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Exploring nature and enjoying the outdoors is easy in Southwest NY. There are a variety of private and public facilities available throughout the region. From campgrounds to State Parks, and from private resorts to public fishing access, its all here waiting for you.
Public lands can be broken into four main categories, NYS Wildlife Management Areas, NYS Forest Land, NYS Parks, and County forest land. Each of these offers different opportunities for public use.
Wildlife Management Areas provide public hunting and fishing access. These areas are generally secluded and offer little in the way of amenities, they are simply offered as public access for wildlife management. There are many thousands of acres throughout the area. Some of the areas encompass over 5,000 contiguous acres each.
County and State forest land is abundant in Southwest NY. Forest land offers public hunting and fishing access as well as hiking trails, snowmobile trails, skiing, biking, and even equestrian trails. They may have lean-to's for protection from the weather, trail maps, and other small amenities. In the region nearly 100,000 acres of county and state forest land is publicly available. Some areas may be only a couple hundred acres, while others offer a few thousand. These also include several hundred miles of multi-use trails.
New York State Parks offer the most amenities for the outdoorsman. Allegany State Park dominates the region and is the largest State Park in New York. With over 35,000 acres, 35 miles of trails, Allegany State Park offers almost anything an outdoor enthusiast could dream of. Other State Parks within the area include Lake Erie State Park and Long Point State Park. Each offers varying amenities that may include camping, paved trails, groomed ski trails, hunting, fishing, canoeing/boating, beach, picnic shelters, and more. State Parks charge a nominal fee for entry, and other fees for various uses and permits.
To find these various public lands and trails, explore the map below. First, select Parks & Public Land, then select the area you are interested in or choose Select All. Click on GO and your results will be mapped, and you can take a virtual tour of some of the areas.
For complete information, link to the following:
Allegany County Outdoors
Enchanted Mountains Parks & Nature
Chautauqua County Hiking & Biking |
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