We have visited Oatka Creek to hike numerous times, and this beautiful park is always a natural oasis from the hectic world. Full of wildlife and fantastic hiking trails, this is a must-visit destination for all nature lovers.
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Hiking
There are nine different trails (totaling over 6 miles in length) throughout the 461-acre park, making this a great place to hike. These trails traverse numerous habitats, such as woodlands, meadows, groves, and of course, alongside the creek. These trails are all flat, so it is a great place for those people with tricky knees and joints. The main trail is wide and flat; when it is dry (and not muddy), it is handicap accessible.
What I truly love about this place is how peaceful and quiet it is here. We hardly ever run into other people when we visit. Oatka Creek Park is a fantastic place to escape the chaos of everyday life and enjoy the beauty of nature, which is abundant here. We actually discovered fruit trees and shrubs in random places throughout the park, which was incredibly cool.
Many of the trails are narrow on many of the trails, the brush encroaches on the trail. We also spotted poison ivy along the side of the trail in places. We recently visited after a series of heavy rain showers, and many of the trails were muddy and very slippery and, due to the shading from the overhanging trees, unlikely to dry out quickly. I recommend wearing hiking boots or sneakers that you don’t mind getting dirty.
Other Activities
Hiking isn’t the only thing you can do at Oatka Creek Park. Horseback riding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and geocaching are just a few of the other popular activities.
Wildlife
We saw so much wildlife at Oatka Creek Park. There were deer around every curve in the trail, especially young fawns being watched over by their families. But it was the mating pair of Bald Eagles we saw that really blew us away. We were hiking along Oatka Creek, and the eagle flew right past us, gliding gracefully over the water. We lost him for a minute in the trees when we noticed his mate nesting high overhead. They are truly majestic birds.
Oatka Creek
The creekside trail was my favorite of the nine hiking trails. It is a gorgeous walk with numerous offshoots that lead directly to the water. We could sit on the creek bank, put our feet in the water, and enjoy the serene beauty. The trail follows the creek for quite a long way, giving hikers dazzling views of the creek as it flows along.
A bridge crosses the creek at the start of the yellow trail. We sat here and enjoyed the view of the creek passing below us. This is a popular destination for fishing.
Winter at Oatka Creek Park
Winter at Oatka Creek Park is beautiful! This is a fantastic destination for winter hiking and snowshoeing. The numerous wide, flat trails also make this a great place for cross-country skiing. This park is spectacular in the winter when it’s covered in snow.
There are stands of birch trees in Oatka Creek Park that are almost ghost-like in the forest. These birch groves really stand out, especially in the winter, and we could see them from a significant distance away.
Even in winter, the trail alongside the creek is peaceful and lovely, with ice forming on the edges. We enjoyed this part of our hike the most. The trail can be muddy and mucky if the snow recently melted; I highly recommend wearing boots.
Out and About with Nova
This is a very dog-friendly destination, and Nova loved her hike here. She came away from our last hike here very muddy but extremely happy. She loved playing in the creek and cool off (and cleaning off a little as well).
There is a lot of wildlife, as well as the possibility of seeing people on horseback. Dogs visiting here need to be leashed. As always, please be respectful of others who will visit after you and clean up after your pet.
Getting to Oatka Creek Park
Address: Quaker Rd, Scottsville, NY 14546
Google Map Link
Additional Pictures from Oatka Creek Park
