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W

WWestern ZoneThe Western Zone makes up therest of the state with the Allegany,Niagara Frontier, and GeneseeRegions of OPRHP. Also includedin this zone are DEC’s Regions 8and 9.

OPRHP State Park Regions

DEC Regions

OPRHP Regions

Allegany RegionAllegany State Park2373 ASP Rt. 1, Suite 3Salamanca, NY 14779(716) 354-9101

Genesee Region1 Letchworth State ParkCastile, NY 14427-1124(716) 493-3600

Niagara Frontier RegionProspect ParkP. O. Box 1132Niagara Falls, NY 14303-1132(716) 278-1701

DEC Rgions

Region 86274 Avon Lima RoadAvon, NY 14414-9519(716) 226-2466

Region 9270 Michigan Ave.Buffalo, NY 14203-2999(716) 851-7000

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State ParksWestern Zone

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Allegany State Park

Contact: 2573 ASP Route 1STE 3Salamanca, NY 14779(716) 354-6515

Hiking trails: 79 miles.Biking trails: 5 miles.Snowmobile trails: 61 miles.Equestrian trails: 45 miles.Cross-country ski trails: 24 miles.

Our largest state park is truly apark for all seasons. Trail opportunitiesand activities exist year-round. Summeractivities range from guided naturewalks to overnight backpacking excur-sions. In the winter months, trails areopened to snowshoers, cross-countryskiers and snowmobilers. Eighteen

designated trails provide hiking opportu-nities ranging from short walks tobackpacking experiences.

The park abuts the AlleghenyNational Forest in Pennsylvania, where120 miles of hiking trails are available.The park and the forest are linkedtogether via the North Country NationalScenic Trail/ Finger Lakes Trail.

Bicycling is an increasinglypopular activity in Allegany State Park.The bike path encircles Red House Lakewith short connecting spurs to cabinsand camping areas.

Horseback riding trails abound inthe park. The series of interconnectingloops use gravel park roads, abandonedroads and railroad rights-of-way. Thereis a 24-mile trail network for cross-

country skiing. The system uses hikingtrails, abandoned railroad beds andformer logging trails and roads. Aseparate loop is available for ski-skating.

Sixty-one miles of snowmobileloop trails include the use of unplowedpark roads, abandoned roadways, utilitycorridors and gasoline roads and railroadgrades. Trailheads and parking areashave been designated for snowmobiles.All other hiking trails not officiallydesignated for winter use are open tosnowshoers.

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Niagara Gorge Trail System

Contact: Niagara Gorge Trail HikesNiagara Falls State ParkPO Box 1132Niagara Falls, NY 14303-0132(716) 278-0820

Trail System: 16 miles.

For over 12,000 years, the NiagaraRiver’s powerful waterfall has beencreating the gorge. Niagara Falls is nowseven miles south of its original location.Many sections of the trail system areremnants of the Great Gorge Route, anelectric trolley line that ran in the gorgebetween 1895-1935.

The Niagara Gorge Trail System is aseries of hiking trails parallel to theNiagara River Gorge. The trail systemprovides public access to the gorge and itsmany spectacular scenic attractions,including The Whirlpool, Giant Rock,Whirlpool Rapids, and Devil’s HoleRapids. The gorge trail system intercon-nects five state parks: Niagara Falls,Whirlpool, DeVeaux Woods, Devil’s Holeand Artpark. Parking is available in eachof these areas. Naturalist-led hikes into thegorge are offered to groups and thegeneral public from mid-May throughmid-November.

Great Gorge

Railway Trail

Niagara Gorge

Rim Trail

American Falls

Gorge Trail

Niagara Gorge Rim Trail

Niagara Gorge Rim Trail

River's Edge Trail

Artpark Gorge Trail

Whirlpool Rapids Trail

Devil's Hole Trail

Artpark State Park

Niagara Falls

State Park

De Veaux WoodsState Park

WhirlpoolState Park

Devil's HoleState Park

Parking

Stairs

Roads

Trails

State Park

L E G E N D

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Letchworth State ParkContact: 1 Letchworth State Park

Castile, N.Y. 14427(716) 493-3600

Trails: 70 miles.Gorge Trail: 7 miles.Hemlock Trail: 2.5 miles.

Letchworth State Park, the “GrandCanyon of the East,” comprises 14,350acres of scenic magnificence along theGenesee River in western New York.Three major waterfalls, lush forest anddramatic cliffs approaching 600 feet inheight contribute to make Letchworth oneof the most notable examples of waterfalland gorge scenery in the eastern UnitedStates. There are almost 70 miles of trailsin Letchworth with a variety of usesincluding hiking, biking, horseback riding,snowmobiling andcross-country skiing.

