg|thumb|Machine laying asphalt on the old Putnam rail trail connecting the Tuckahoe road section in 2011]] The '''South County Trailway''' is a {{convert|14.1|mi|km|adj=on}} long trail stretching from [[Van Cortlandt Park]] in [[The Bronx]] to [[Elmsford, New York]]. Construction started in the 1990s and was completed in 2011. == Bronx and Yonkers == This trail may be reached from the south, beginning at the parking lot of the Van Cortland golf course. Behind the golf course office is a packed dirt trail, formerly the [[New York and Putnam Railroad]], that crosses a small bridge. This trail, which is supposed to be paved in the near future, is in most places about 5-6 ft (1.5-2 m) wide. It continues north for {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} to the border of [[Yonkers]], at which point it leads directly to the southern terminus of the South County trail. The well paved trail continues north in southern Yonkers in very good condition, crossing to the right bank of Tibbets Brook at Alan B Sheppard Jr Lane which gives street access. It gently climbs above [[Tibbetts Brook Park]] for approximately {{convert|3|mi|km}} and crosses Cross County Parkway and [[Yonkers Avenue]] where a stairway on the north side of the Yonkers Motel provides street access. As of September, 2011, due to construction activity in Tibbetts Brook Part, trail users must take a signed detour. North to south, the detour requires descending the Yonkers Avenue stairs to the Yonkers Avenue sidewalk, proceeding east on Yonkers Avenue to Midland Avenue, turning down a paved but bumpy pedestrian access path to the Tibbetts Park automobile access road, and proceeding back to the trail. The summit section in central Yonkers began construction in the summer of 2011. By September, all portions had been widened to 10 ft (3 m) and in October 2011 paving was complete. A green-roofed market at the Palmer Road crossing, a replica of the former Bryn Mawr Park rail station half a mile (1km) south of the summit of the line, provides another access to streets. == North Yonkers to Elmsford == North of the Tuckahoe Road underpass, where the Nepperhan railroad station formerly stood, Toussaint Avenue provides another street access. The Trailway continues northwards through Yonkers with street access and parking lot at Farragut Avenue, and through [[Ardsley, New York|Ardsley]] to Route 119 [[Elmsford, New York|Elmsford]]. This {{convert|7|mi|km|adj=on}} section lies mostly between the [[Saw Mill Parkway]] and the Saw Mill River. In Elmsford, the South and North County Trailways are not currently connected, and the roads to get from one to the other are very dangerous for bicyclists and pedestrians -- particularly vulnerable users. One way to reach the [[North County Trailway]], more suited for pedestrians, to reach the northern trailhead, is to continue North along [[New York State Route 9A|route 9A]] (Saw Mill River Road) for {{convert|0.5|mi|km}} until the block before [[Sam's Club]]. Turn left onto this street and continue west past parking lot entrance to end of block. At the end of the block is the southern terminus of the [[North County Trailway]]. Another route to the [[North County Trailway]], suggested by Google Maps for bicyclists, takes users through an industrial park that avoids the Route 9A truck route. (Consult Google Maps as well.) Such a route going northbound crosses Route 119 at Central Avenue (9A). Then head left (west) on the sidewalk of 119 and make a right onto Vreeland Avenue. Follow Vreeland under the overpass of I-287 where it turns into Hayes Street. Follow Hayes until it ends and make a right onto N. Payne Street. N. Payne ends at Route 9A. Do NOT cross 9A or attempt to go onto the roadbed; instead, stay on what should be the sidewalk or dirt path along the southbound traffic. You may have to dismount from your bicycle. Once you pass Nat's Pub, be on the lookout for Warehouse Lane (bordered by the Sam's Club parking lot). Make a left onto Warehouse Lane and follow until it ends. You will see the trailhead for the North County Trailway. {{Further|[[North County Trailway]]}} == External links == * [http://www.westchestergov.com/Parks/brochures/Trailways/SouthCountyTrailway.htm Westchester County Parks] * [http://www.nycbikemaps.com/maps/North-and-South-County-Trails.php Bicycle Map of the North County Trailway] * [http://www.putnamcountyny.com/planning/files/Putnam%20Bike%20path%20brochure%20&%20map.pdf Bicycle Map of the Putnam County Trailway] * [http://rutlandtrail.org/gmap.cgi?South-County-Trailway.railtrail Route of the trail] {{coord missing|New York}} {{Rail trails in New York}}