Shale cliffs, quartz conglomerate, and the gentle foothills of the Appalachians shape Cattaraugus County’s natural landscape. The county is known as the “Enchanted Mountains”; its scenery offers a range of highlights—from rock formations and canyons to forests and shorelines. You can plan your trip around the themes that interest you most.
Rock, Canyon, and Shoreline
Rock City Park features the world’s largest exposure of quartz conglomerate. In the Zoar Valley gorge, steep shale cliffs drop more than 400 feet to the creek below. The roughly one-mile Valentine Flats Trail descends through the gorge to the confluence of the main branch and the south branch of Cattaraugus Creek. Conditions and access rules for this trail may change; check the notices before your visit. Hiking on the gorge floor is prohibited on the Nature Conservancy property in the South Branch of Cattaraugus Creek area. The preserve is in Cattaraugus County; check the access notices again before your visit as well.
Onoville Marina Park offers a different landscape, with 91 miles of undeveloped shoreline and secluded coves. Ospreys nest on poles along the West Perimeter Road at the park. Rock, canyon, and shoreline are distinct natural themes that you can consider separately when choosing your priorities.
Trails and Getting Your Bearings
The 12.1-mile Pat McGee Trail connects the city of Salamanca with the village of Cattaraugus and follows a former railroad line. It therefore has two clearly named endpoints and a set route length. Allegany State Park covers more than 65,000 acres and has 18 hiking trails, including three self-guided nature trails. The comparison shows two different ways to find your way: a single connection between places and multiple trails within a large park.
Cattaraugus County offers an interactive map of its hiking trails. The county’s Trail Mapping and Signage project was completed in 2024, resulting in a new web map application and a signage system for local trail organizations. These resources give you different ways to learn about the trails and navigation before your visit.
Forests, Culture, and Local Discoveries
At Pfeiffer Nature Center, six miles of marked footpaths pass through different types of forest, including coniferous and mixed hardwood forests. The property also contains 20 acres of rare old-growth forest. These two figures describe different aspects: the length of marked trails and the area of a special forest habitat. Pfeiffer Nature Center offers natural history programs, workshops, and other events focused on science, nature, and the arts throughout the year.
For family history research, the Cattaraugus County Historical Museum has a research area where you can look up information about ancestors from Cattaraugus County. The New York Amish Trail map offers another way to find your way around: businesses sell their products from home, and the map helps you locate them. Most of the New York Amish Trail is in the Enchanted Mountains in Cattaraugus County. Alongside nature and hiking, family history research and finding individual businesses are concrete themes to choose from for your trip.
Discover more destinations: Salamanca, Ellicottville, Yorkshire, Chautauqua, Allegany, Franklinville, Herkimer County, Orleans County.
For the broader travel overview: New York.