Any listing of thehighlights of theLetchworth trails wouldstart with The GorgeTrail, the most popularand the most scenic. Itsseven moderately diffi-cult miles begin just be-low the Erie High Bridgeat the southern end of thepark. The trail follows thegorge rim past the Upperand Middle Falls, Inspi-ration Point overlook,around the Great Bend,over Wolf Creek endingat the river flats near St.Helena. Your hike will berewarded with spectacu-lar vistas, up close en-counters with the falls andan opportunity to admiremany of the stone wallsand stairs built by the Ci-vilian ConservationCorps in the 1930s.

The Hemlock Trailis a true multi-use trailoften used for biking,horseback riding andsnowmobiling. This 2.5mile wooded trail travelsthrough rolling terrainonce used as farmland.The fields have returned

to forest, and old growth eastern hemlocks,200+ years old, still mark the long forgot-ten hedgerows. The winding route followsDeh-ga-ya-soh Creek and connects two trailsto form a popular mini-network. Passing byPine Pond and Beaver Pond, be sure to lookfor wood ducks, mallards, spotted turtles andbullfrogs. Birdwatchers can also scan thetrees for pileated woodpeckers, cedar wax-wings and great horned owls.

The Greenway Trail is part of the 90-mile Genesee Valley Greenway, which isdiscussed in a later section. The Green-way follows the path of the old GeneseeValley Canal and the abandoned Pennsyl-vania Railroad. As you follow theGreenway through the park, journey alongthe edge of the gorge and discover anancient river valley filled with glacialdebris. Several of the bluestone locks

from the canal days are also visible at theeastern trailhead.

The Letchworth branch of the FingerLakes Trail presents great opportunitiesfor the trail enthusiast. Its 21.5 mileramble along the park’s wilder east sideweaves through woodland, across ravineswith cascading streams as well as old farmfields. Its changing surroundings offer adiversity of wildlife habitats. You mayencounter beaver dams, river otter tracksand hummingbirds among the floweringdogwoods. Multiple access points allowthe trail to be hiked in shorter segments aswell as end to end.

More information and complete trailmaps are available by contacting the park.

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State Parks

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State Lands and ForestsWestern Zone

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Boutwell Hill Management Unit (State Forests Chautauqua 1 and 7)

Contact: Department ofEnvironmental Conservation215 South Work St.Falconer, NY 14733(716) 665-6111

Hiking trails: 8.5 miles.Snowmobile/horse trails: 6.2 miles.

Boutwell Hill Management Unit isa combination of two state forest areasand the Canadaway Creek WildlifeManagement Area. The unit is locatedin the towns of Arkwright, Charlotte andCherry Creek in Chautauqua Countywith a total of 5,124 acres.

In the 1930s, Boutwell HillManagement Unit was the site of manywork projects carried out by the CivilianConservation Corps (CCC). Theseprojects included construction of roadsand the planting of thousands of pineand spruce trees in open areas.

The Eastside Overland Trailcrosses this management unit. The trailwas built through the cooperative effortsof government and private individuals.Chautauqua County, through theDepartment of Public Works, ParksDivision and the County Park Commis-sion, is responsible for trail maintenance.The Eastside Overland Trail is a hikingtrail. However, there are also snowmo-bile/horse trails in Boutwell Hill StateForest.

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Rock City State Forest (Cattaraugus 5 and 8)

Contact: Department ofEnvironmental Conservation215 South Work St.Falconer, NY 14733(716) 665-6111

Rock City State Forest is acombination of two state forest areascomprising a total of 6,015 acres. Thearea is located in the towns of GreatValley and Little Valley in CattaraugusCounty, north of the city of Salamanca.

Camp Seneca was at one time acamp operated for men employed by theCivilian Conservation Corps (CCC).

Presently, the camp is a recreation site. Ahiking trail begins at a picnic area andleads into Camp Seneca. Take precautionwhen using the trail. The rocks are largewith many separations and gaps. Hikershave the option of hiking to or from CampSeneca, or circling around to “Little RockCity” to enjoy a vigorous hike whileviewing fascinating, natural rock forma-tions and the many species of wildlife thatexist in the forest.

The Foothills Trail Club alsomaintains a hiking trail from the west.The trail leaves Elkdale Country Clubgolf course, crosses a stone bridge moving

towards Little Rock City and eventuallyconverges with that trail. From CampSeneca the trail goes north to an old firetower and then off state reforestationlands onto the Holimont Ski Area.

The flat areas of the trails, espe-cially in the old fire tower vicinity, areideal for cross-country skiing. The winterroads are not plowed unless there is atimber sale; therefore, they are suitablefor hiking, skiing, or snowshoeing.

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