by Matthew Hotaling, Yahoo Sports, link to original post
Spring is in the air and the weather seems to be getting more pleasant every week. With good weather and longer days, come masses of local bicyclists and exercise nuts! Oneonta, NY, is known as “The City of the Hills”; the perfect place to hop on bike for a leisurely ride down your friendly neighborhood street, or taking an adventurous excursion into the beautiful woodlands in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains.
There are several bike paths around the Oneonta and most are free to access:
What are the best bike paths in Oneonta, New York?
Gilbert Lake State Park
Gilbert Lake State Park in Laurens, NY, is one of New York’s few State Parks in operation. There are lots of educational activities in the park including the New York State Civilian Conservation Corps Museum. The museum’s website tells more about the museum dedicated to the soldiers who built it once returning to the area after WWII, as well as many outdoor activities.
There are 12 miles of interconnecting trails in the State Park at Gilbert Lake, although some of them restrict bicycling due to environmental protections.
Wilber Park Bike Trails
Wilber Park is a great place for local bicyclists who are just looking for a leisurely ride through some open wooded paths. There are only a few main paths in Wilber Park, but they are very well taken care of and an incredible asset to the City’s residents and college students looking for a safe place to ride that is close to home. As with any public place, there are rules that apply and also an applicable curfew.
More info can found at the Oneonta homepage.
SUNY Oneonta Campus
If you are really in for a challenging bike path, the SUNY Oneonta campus is definitely the place to ride. SUNY Oneonta is set high in the hills of East St. Oneonta and is where you can find and create your own biking route, depending on how much of a challenge you are up to!
East Street is a challenge of its own when biking inner-city and requires much physical stamina. Once you reach the top of East St.; take a left onto Bugby Road to reach the heart of the SUNY campus. Trekking up the massive incline of West St. will take you to Ravine Parkway; the main entrance to the SUNY Campus.
Make sure to bring plenty of liquids if you plan on taking either of these routes!
*Matthew Hotaling has lived in the Oneonta, NY, for his entire life and is an avid sports fan and bicyclist. During the summer and spring, he can found hiking and biking on many of the Catskill Mountains’ trails.
