Dryden Rail Trail Bridge

The rails-to-trails movement is a national phenomenon that began in the 1960s, as advocates worked to convert unused rail lines into pedestrian-friendly paths. A Rails-to-Trails Conservancy was founded in 1986, and Tompkins County has its own rich history of innovative use of former railway lines. The Recreation Ways of the town of Ithaca are good examples of this adaptive use, and in May 2023 a celebratory opening connected the Dryden Rail Trail with the Ithaca Recreation Way at Game Farm Road.
The Dryden Rail Trail, where the former Elmira, Cortland & Northern Trail line once ran, is a 14-mile multi-use trail in the town of Dryden that is intended to serve as a transportation link between Dryden and Ithaca, as well as a recreational highlight for the community.