Southern Tier Parks & Forest

State Parks

Ellicottville is know for its mountain activities year round in the southern tier. The hills of western Allegany regions of western New York and Pennsylvania are know for their majestic scenery, lakes, forest, waterfalls, rock formations and awesome hiking and mountain biking trails. The five state parks offer fanstatic views, hiking trails for all levels, picnic areas, and other outdoor adventures.

The Allegany State Park is located in Salamanca, NY and has over 65,000 acres of trails, waterways and nature and has two primary areas, Red House and Quaker Run. Allegany State Park - Red House is 20 minutes away and has over 5 miles of paved trails, and countless miles of single track blazed trials for hiking, mountain biking, snow shoeing, cross-country skiing and snow mobiling. The park also has wild and stocked trout fishing in the lake and streams. Park map can be obtained at the entrance gate or the Administration building. In additions to the trail sysetm, the park has mini-golf, fishing, picnic areas, tennis courts, baseball fields and more. Rent kayaks, canoes, paddelboats and bicycles at the Red House boathouse.

Explore Thunder Rocks and climb the Stone Tower for scenic views of the park. The Art Roscoe Cross country ski area, which has 8 blazed trails to hike, mountain bike, cross country ski and snowshoe. You can also visit the old fire tower built in 1926. There were 3 towers in the park used to lookout for forest fires. There is a great histgorical marker that explains the history of the fire towers.

Allegany State Park - Quaker Run is the second area of Allegany State Park. The area is home to two lakes, blazed hiking trails, one amazing beach area and the Friends boat launch for the Allegany resevior. Quaker lake has beautiful areas for hiking, fishing, picnicing and more. The Quaker Lake beach is amazing and has a playground, beach house, ice cream house, kayaks rentals and volleyball courts. The park also has many planned events throughout the summer!.

The Science lake has two fishing piers with wild and stocked trout. The park has mixed hemlock /hardwood forest, mountains, rolling hills and meadows, streams, ponds and lakes attract devoted outdoors enthusiasts. Rent kayaks and paddelboats at Quaker Lake. Quaker Lake has a wonderful kids playground next to the beach, boathouse and icecream shop. Visit the park website for fees and more information.

Letchworth State Park is located Castile, NY and has 3 spectacular waterfalls, 66 miles of hiking trails, guided rafting tours, hot air balloon rides, a park museum, the Humphrey Nature Center and the park visitor center. Pack a picnic basket and enjoy lunch at many of the gorge overlooks on picnic tables or pavillions, with some 600 feet over the river. Stop by Wolf creek and enjoy the waterfalls at the creek.

Enjoy the many blazed hizing trails with views atop the genessee river gorge, take a hot air balloon ride over the park or enjoy a thrilling guided rafting trip down the river! Many ofthe nature trails lead to great views of the gorge! Explore trails around the bridge that spans the Genessee river! This amazing park is 1 hour away from Ellicottville and makes a great day trip! Visit the park website for fees and more information.

Kinzua Bridge State Park is located in Kane, Pennsylvania. The Kinzua Brige State Park is 339 acre park with a visitors center, picnic areas, scenic vistas and amazaing hiking trails resulting from reinventing the Kinsua Viaduct; which was once the longest and tallest railroad structure at 2,053 feet long and 301 feet high, was partially destroyed by a tornado during 2003.

In 2011, the park was formed when the standing portion of the bridge was transfored into the Skywalk. Stroll 600 feet out on the remaining support towers to peer miles out into the Kinzua Gorge and observe the collapsed bridge from the end of the walkway. Visitors can hike a trail to the bottom of the gorge and see the collapsed bridge and explore the gorge. The Kinzua Bridge State Park is 1 hour away from Ellicottville.

Long Point State Park on Lake Chautauqua is located in Bemis Point, NY. Long Point State Park has a boat launch, watercraft rentals, hiking trails, a small beach, fishing areas and picnic pavilions. The park and marina comprise a day-use area with thickly-wooded areas as well as some wetlands to observe many types of wildlife. The lake is created by a dam, that you can explore as the water is released down stream.

