South County Trailway
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The South County Trailway is a 14.1-mile (22.7 km) long trail stretching from Van Cortlandt Park in the The Bronx to Elmsford, NY. While the majority of the trail is paved and contiguous, some sections remain disconnected and unpaved.
This trail may be reached from the south, beginning at the parking lot of the Van Cortland golf course. Behind the golf course office is a packed dirt trail, formerly the New York and Putnam Railroad, that crosses a small bridge. This trail, which is supposed to be paved in the near future, continues north for 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the border of Yonkers, at which point it leads directly to the southern terminus of the South County trail. The well paved trail continues north in very good condition, crossing to the right bank of Tibbets Brook at Alan B Sheppard Jr Lane. It gently climbs above Tibbets Brook Park for approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) and crosses Yonkers Avenue. About half a mile north of that, the pavement stops, giving the user the choice of descending to Redwood park and using good pavements for an indirect route, or continuing north on a poorly maintained trail.
[edit] Muddy middle
As the trail for the next two miles is bumpy and covered with dirt, rocks, gravel, and mud, a mountain bike is highly recommended for this portion, which also serves as an easy hiking trail. After 1 mile (1.6 km) of unpaved trail, the trail crosses Mile Square Road. The trail (still unpaved) continues across the street on the left (west) side of the nearby playground and continues through the woods for another mile.
The former Bryn Mawr Park rail station, now a green-roofed market at the Palmer Road crossing, provides another easy escape to streets. Conditions worsen again at the summit of the line, about half a mile north of the station. The portion descending into the valley of the Sawmill River, high above the I-87 highway, is heavily eroded by streams running through the cuts and, as of October 2007, blocked by fallen trees.
At this point the beaten path, avoiding an impassable bit under a high narrow bridge, leads into a dirt lot. Continue north in the lot until reaching the street. Continue past guardrail and turn right down street. About 20 yards from the lot, on the left (west) side of the street, the trail continues. This dirt section continues for 0.25 miles (400 m) until ending in the parking lot of the Mile Square Center strip mall.
[edit] North Yonkers to Elmsford
On the north side of Tuckahoe Road, where the Nepperhan railroad station formerly stood, is the southern trail head of the remainder of the official, paved, well kept South County Trail. From an entrance at Toussaint Avenue it descends northwards through Yonkers and Ardsley to Elmsford. This 7-mile (11 km) section lies mostly between the Saw Mill Parkway and the Saw Mill River.
From Elmsford, the northern trailhead, users may continue North along 9A (Saw Mill River Road) for 0.5 miles (800 m) until the block before Sam's Club. Turn left onto this street and continue west past parking lot entrance to end of block. At the end of the block is the southern terminus of the North County Trailway.
