The section of road that will be used to get to the good part of the trail is illustrated in this snapshot of  VDOT’s display board #4. The combined trail-road is in turquoise. The locals that use this road will testify that this curve is where most “close calls” happen. It is narrow because it cuts thru the mountain’s edge, with high banks on both sides with no place to go. There is low visibilty because of the curve and high banks. Then narrower still because of the soft ditches squeezed in right next to the mountain sides.

If this trailhead gets established in this location, it will be known as “running the gauntlet”. Not a good reputation to have.

To get to the trailhead you will have to first drive thru this “gauntlet”. It is the only trailhead anywhere on the trail that will have horse trailer parking, so that increases wider/bigger vehicular usage thru this channel.  The daily residential traffic comes thru here too. It’s their way in/out (with delivery trucks like UPS). Mix all that with the people trying to get thru (coming and going) while they are bicycling, walking , and horse back riding.

For every trail user of the trailhead, it will create four additional passes thru this spot. The roadway is not designed for this. There will be significant chances of seroius injuries.

Would you want to face this kind of scenario in order to take the kids for a walk or on their bikes.

A). Currently there is a property that has come up for sale. It’s right at the end of where the trail dumps onto the road. Perfect timing for VDOT. A property that is for sale means that no eminent domain would have to be used.

It’s just outside of Oriskany Square and has a buffer from the town with woods and a valley. See the map. It is surrounded by green and red lines. It convieniently is next to a property that belongs to the RR bed now (where mile marker 11 is placed). As you can see, it is already of some size.

The real beauty of this property is that there is direct access to Craig Creek Rd.(615). Horse trailers and other users can pull right in. Meaning that the added traffic will not be on the trail itself. Users can then hop right onto the trail without ever being on a road. Those that do want to travel the road/trail can still do so.

Another benefit is that ALL the users that would be coming from that other location will no longer be travelling thru Oriskany Square. Keeping Oriskany more quaint and undisturbed. Certainly a win-win situation.

There is also the Oriskany canoe launch across from this property. If it is ever so busy that parking is scarce, normal vehicles could take advantage of that.

B). Just expand the trailhead at the County line (currently planned as the Charlton Trailhead)

There is plenty of room. The right of way is 100′ wide and it runs along the current road right of way.  It could be set up similar to the Intervale trailhead parking lot at the Jackson River Trail. Intervale is 100′ wide by 350′ long, and that includes the trail itself running thru it.

The Charlton area is about 1500′ long. With two entry points, horse trailers could pull in, park to the side and then leave without the need to turn around. Everyone else could be angled-in parking.

If the trailhead is located here, it would leave the option of not putting a gate across the Emergency Road for Oriskany. Trail users could use this section, with the understanding that if an emergency occurs there may be very limited traffic. If trail users decide to go in the opposite direction they will have a normal “full trail experience”.