How to Hike Alleghany State Park

A hike in the gorgeous Allegany State Park is bound to inspire and delight you. Located in Western New York, Allegany is the largest park in the state. Over 70 miles of hiking trails criss-cross the land, leading hikers through rolling meadows, beautiful forests and up mountains. The park is a portion of the beautiful Appalachian Mountains, which is a series of mountain ranges running from Newfoundland in Canada to central Alabama in the United States.Fantastic hiking is available year round. The park offers 18 hiking trails of different lengths for people of all skill level. Visitors can expect to witness mind-blowing scenery and grand landscapes, as well as a variety of wild animals. Follow these steps to learn how to hike Allegany State Park.

Things You'll Need

• Sturdy hiking shoes or boots
• Water
• Snacks for energy
• Camera
• Trail guide or map

Instructions

1. Prepare yourself. Have good, sturdy hiking shoes, plenty of water, a compass, bug repellent (if you're prone to bug bites) and snacks for fuel. Depending on what time of the year you hike Allegany and what kind of trail you hike, you might need warm clothes, snow gear, rain gear, shorts or special hiking boots. You can never be too prepared, so stock your vehicle up with the essentials before heading out for a hike. Don't forget to bring along a map of the park or trail guide and a first aid kit, too.

2. Check out the Red House Lake Area of the park. Red House Lake is a 110-acre man-made lake popular with anglers. Five rivers flow into this picturesque lake. In the areas around the lake, there are hiking trails that blaze the areas ridges and peaks. These trails are open to cross-country skiiers in the winter, and hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders for the other seasons. Be prepared to see woods, meadows, evergreen forests and wild animals such as deers, hedgehogs and turkeys. Many of these trails are good day hikes, so if you have a few days pitch a tent at the campground and wander.Start with Conservation Trail, a moderately strenuous four-mile loop hike, with a gradual climb up through the mountains. Another enjoyable hike is Beehunter trail, a 6.5 mile hike through stunning forest mixed with hemlock, black cherry, maple and ash trees. Much of the trail follows the edge of Beehunter Creek. Expect to see beautiful mossy rocks, luscious green ferns and hedgehogs.

3. A portion of the famous North Country Trail runs through Allegany. In its entirety, the North County trail stretches 4,600 miles from the New York/Vermont border to central North Dakota. The 18-mile portion of the trail in Allegany State Park is an easy trail, that blazes mostly through a thick forest of ash, maple and hemlock trees. You will also pass through miles of enchanted forest -- featuring a thick fern understory. There are no steep gradients or sharp declines. The trailhead is located approximately four miles south of the Red House Lake campgrounds, along route ASP 1. Pack plenty of water and snacks to keep you going. While not a hard hike, it is long. The end of the trail is at ASP 2 and Bay State Road.

4. Hike to the bear caves. In the Quaker area of the park, the Mount Seneca hike passes by boulders and rock slab that from grottos that bears hibernate in the winter. The moderate, four-mile hike continues up Mount Seneca and takes about two hours to complete. This is a good spring and summer hike.

5. Try the Mount Tuscarora trail. The trailhead is located at North Quaker Lake, off of NY 280. This five-mile hike takes up in the mountains, to an old, delapidated fire tower located on the mountain summit. The fire tower was built in the early part of the twentieth century, after forest fires destroyed over a million acres of park land. The trail is moderate and offers hikers beautiful mountain views.

6. Hike the Tornado Trail. Also located in the Quaker Area, this trail blazes through the path made by an F-1 tornado in August of 1990. Although the area has regrown, you can still see the path made by the tornado.

Tips & Warnings

• Average temperatures at Allegany State Park in winter are between 18 degrees to above 22 degrees Fahrenheit. In the summer, the average temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit and above. The park gets around 44 inches of rain and snowmelt a year.

• According to New York State, Allegany State Park was voted a top destination in 2007, for its abundance of camping, both tent and cabins. It's not a bad idea to spend at least a few days at the park exploring.