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Visited July 7, 2021
Visited July 7, 2021
Starting Point and Parking:
McCrea Point Park and Boat Launch, 14 Jones & Gifford Ave., Jamestown, NY 14701
https://www.tourchautauqua.com/destinations/mccrea-point-park
[Other options are available and are marked on the map. I note two of them in the photo section below.]
Paved parking area that will hold 50+ vehicles.
Sunny and 84 degrees Fahrenheit at 1:15 PM, 90 degrees Fahrenheit at 3:00 PM
Sunny and 84 degrees Fahrenheit at 1:15 PM, 90 degrees Fahrenheit at 3:00 PM
Toilets available at McCrea Point. Be aware there has been some vandalism and damage to the facilities.
Dogs on leash are allowed but Wesley stayed home today to avoid the heat.
No need for long pants if you are staying on the trail.
No poison ivy observed during my visit
No cost to access the parking lot or the trail.
I visited the Riverwalk with my husband and daughter. The trail will be approximately five miles if you do the loop starting and ending at McCrea Point. It took us a little more than 2 hours.
Trash was present on this walk.
During the entire time we were on the trail, we shared the walk with very few other people. They were probably finding shady, cool places to spend the afternoon. We did pass families in the parks fishing with their young children. When we first started our walk, we saw two people enjoying setting off in their kayaks to explore the Chadakoin River. I would strongly recommend wearing a hat and bringing a bottle of water on a day with summer weather conditions.
The approximately 5-mile trail is marked with “Riverwalk” signs; the information kiosks (locations marked on the map available online) are big boards featuring a map of the trail. [I would note that I feel the Riverwalk signs would be more helpful to trail visitors if they were located at the turns and corners rather than the straight sections.] There are also a number of interesting blue historical markers along the walk. There were more sections of trail that were "Citywalk" rather than "Riverwalk" but the sections along the river were very pleasant. If I was goin to do this again, I would park at McCrea and explore the trails at that park, then drive to the parking spot marked on the map near Panzarella Park and walk the trails behind the Comedy Center.
The trail surface was paved.
The trail was not muddy. The trail was wide enough to walk side by side. The trail was not perfectly flat but had no notable inclines except stairs in the park near the Comedy Center.
There was a wide variety of wildflowers along the walk. We saw water lilies, grape vine, sweet pea, daisy, Virginia creeper, vetch, goldenrod, Queen Anne's lace, oak trees, and cherry trees. We were pleased to see so much wildlife in and near the city; we saw a turtle, mallard females and males, adorable mallard ducklings, Canada geese (one hissing when it thought we were too close), a mother deer feeding her fawn, another lone deer who let us get very close to her. Most of these were at McCrea Point but the momma deer and fawn were in the park near the Comedy Center.
For more information:
https://www.tourchautauqua.com/destinations/jamestown-riverwalk
For a map of the trail:
Nearby:
Ashville General Store, 4844 NY-474, Ashville, NY 14710
We love this general store for its vibe and mix of offerings. It may not be for everyone but, for us, stepping through the door feels like stepping back in time.
View from our parking spot at McCrea Point
Also our view from our parking spot...the restroom building
Mallards and lily pads
Chadakoin River viewed from the trail in McCrea Park
Mallard and ducklings
The rocks at the edge of the river were perfect for beginner swimmers.
Water lily
Kayak entry site
View of Chadakoin River from the bridge as we began the River Walk
Looking back to McCrea Point, smaller parking lot to my right
Crossed the road and followed this path for the Riverwalk
Robin egg shell
Lily and Sweet Pea
Turn right at the West Gate Center to remain on the trail
After enjoying the hockey statue in front, right right at this intersection by the Northwest Arena
I left the trail for a second to get this pic of the giant chair. I did not see any signage near this chair but Jamestown used to be known for its furniture industry
Train station, now part of the comedy center
Historical signs such as this appear from the parking area at McCrea and along the trail. They cover the Revolutionary war and the first train arrival in 1860. The train station is now part of the comedy center.
Trains still use the tracks behind the comedy center and the train station buildings.
Comedy Center Park
Comedy Center Park, Panzarella Park, and the Chadakoin River viewed from a section of the Riverwalk Trail that goes over the river using the Washington Street Bridge.
Mural viewed from the Washington Street Bridge
Pedestrian Bridge, Panzarella Park, and the Chadakoin River viewed from a section of the Riverwalk Trail that goes over the river using the Washington Street Bridge.
Mama deer nursing her fawn just past the end of the large building
Trail circles back under the Washington Street Bridge
Same mural now viewed from the trail under the bridge
Turn left here. There are construction fences up for now
View from Riverwalk
Across the river from the back of the comedy center
Nice bicycle rack
Floating "garden"
The Washington Street Bridge we just walked over
Floating plants...I believe we are peeking at the Panzarella Parking area that is marked on the Riverwalk Map where we see the cars to the left in the photo
Continuing on the Riverwalk away from the National Comedy Center
To the left were old houses. To the right was the Chadakoin River
Queen Anne's lace
Small unpaved lot across from the intersection of Harding and Whitley Avenues at the point marked on the map as the Overlook
Across from small unpaved parking lot
View from the 6th Street Bridge on the Riverwalk
A small fearless deer as we returned to the section of the trail where we started our walk
Small paved parking lot on the right just before the McCrea Point lot on Jones and Gifford Avenue
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