Allegany State Park is the largest state park in New York State with 65,000 acres of land. Allegany State Park is open year-round and is just as impressive in June as it is in January. Allegany State Park has 18 hiking trails and miles of paved bike trails as well as numerous trails designed for horseback riding. In the winter the park has over 35 miles of skiing and snowshoeing trails and groomed snowmobiling trails. The Park is divided into two parts-The Quaker Area and The Red House Area.
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Quaker Lake Area
There is a large lake in the Quaker Area that offers swimming (in the beach area only), boating, and fishing. There is always a large amount of wildlife at the lake. Take a moment to visit the different areas around the lake to see some of the abundant aquatic life that dwells there.
Red House Area
The Red House Area is best known for housing the administrative buildings in the park but it also is where Red House Lake and the Art Roscoe Ski Area are. This Lake offers visitors a sandy beach as well as bike and boats rental opportunities. There are also 5 miles of paved bike paths. There are also facilities for basketball, tennis, baseball, volleyball, and horseshoes.
Fun Fact: Red House Lake sits upon what was once the Town of Red House. It was flooded in the 1920s, after the town was moved.
Must Visit
Bear Caves/Mt Seneca Trails
The Bear Caves is a destination that has some amazing geographical features. Due to a tremendous amount of geographical activity 165 million years ago, rock along the fault line was forced upwards creating caves and crevices. If you can handle the 4-mile one-way hike, then this is a definite must-see. This is a steep hike but definitely worth it. Make sure to carry water if you plan to hike the entire trial.
The Butterfly Meadow Interpretative Trail
The Butterfly Meadow Interpretive Trail is a great family hike that is easy and educational. Kids love this area and the graveled paths make it easy to walk. There is a multitude of colorful butterflies that can be seen in this lovely meadow.
Bridal Falls
Bridal Falls is a quick, easy hike that is perfect for a warm day. The falls really flow in the spring melt or after a good rain. This is a good hike to take with small (3-4 years old) children. It is easy on their little legs, although the ground is extremely uneven with lots of rocks and tree roots shooting out. The large rocks in the creek are incredible.
Thunder Rocks
My family’s favorite part of Allegany State Park is Thunder Rocks, a large cluster of huge conglomerate rocks that visitors can climb on. My kids had a blast climbing among these giant rocks and we had a hard time pulling them away even with the promise of a campfire at our campsite and s’mores.
We recently returned to Allegany State Park and my kids loved it just as much as when they did years ago. If anything, as teenagers, they pushed the envelope and my blood pressure by climbing the super tall rock formations. If anything, they loved it more.
Stone Tower
The Stone Tower, which offers a beautiful view of the surrounding area from the top, is a great place for photographs. The view is spectacular and astonishingly, there are rarely people here.
Thomas L. Kelly Covered Bridge
This picturesque covered pedestrian bridge spans Red House Creek. The bridge was built in 1911 and it is a beautiful spot to take pictures, especially for special occasions or senior pictures.
Wildlife at Allegany State Park
Allegany is positively teeming with wildlife, such a white-tail deer, beavers, fox, porcupines, and coyotes. On our last visit, we saw a bobcat, deer, and an adorable baby fisher (which is a member of the weasel family) who we watched sneak into the camp store. He was pretty darn fast.
The park is also home to 14 varieties of salamanders. My kids were on a constant salamander scavenger hunt during our entire stay. They wanted to find every different type of salamander that could possibly be found in the park.
Vsitors who camp here need to sign a form promising that they won’t feed the wildlife, most especially the bears. Near the Red House Area, we saw tons of woodchuck dining on grass. They seem completely unfazed by people driving by slowly watching them.
When we were driving along one of allegany’s many dirt roads on warm summer day and we were suddenly surrounded by butterflies. We stopped the car and got out and enjoyed watching the masses of butterflies fluttering around us. It was magical.
This park is an amazing place for families to visit together. Especially if you are looking for some of the oldest and largest trees in New York State. There are 3,000 acres of mature forest that families can hike through.
Winter Activities
Allegany State Park is also popular for wintertime activities such as snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. There are miles of trails throughout the park and wintertime is an excellent time to hike them. We recently visited after a snowfall and the park wasn’t just beautiful, it was completely deserted. It was so quiet and peaceful, in fact, that we were able to witness a beaver swimming across Red House Lake. Winter camping is available during this time as well.
Camping in Allegany State Park
Allegany is a popular place to camp with 336 cabins, 8 cottages, and 303 campsites. For those who want to stay at the park but maintain a respectful distance from roughing it in nature, there are luxury cabins, with full kitchens and bathrooms with showers. Click the link for more information on Camping in Allegany State Park.
Getting to Allegany State Park
Address: 2373 ASP. RTE. 1 STE 3, Salamanca, NY 14779
Google Map Link
Other Places to Explore Near Allegany State Park
There are several destinations within a short driving distance from Allegany State Park that are really quite amazing and you definitely don’t want to miss them.
Panama Rock Scenic Park– If you love the Thunder Rocks, this place will blow your mind.
Rock City Park– Another great park with giant conglomerate rocks.
Rock City State Forest – Explore this cluster of giant conglomerate rocks… for free!
Kinzua Bridge State Park & Skywalk – Take a stroll on this former railroad bridge turn skywalk just over the border in Pennsylvania.