This 5.5 mile section of the North Country Trail runs from US 219 just north of Ellicottville, NY to the corner of NY 240 and Fancy Tract Road which is northeast of Ellicottville.  This section of the trail is completely on private property and travels along a part of Irish Hill. This stretch of the NCT coincides with the white blazed Finger Lakes Trail.

This moderate section of hiking has an overall elevation gain of over 1100 feet.  Please respect landowners rights and stay on the trail.  There is no camping in this section of the trail.  Remember it is due to the generosity of these landowners that the trail is allowed to pass through their property. After crossing Brennan Road, you begin the Evart Memorial Section of the trail.  In another 0.4 miles you'll reach the top of a hill and a nice view to the south.  The trail soon descends steeply on its way to NY 240 and Fancy Tract Road.

There is a part of trail that is CLOSED for hunting from May 1-31 and Oct 10-Dec 21, another section closed from Oct 15-Dec20 and another section that is closed from Oct 13-Dec 9 also for hunting.  See below for more details. Look below for a map and trail description of this section of the trail.  This section of the North Country Trail is also part of the Conservation Trail. 

Fancy Tract Road and NY 240 (picture by Kirk Doyle)

Evart Hittle Memorial Section of trail (picture by Kirk Doyle)

View from top of hill looking south (picture by Kirk Doyle)

 

Mile	Elevation	North Country Trail Description
0.0	1704 ft	US 219. Some shoulder parking. GPS N42 18.690 W78 40.012 Head east following white blazes.  PRIVATE PROPERTY.  NOTE:  The trail from here to Cotter Road is CLOSED for HUNTING from May 1-31 and OCT 1-DEC20.  Please stay off the trail during these dates.
0.5	1733 ft	Cross stream.
1.0	1885 ft	Trail turns left and descend steeply.
1.2	1733 ft	Cross stream, then reach Cotter Rd.  Turn right and follow Cotter Road.
1.8	1840 ft	Turn left off Cotter Road and follow old logging road into PRIVATE PROPERTY.  The trail from here to Irish Hill Road is CLOSED for HUNTING from Oct 1-Dec 21.  Please stay off this section of trail during those dates.
1.95	1908 ft	Trail turns right.
2.25	2031 ft	Trail veers right and begins a steeper ascent.
2.5	2218 ft	Highest point along this section of the trail.
2.55	2195 ft	Reach Irish Hill Road.  Turn right and follow road.  Some roadside parking. GPS N42 19.957 W78 38.359
2.7	2190 ft	Turn left off road and follow gravel lane.
2.75	2180 ft	Trail veers left.
2.8	2164 ft	Trail turns right.  Steep descent.
2.95	2028 ft	Trail turns left.
3.0	2011 ft	Trail veers right.
3.5	1841 ft	Cross McMurray Creek.
3.75	1888 ft	Cross Brennan Road. Some roadside parking. GPS N42 19.740 W78 37.374 Start of the Evart Hittle Memorial Section.  The trail from here to NY 240 is CLOSED for HUNTING from Oct 1 to Dec 9. Please stay off the trail during these dates.
3.95	2056 ft	Trail veers left.
4.1	2115 ft	Trail turns right.
4.2	2141 ft	Top of hill and view to the south.
4.4	2090 ft	Descent becomes steeper.
4.8	1841 ft	Trail turns left.  Trail climbs.
5.0	1894 ft	Trail turns right.  Begin descending again.
5.2	1836 ft	Reach old road, turn right following old drive.  Descent is now sometimes steep.
5.5	1703 ft	Reach NY 240 and Fancy Tract Road. Shoulder parking. GPS N42 20.583 W78 36.783 End of this section.  The NCT continues along Fancy Tract Road.  For a continuation see Canada Hill.