Tonawanda Rails-to-Trails and Mount Olivet Cemetery

The route primarily follows the Tonawanda Rails-to-Trails, which is known for its exceptionally easy, flat, and paved surface, built on a former railway bed. It has minimal elevation changes, making it suitable for all skill levels. When traversing Mount Olivet Cemetery, you'll walk on paved roadways that wind through the grounds.

Yes, both the Tonawanda Rails-to-Trails and the paved roads within Mount Olivet Cemetery offer an easy and accessible experience. The flat, paved terrain makes it suitable for beginners, families, and individuals of all skill levels, including those with strollers or wheelchairs.

Along the route, you'll experience a mix of green spaces, residential areas, and historical sites. The Tonawanda Rails-to-Trails offers opportunities to spot wildlife like turkeys, deer, and various bird species. You can also see the Philip Knoche House and the Kenmore Historical Society Museum and former St. Peter's German Evangelical Church. Mount Olivet Cemetery features thousands of trees, shrubs, flowering plants, and artistic monuments, offering picturesque vistas and horticultural art.

The Tonawanda Rails-to-Trails has numerous access points into surrounding neighborhoods. While specific parking lots aren't detailed, you can typically find street parking near these access points. For Mount Olivet Cemetery, parking is available within its grounds, but visitors are asked to park respectfully and adhere to cemetery rules.

Yes, the Tonawanda Rails-to-Trails is generally dog-friendly. Mount Olivet Cemetery also welcomes dogs, but they must be kept on a leash at all times, and owners are expected to clean up after their pets. Remember to always follow local leash laws and etiquette.

The route can be enjoyed year-round. Spring and fall offer pleasant temperatures and changing foliage, especially within Mount Olivet Cemetery's garden-like setting. Summer is also popular, though it can be warmer. Winter provides a different, often serene, experience, but be mindful of snow and ice conditions on the paved surfaces.

There are no public restrooms directly on the Tonawanda Rails-to-Trails. For Mount Olivet Cemetery, it's best to assume no public restrooms are readily available for recreational visitors, as it is not a public park.

Yes, the Tonawanda Rails-to-Trails connects to the North Buffalo Rails-to-Trails at its southern end, extending the paved route towards the LaSalle Metro Rail Station. There are also plans for it to eventually connect with the larger Erie Canalway Trail. This route also passes through sections of the Tonawanda Rails To Trails.

No, there are no permits or entrance fees required to access the Tonawanda Rails-to-Trails or to walk the paved roads within Mount Olivet Cemetery for recreational purposes.

On the Tonawanda Rails-to-Trails, keep an eye out for a unique 'disco ball tree' installed in memory of Walter and Carol Kuziak. While Mount Olivet Cemetery is not a traditional trail, its design as a 'rural cemetery' means it offers a unique blend of historical monuments, horticultural art, and serene walking paths, a testament to a time when cemeteries also served as important recreational spaces.