This 6.95 mile section of the Link Trail begins at Harp Road and soon crosses Cottons Road.  There is a small parking area at "Cottons Crossing".  The trail heads west along the old Lehigh Valley Railroad, for the start of this section it's hard to notice that your hiking along an old railroad bed.  The trail runs almost parallel to Cottons Road for a short while.

You will be walking across a couple of front yards and a back yard as the trail continues to follow what is left of the old railroad bed.  After 1.1 miles enter a cow pasture through a gate.  Be sure to close this gate and the other gate in 0.45 miles behind you.  Make sure your dog is on a leash for their safety.  You'll cross a driveway at 1.8 miles with an old RR Crossing sign and a nice view.

As the trail nears Quarry Road, you will notice how close the trail comes to the homes in the area.  The trail actually skirts the side yards of private property and becomes a neighbor of the landowners.  The trail now heads toward an old quarry after crossing Quarry Road (2.35 miles).  Notice the cliffs above the trail and at 2.85 miles there is an old stone building on your left from the old railroad days.  There is also an opening that allows a great view toward Chittenango and beyond.

At 3.05 miles you pass power lines, then an old abandoned house on your right.  You are now entering an old quarry area.  There are more old buildings on your left as the trail skirts the quarry.  Remember to stay on the trail, as the quarry is PRIVATE PROPERTY.  As you walk by, it makes you wonder what this place was like back when the railroad went through and all the old machinery was working.

The trail continues on the old railroad bed of the Lehigh Valley Railroad before veering left off the railroad bed at 3.4 miles.  Although the railroad bed continues in front of you, at this time you must take this "temporary" trail connector that leads to Quarry Road near the corner of Ingalls Corners Road.  You can not see the trail from the road, but it is there.  There is some parking along the west side of Quarry Road at Ingalls Corners Road, which is reached after 3.75 miles of hiking.

Currently there is a 3.2 mile road walk to the next off road section on Freber Road.  While walking on Seibenbaum Road you will be treated with some excellent views.  There are videos of the views from the roads below.  We have pictures, a video of much of this hike, a map and a detailed description of this section of the trail.

This section was completed in 2007 and is part of the North Country National Scenic Trail.  The Lehigh Valley Railroad was one of a number of railroads built in the northeastern United States primarily to haul anthracite coal.  You are walking on a section of trail rich in history.

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Guide to Hiking the Link Trail (2nd Edition - 2010) - $3.97

The Guide to Hiking the Link Trail is a 25 page guide book dedicated to all the information you need to hike the Link Trail in Madison County.  However this guide book is "green" as you'll receive this guide book in pdf form in an e-mail not an actual book in regular mail. This means you can print the pages you want from the book.  Print only what you need for your hike, not a whole book.  No worries on the book getting wet, as you'll always have it on your computer when you get back from your hike.

This guide has maps, pictures, descriptions and everything you need to explore the Link Trail.  Use the buy now button below and we'll send you an e-mail with your file within 24 hours after receiving your payment.  Be sure to check out our other guides available here on the website.

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Pictures from along the Link Trail / North Country Trail

Trail at Cottons Crossing	Footbridge near Cottons Road	Entering Cow Pasture	Gate for cow pasture	Other gate for cow pasture
View from trail	Old RR crossing sign	Trail and old rr crossing sign	Trail	Old RR bed of the Lehigh Valley Railroad
Old stone building next to trail	View	View	Old house near quarry	Old quarry
Trail	Trail veers left off old rr bed	Quarry Rd & Ingalls Corners Rd trailhead	View	Cows