Syracuse is the fifth largest city in New York State and is an economic and educational hub of central New York. Although there are some awful examples of urban planning, Syracuse gets a bit of a bad rap. There’s actually some terrific running in Syracuse, with numerous parks, lakes, and multi-use paths, many of them centered on Onandaga Lake and the historic Erie Canal. Winter running lovers should note that Syracuse is the snowiest major city in the United States: 120 inches annually!
The signature run in Syracuse is around Onondaga Lake, with 8 miles of paths on its eastern and western shores. In the downtown area, we’ve mapped lovely routes featuring the Creekwalk, and a loop incorporating Syracuse University, Oakwood Cemetery, and the Eastside neighborhood. The Erie Canal Towpath, which runs from Buffalo to Albany, has several attractive sections passing through Syracuse. Just outside the city, it’s worth it to head to Green Lakes State Park, Pratts Falls Park, and Beaver Lake Nature Center for some terrific trail running.
Climatemps.org