Best Hiking Trails in Allegany State Park
Allegany State Park has wide variety of trails for hikers of varying ability, some of the best are listed below.
Allegany State Park has wide variety of trails for hikers of varying ability, some of the best are listed below.
Just under half a mile long, this is one of the area's easiest trails and is great for a quick introduction to hiking in the area. You will be able to take in the views of the great Mount Onondaga.
Taking you to Red House Lake, this easy half-mile trail is close to the park's visitor center which is great for stopping in to get advice from the rangers or to just learn more about the park.
This slightly more challenging path is five miles long and will let you see more of the park. It's also a particularly good mountain biking trail.
At 18 miles long, this is Allegany's longest and most difficult trail. If you are an intrepid adventurer looking to get the most out of the region, this is an excellent choice. You can also choose to divert to the Finger Lakes Trail from here, taking you to Balsam Lake Mountain with superb views from the fire tower.
Being out in the great outdoors is even more satisfying when you are sharing it with family and there's a lot for both active and more relaxed groups to enjoy in the park.
Every spring, the lakes of Red House and Quaker, as well as the smaller Science Lake, are stocked with trout. There are also a number of stocked and wild trout streams throughout the park.
What better way to make the most of the park in the winter months? When hunting season ends, around December, the snowmobiling starts and you can see more of the area in one of the most exciting ways possible.
In the Red House area there are tennis and basketball courts with a backdrop of gorgeous forests and mountains. This is a great way to keep active and break up days spent hiking or relaxing in the park.
Situated just off the Allegany River, in one of the park's more scenic spots, Quaker Lake is the best place to go swimming when staying at Allegany State Park Hotels.