There are two areas with many hiking trails. The marina at the north end of the lake has both pontoon boat, paddel boat and SUP rentals. Bring your own kayak, canoes and launch other watercraft from the boat launch. Visit the park website for fees and more information. The Long Pointe State Park is 1 hour away from Ellicottville.

Niagara Falls State Park is fabulous day adventure from Ellottville. Enjoy one of the wonders of the world. The state park has the Cave of Winds hike down the falls, The Maid of the Mist boat ride, Obersvation Tower viewing and five amazing hiking trails. The park has some of the best hiking trails in the country. Explore the ruins of the first Hyro-electic power station, the Schoellkopf Power Plant Ruins Site. Explore the Devil's Hole Rapids and Giant Rock or take the Whirlpool Rapids Adventure hike.

Enjoy the Aquarium at Niagara Falls, more than 120 species including playful penguins, rescued seals and sea lions, mesmerizing jellyfish and more! Enjoy hands-on animal interactions with sharks and stingrays, daily feedings, educational presentations, sea lions shops and expert talks!

There are two gift shops in the park to take home soveniers, t-shirts and more. They have year round activities, but not all attractions and trails may be open various seasons. The park is 1 1/4 hours away from Ellicotbille. The Niagara Falls State Park is located 332 Prospect St Niagara Falls, NY 14303. Call for hours, events and information at 716-278-1794.

Click the Park Name to visit the state park's website

Local Parks / Trails

The hills of western Allegany regions of western New York and Pennsylvania also have great local parks and regional hiking trails. Expore America's largest outdoor sculpture parks, enjoy planned out gardens, explore rock formations or blaze regional hking trails.

Pack a picnic for your trip and enjoy the outdoors and then enjoy some of the wonders of the region throughout the day!

Griffis Scupture Park is 25 mintues away in Ashford Hollow, NY. Griffis has Over 250 art sculptures in the 400 acre park. Grab your camera, pack a picnic, hike on the trails and drive through one of America’s oldest sculpture parks. The park has two areas, Milly Valley Road and Rhor Hill Site. The Rohr Hill area is characterized by towering sculptures set in fields and the woods just down the filed near the parking area. The Mill Valley Road Site has sculptures in a flat area around a pond, and miles of trails through a variety of terrain.

They also have special events with a separate fee schedule. In the summer, they have the Summer Arts Fesitval, with music, art and more. In the fall, they offer the Night Lights exhibit, where the art sculptures and trees are illumanated with colorful lights. Visit their website for details and the park accepts suggested donations for regular entry. Help support the arts and visit this amazing park!

Rock City Park is located 40 minutes away in Olean, NY. Rock City Park has been an attraction since the 1890s, with its collection of large quartz conglomerate, rock outcroppings, scenic views and hiking trails. There are many named rock features, with the three sisters the most popular photo opportunity.

All of the rock features are well marked and the park proivdes each guest with a trail map and the history behind each feature rock. Enjoy the park museum of artifacts and there is a gift shop to take home a sovenier! Visit their website for more information, special events and ticket prices. The hike through the park takes about 45 minutes. They have picnic tables in front of the park for guest use.

Nannen Arboretum is located in downtown Ellicottville, NY. The arboretum is managed by the Nannen Arboretum Society, a not-for-profit volunteer organization dedicated to providing home garden and natural resource education and an opportunity for nature appreciation and leisure. Enjoy the gardens that surround Lake Nipponica, that include a chappel, herb garden, Japanese garden, meadows, various tree collections and more!

Enjoy the short walk around the arboretum and the views of Holiday Valley accross the lake. Find ideas for your own gardens and learn about the different species of plants, trees and herbs in the garden. The gardens have fund raisers and opperate with donations. Help support and preserver this wonderful arboretum. Visit their website for location, maps and details.

Spruce Lake Trail is located at Holiday Valley Resort. The 1.9 mile loop trail runs around spruce lake and through the foreest. People can hike, mountain bike and snow shoe on this multi-purpose trail. There are other trails in the area you can explore the top of the ski slopes.

