The Creek Within the City: A Syracuse Trail

Last updated on March 26, 2018.

Sometimes when you live or work in the city, it is difficult to find greenspace. We already learned about how Chicago is full of greenspace, but if you try, you can find an escape in the middle of every concrete jungle. Over the past several years, the city of Syracuse has worked on making downtown more attractive for people to enjoy. One of the most notable improvements is the addition and renovation of the Creekwalk, which follows the creek and connects the heart of downtown Syracuse to the ever-popular Destiny USA.

As of now, the Creekwalk is 2.6 miles long (see the website above for updates). That means it would be a little over 5 miles to do it as a loop, which is a perfect activity for any spring, summer, or fall day in Syracuse. Because of parking purposes, I would recommend parking at the Destiny end of the trail, or even a little bit into the trail at the Inner Harbor. The reason being that parking in these areas is free and easily available, but parking at the other end of the trail would require metered parallel parking on the street. The Inner Harbor is also home to fireworks shows, concerts, and festivals throughout the year.

The Creek Path

The Creekwalk takes you on a little adventure through the city of Syracuse: over bridges, past gardens, between some of the historic buildings downtown. It is a great spot to take your dog for a walk or run with you; my dog loves the creekwalk! There are some great photo spots along the way, changing depending on the season. Some of the overpasses that you walk under have some artistic graffiti (currently Alice In Wonderland themed at one bridge) that adds to the ambiance. The walk really embraces both the city and the nature along the trail.

Food along the creek

No doubt that you’ll want to take a break and maybe get a bite to eat along the trail. Since the other end of the trail takes you to the heart of Armory Square, there are some fantastic options for lunch. My personal favorite is Modern Malt, a modern-meets-retro diner that has delicious and creative dishes, including a variety of poutine. If you’ve brought your dog with you for the walk, Modern Malt has been known to allow guests to dine with their well-behaved dogs in the outdoor seating area.

Next to Modern Malt, you’ll also find Funk’n’Waffles – which is just as amazing as the name suggests. Their menu consists of waffles, waffles, and more waffles – both sweet and savory. I’m a big fan of the Bootsy Brunch, which features the classic bacon, egg and cheese. My husband can’t resist the Jive Turkey, which is basically Thanksgiving dinner on a waffle. So yummy! The restaurant also hosts a variety of bands and open-mic nights for some late-night activity. The last option for food would be Empire Brewery, my favorite local brewery. If you like spicy dishes, order the sweet fire. I promise you won’t regret it. It’s andouille sausage sautéed in molasses and brown sugar served with a spicy mustard. YUM. Pair that with a flight and call it a perfect pairing.

The end of the creek

If you’re looking for something different to do at the city-end of the trail, take a visit to the MOST – Syracuse’s Museum Of Science & Technology. There are plenty of hands-on science exhibits to enjoy. Kids love it! Admission is free for NY teachers and military, or you can get in for half price after 4 pm on Thursdays during the spring and summer. The planetarium and IMAX experiences incur an extra charge, but are worth it if you have the time! Another fun find across the street from the most is a monument of a 24-second shot clock. We love basketball in Syracuse, so it’s very fitting that the person who invented the shot clock was from Syracuse! It’s a fun photo op.

I hope you enjoy your walk along the trail and any stops that you make along the way. Let me know what you think!

Happy travels!