Skip to contentSkip to left sidebar Skip to footer

Jim Schug Trail

Trail Length: 4.2 miles

Trail Surface Material: Gravel, Grass

Difficulty: Easy

Accessibility: Handicap Accessible

AKA: “Dryden Lake Trail”

Located in the Village and Town of Dryden, the Jim Schug Trail was originally named the Dryden Lake Trail and was created sometime in the early 1990s. It was renamed on April 10, 2002 as The Jim Schug Trail in dedication to the late Town Supervisor, who helped acquire much of the land that it runs on. The trail presently begins in the Village of Dryden and goes on to the Town of Harford in Cortland County, at which point the trail merges with the Finger Lakes Trail.

The trail provides area residents and visitors of all ages with an opportunity to get fit while enjoying the beautiful environment around them. Permitted activities include walking, bicycling, hiking and horseback riding, as well as snow shoeing and cross country skiing when weather permits. Specifically noted activities that are NOT allowed include snowmobiling, in-line skating, and camping. Dryden Lake also provides the opportunity for boating, fishing, and ice fishing. There are also wheelchair accessible fishing platforms and a pavilion for picnicking.

The scenic trail features benches as markers for every ½ mile. Posts that share some historical or natural information of the area accompany many of these benches. A vast variety of animals can be spotted on the trail, including turtles, rabbits, chipmunks, birds, beavers, and snakes, among many others.

For more information about the Jim Schug Trail, visit the TrailLink by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.