Drive up to the lake or during the summer months, take the ski lift up from Holiday Valley Resort. Enjoy scenic views of the valley and enjoy exploring the forest and lake. During the summer, enjoy stand up paddleboards (SUP) on weekends at the lake.

The Finger Lakes Trail system started in 1962 and is over 950 miles in length, running from the Pennsylvania-New York border in Allegany State Park to the Long Path in the Catskill Forest Preserve, with branch trails to Niagara Falls, the Genesee River valley, the Great Eastern Trail south of Corning, the central Finger Lakes, and the Syracuse region. The trail system runs through the Allegany State Park and passes through Ellicottville on the top of Holiday Valley and HoliMont Ski resorts before heading north to Niagara Falls or east to Letchworth State Park. Hike a portion of the trail and loop back into town.

Each year, the FLTC offers the County Hike Series, which will eventually lead hikers over about 584 miles of trail to complete an End-to-End hike of the Main Finger Lakes Trail. Their website lists the series dates and times as well as other special events and hiking programs. Visit their website for location, maps, details and merchandise to help preserve the trail for current and future generations.

The Ellicottville - Great Valley Trail broke ground in May 2022. The EVGV Trail will be a 15 mile trail system of walking, biking and cross country trails linking Ellicottville and Great Valley. The trail will run from Great Valley, by the Ellicottville Central School through Ellicottville and end at the Holiday Valley Tubing Company.

The committee is still raising funds for the full project, but the first section is under way. The committe is proposing joining a proposed new stretch of the Southern Tier Trail through Ellicottville, which announced plans to convert and old B&O railroad line between Buffalo and Hinsdale. Visit their website for trail maps and status updates.

Forests

Ellicottville is surrounded with state forest and national forest to explore with unique features, hiking trails, mountain biking trails, bridal trails and ATV trails. The Allegany Nantional Forest the local State Forest are amazing, but maps are highly recommended to follow the trail blazes. Prepare for hikes with proper gear, flashlights and essentials.

Allegany National Forest is in Pennsylvania and New York State and has free public access year round. The Allegany National Forest is approximately 517,000 acres and includes land within McKean, Elk, Warren and Forest counties. Over 463,000 acres are forested, 42,000 acres are non-forest, and 11,000 acres are covered by water, primarily the Allegheny Reservoir formed by the Kinzua Dam. Notable features include the Longhouse National Scenic Byway, Rimrock and Jakes Rock Overlooks, Kinzua Beach, and over 600 miles of multi-use motorized and non-motorized trails. Jakes Rocks has amazing mountain bike trails. A diverse hardwood forest offers stunning fall foliage during September and October. Visit the forest website for maps and more information.

Rock City State Forest is in Ellicottville, attop the Holiday Valley Resort area. The Little Rock City Trail is known for it large outcropping of rocks and massive boulders. This state forest has picnic shelters and several blazed single track trails. The trails connect to the McCarty State Forest. Access to this trail is from the end of Little Rock City Forest Road at the turn-around loop. This trail loops through the rocks and intersects the North Country Scenic Trail where it can be followed back to Little Rock City Forest Road. Maps are available on the state forest website.

McCarty Hill State Forest is in Ellicottville, attop the Holiday Valley Resort area. One of the main trails here is the North Country Scenic Trail, which joins part of the Finger lakes trail. The trail from the southern boundary of Rock City State Forest to the northern boundary of McCarty Hill State Forest. The trail is limited to hiking only. McCarty Hill State Forest also features the Camp Scenica Loop trail. This area also features many mountain bike trails maintained by WNYMBA. Maps are available on the state forest and WNYMBA websites.

Golden Hill State Forest is in the towns of Humphrey and Franklenville, NY. The Golden Hill State forest host multiple trailhead for many connected trails for hiking and mountain biking. The multiple use trails on this unit are used mainly for mountain biking but most of these trails require a high level of skill. They are a great ride if you are an expert rider and also make for great hikes! The trials are blazed with WNBYMA signs and colored blazes. The mountain bike trails are maintained by WNYMBA. Maps are available on the state forest and WNYMBA websites.