The WAG Trail extends 8.7 miles from the New York/Pennsylvania state line (380 feet northwest of the junction of Cryder Creek and the Genesee River) to Weidrick Road immediately east of River Road, just south of Wellsville. (The map pin is located at the northern end of the trail at Weidrick Road.) The WAG Trail gets its name from the Wellsville, Addison and Galeton (WAG) Railroad, which formerly ran along this route from 1954 to 1979; the trail traverses the old railroad bed.

The property was acquired by the state of New York  in 2009. Since acquiring the property, the DEC, in cooperation with several volunteer stewardship groups, has implemented numerous improvements along the trail, including redecking bridges, replacing culverts, installing erosion-control measures, grading and resurfacing the trail, and installing new gates and signage. At each trailhead, information kiosks feature a map of the trail and a brief history of the route.

The WAG Trail generally follows the course of the upper Genesee River, sometimes at a distance but often quite closely. Unlike many trails in the hilly southwestern region of New York, the WAG Trail is nearly level because it traverses a flat valley bottom. The grade along the WAG Trail is less than 5%, with only about 80 feet of elevation change over the 8.7-mile length of the trail. (See DEC information and map under Links.)

This multi-purpose trail can be used for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, biking, and horseback riding. The trail is also open to snowmobiling, but the use of other forms of motorized vehicles is prohibited. For an interesting video of a section of the WAG Trail, see "YouTube Video - WAG Trail" under Links. Note that the video was shot with a 360° camera, so move the screen around with your cursor. And turn your volume up or you won't be able to hear the dialog. 

In addition to providing a beautiful corridor for hiking, this juxtaposition of land and water offers opportunities to view an astounding variety of wildlife. Especially abundant in such environments are birds. Raptors, songbirds, and waterbirds are commonly seen along the trail, so if you enjoy birding, be sure to bring along a camera and binoculars. I've included three bird lists from eBird under Links.    

Needless to say, the WAG Trail is very popular with anglers due to its proximity to the upper Genesee River, which is one of the premier fishing waters in western New York. This section of the river is stocked annually with many thousands of rainbow trout and brown trout, and the fishing for smallmouth bass in this section of the river is excellent. The trail also crosses the lower end of Ford Brook, which is a good-quality wild trout stream.

Volunteers were instrumental in creating the WAG Trail, and they are still essential to maintaining and improving the trail. If you are interested in helping to maintain this beautiful trail, contact the DEC’s Region 9 office at (716) 372-0645.

Notes:

(1) The DEC parking area on Route 19 in Shongo is intended for fishing access only. Trail users should use the Hawks Road parking areas instead.

(2) The trailhead at Weidrick Road is also used to access the Wellsville water intake facility. Be sure not to block the trail with your vehicle.