20 FALL 2021 ISSUE 01 / VOL . 03 SNOWGOER . COM
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The Big Parks of Western New York
As a resident of western New York , this is my “ backyard ” pick . Letchworth and Allegany State Parks provide some of the best riding and scenery on our side of the Canadian border as well as serving as trail heads for explorations further afield in New York and Pennsylvania .
Located about 35 miles southwest of Rochester , Letchworth State Park encompasses the 17-mile Genesee River gorge , a rocklined rift in the earth ’ s crust that reaches depths up to 600 feet . Several waterfalls and one of the largest gravity dams in the East provide additional scenery for the “ Grand Canyon of the East .”
An 11-mile section of the paved two-lane road along the north rim of the gorge is not plowed in winter so it becomes the main trail through the heart of the park . Scenic views abound on pretty much the whole length . Picnic shelters with cooking grilles and a winter sports cabin complete with a large fireplace and heated restrooms make the Park a great riding place for beginners , families or club events .
Down on the Pennsylvania border , roughly 60 miles south of Buffalo , Allegany State Park offers more than 68,000 acres of rough , heavily-wooded pre-glacial terrain that is honeycombed with about 100 miles of snowmobile trails . These routes range from wide , well groomed snowmobile super highways to narrow , intimate pathways through the brush . Thunder Rocks is a unique group of giant erratic boulders that has been studied by scientists for decades , and it is easily accessible from the trail . The less travelled Lonkto Hollow loop is my personal favorite ride in the big park . This park also has winterized cabins for rent , a restaurant and a natural history museum .
With plenty of quality parking , excellent trails , free detailed trail maps and great scenery , these two big Parks provide outstanding riding experiences .
New York State Parks : nyparks . com
Photo courtesy John Burton of Conesus , New York