Wiley Blue Trail

Wiley Blue Trail is a short, flat mountain biking route in Wiley Nature Preserve, about a mile from Watertown Center, New York. The preserve is dedicated to the memory of Harold T. Wiley, an educator and naturalist. The trail is an out-and-back of about half a mile, with a start and finish at roughly 627 feet and a high point of 630 feet. It is rated easy, and the climb is nearly flat, with a total gain and loss of about 19 feet each. The preserve has strict rules: no hunting, fishing, trapping, fires, pets or motor vehicles are allowed. That makes it a quiet, low-impact ride for riders who want to stay on foot and on the trail. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Watertown show July highs around 80°F with lows near 62°F, while winter brings highs in the 20s and regular snow days from December through February. The Wiley Orange Trail and Wiley Yellow Trail both start within a third of a mile, so riders can easily link them together. For a change of pace, the James R. Kanik Calcium Trail and Black River Trail are hikes about 4 to 5 miles away.