OUTSIDE
Articles discuss running, scenic hiking, biking, canoeing and X-skiing
in Central New York and the Mohawk Valley

RUNNING
Runners can enjoy a steady diet of road racing in Central New York and the Mohawk Valley.

Fun Runs
Picturesque Running, Biking
or Hiking in Central New York Run the Old Rail Bed along the Oriskany Creek and take a Adirondack Foothills Run, Bike or Walk
 along the Black River Feeder Canal between Boonville and Forestport, NY.

THE BLACK RIVER FEEDER CANAL FOR RUNNING, BIKING AND HIKING!!!
The New York State Canal Corporation's Black River Canal Improvement Project is under way. It involves redoing the trail from Boonville to Forestport.

CROSS COUNTY SKIING

Cross Country Skiing the Adirondack Foothills
With the BREIA Cross-Country Trail System you can enjoy an extensive trail system right here in Central New York

Trip to North Creek/Gore Mt. Area
If you think Fall Foliage Trips through the Adirondacks are beautiful and scenic try taking a Winter Tour. We decided to try Cross Country Skiing at the North Creek Region.

Cross Country Skiing in the Central Adirondacks
Speculator is spectacular. The new snow and cold spell should make the conditions ideal.

Lake Placid X-Country Skiing
If you want a great Cross Country  Skiing experience visit the Lake Placid area.

Valley View - South Woods
Cross Country Skiing
 Roscoe Conkling Park, Valley View Drive and Memorial Parkway, Utica, NY

TRAVEL

The Oriskany Creek
 The Oriskany Creek is one of the best Fly-fishing streams
in upstate New York and is known for its Brown Trout.

 Adirondack Foothills
 Visit the pristine Foothills of the Adirondacks. It's only a short driving distance for anyone in Central New York.
Ice Castle - Saranac Lake Winter Carnival
Passing through Saranac Lake on the way to or from  lake Placid you must stop and visit the Giant Ice Castle.

Fall Foliage Gallery
View the array of fall colors in Central New York.

Adirondack Foothills Gallery

Central New York Day Trips 
 Outside takes you on two great road trips through the southern Adirondacks were the fall foliage is at it's peak.

Mount Desert Island, ME
The Central New Yorker makes a June trip to Maine.

Nantucket Bike Tour
Join the Central New Yorker as we bike around Nantucket Island.

Hiking at the Moose River
Join the Central New Yorker in a hike down to the giant rock formations and whitewater rapids of the Moose River near Lyons Falls, NY

Trenton Falls Hike
The falls are located on the West Canada Creek near the tiny hamlet of  Trenton Falls.

Adirondack Foothills in the Fall
Outside shows you some scenic rivers and streams.

A Visit to the Land 
of Grandma Moses and Norman Rockwell
We decided to take a tour through Southern Vermont. It's only about a 2 1/2 hour drive (using the Thruway) from Central New York.

A Readers Response
I'll Always Love Central New York
Former Central New Yorker reminisces about the area using some scenic photos she sent from North Carolina.

FEATURES


Cross Country Skiing in the Adirondack Foothills
Cross-Country Ski Trails
  • Kunjamuk River Trail - Speculator
  • Black River Environmental Improvement Area(BREIA)

Cross Country Skiing in the Adirondack Foothills at Alder Creek Black River Environmental Improvement Area is Excellent. We also go to the Kunjamuk River X-country Ski Trail  in the Central Adirondacks.


View of Oak Mountain

The Black River Environmental Improvement Association (BREIA)
Alder  Creek, NY and Boonville, NY
 Trails are Excellent!!!
Outside presents Cross Country Skiing in CNY. There is Excellent Skiing at the BREIA because of  the continuous Lake Effect snow  the Cross Country Ski System Trails have several feet of snow. There is a good base. The trails are Well Groomed. At the BREIA Cross-Country Trail System you can enjoy an extensive trail system right here in Central New York


View from the RIM Trail


Egypt Road Warming Hut, Alder Creek Gorge

The scenery is  gorgeous at BREIA.
The trails in excellent condition.

Click on a Thumbnail to view a photo.
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If your looking for a good place with a lot of variety to cross country ski in Central New York, try the BREIA system. This is a great X-country skiing experience.  You can enjoy an extensive trail system right here in Central New York. It's only a half hour to 45 minute drive from Utica/Rome area to near Boonville, NY. The Black River Environmental Improvement Association (BREIA) provides  two main trail systems. This is a private foundation that provides all the maintenance and free public use of the trails.

The other BREIA XIC Trail system has two sections (See Map).
Boonville Egypt Road
  Black River Canal Trail   Echo Lake
  Jackson Hill Trails   Alder Creek Gorge

They are located off Egypt Road near Alder Creek, NY. Stay on Route 12 North when you arrive at the intersection of route 28 and route 12 North at Alder Creek Egypt Road is the first left passed Hinsteads Restaurant. The first parking lot is about three quarters of a mile down the road (see map). You will see a sign on the right. This trail  has three branches. One follows along Echo Lake or  there is a branch that leads to the Alder Creek Gorge which you can also get to from the second Echo Road entrance and parking lot. There is another short loop that goes to the Adirondack Rail Crossing. There is a sign-in station at the entrance with a trail map. 

All trails are Groomed

The second entrance is two miles down from the first entrance on the left. There is a large warming hut and large parking lot. This gives you immediate access to the Gorge loops.

One of the Echo lake trails goes to the Gorge trails and winds up at the second parking lot and warming hut. Here you can continue on the gorge trails. However you have to use the Echo branch again to get back to you car. The second branch follows Echo Lake except it goes through the woods and you don't see the lake. Then you come back the same way. The rail trail is a loop. The trail is good for beginners as it doesn't have the changing terrain of the gorge trails.

Overlooking the Alder Creek Gorge

The gorge trails provide loops of varying distances. The gorge trails are wooded. There are scenic views of the Alder Creek Gorge. There are some trails that go down into the Gorge that have fairly decent grades. There are warning signs at the top of each of these trails.

For the Boonville Trails keep going straight on Route 12 passed Egypt Road about 5 miles. The parking lot and warming hut are located adjacent to the Big M Shopping Center (see map) on Route 12 before Boonville. The facility has a 10 kilometer trail on the towpath of the abandoned Black River Canal. The canal trial follows the Black River Canal adjacent to Route 46 through Pixley Falls State Park.  The trail is very picturesque and when you get near Pixley Falls there are some good grades and the view is awesome as the trail runs along the Lansing Kill. At some point you have to turn around and go back on the same trail or , if there are two drivers, perhaps use two cars and park one at the finish and a all drive to the start.

The Jackson Hill Trails are off Route 46 between Boonville and Pixley Falls and are connected to the Canal Trail. You can go Route 46 from Rome or Boonville.

All the trails are beautifully groomed and wide enough for two lanes for skiers. Plus they all have warming huts. Expect to spend a few hours on any of the trails. All trails are designed for year 'round use (biking, hiking). By the way you can snow shoe on the trails. 

There are no snowmobiles allowed on the trails.

 


 


All in all this a fabulous place to cross country ski.