JULES HOEPTING
Design Editor
Fredonia, N.Y. is a pretty good place to be. Housing is comparatively cheap, you’re an hour away from a major city, Buffalo, an hour away from another large city in a different state, Erie, and an hour away from the largest state park in New York, Allegany State Park.
Within that hour radius lies gorgeous gorges, rivers, lakes, flat land, mountains, valleys and a diversity of vegetation. Whoever said there wasn’t a lot going on around here didn’t look around closely!
Here’s a list of places to check out while you’re in the Fredonia area.
Canadaway Creek
Yep, that creek across the road behind the frat house, also accessible via Risley Street and several other streets.
Although the creek has a reputation for being the go-to location for, er… hands-on experience with experiments. Despite the creek’s college connotation, if you wander on down the water bends either way you’ll find impressively flat, straight-edged rocks. Head east and you’ll find beautiful waterfalls. Head west and you’ll end up in Lake Erie.
Because of Riparian rights, here in the eastern United States creeks are predominantly publicly owned; the Western U.S. has different rules. That means you can stuff your feet into a pair of shoes you don’t mind getting soaked and trudge on through creeks for miles if you so desire.
So, if it’s a desirable day and you’ve got empty hours, give a walk in the creek a go.
Point Gratiot
An eight-minute drive or an hour-long walk from campus can bring you to a beach lining the eastern shores of Lake Erie. What do these shores have in store? A perfect view of the western-setting sun every night.
The main attractions — sunsets and water — don’t have a season. Stop by in the summer and go swimming, assuming the water isn’t too excited and doesn’t greet you with ecstatic waves. Stop by in the winter and walk on a pastel iceland.
Yes, the kind of pastel iceland that is the perfect backdrop for your Instagram posts. You’re not the first person to think of that.
Keep in mind that, because New York has predominantly western winds and because there are no barriers to wind on a great lake shore, Point Gratiot is also a good place to catch gusts of wind. Dress accordingly, for your own sake.
Point Gratiot is ridiculously close and ridiculously pretty, so please go before you graduate.
Niagara Falls
Speaking of ridiculously close and ridiculously pretty, people come from all over the world to see the Bridal, American and Horseshoe Falls which make up Niagara Falls. And you, you lucky homosapien, live only an hour away from the spectacle!
My gosh, if you haven’t been yet, visit Niagara Falls.
Fun fact: 50 to 70 percent of the water that would go over the falls is diverted to generate hydroelectricity. More flow is drawn at night and during the tourist off-season, because there is such a thing as an “aesthetic flow.”
Kind of crazy to imagine the falls at full force, eh?
Eternal Flame Falls
If you like juxtapositions and oxymorons, this next spot is for you!
About 50 minutes north of Fredonia near Orchard Park is a .7 mile out-and-back trail — 1.5 miles total — which brings you to a 35-foot waterfall with a flame burning behind the water.
Yes, really.
Why is there a flame? No one really knows. Previous theories involving hot rocks and natural gas have been extinguished in recent years.
Nonetheless, the flame is lit! Literally. Despite the “eternal flame” name, the flame can go out if the wind pushes enough water onto it, which means hikers occasionally have to re-light it.
Keep that in mind if you plan on roasting marshmallows next to a waterfall.
Panama Rocks
40 minutes south of Fredonia in Panama lie some rockin’ rocks!
Deposited by glaciers a long time ago, Panama rocks are huge boulders clustered together to create a city of loft rocks, deep crevices and small caves. The trail is about a mile-long loop, making it ideal for different levels of fitness, but guests are allowed to venture out and explore on their own.
Because these rocks have been a popular tourist attraction since the 1800s, you should make a reservation in advance. It’ll be worth it.
Note: another place to check out huge rocks is Rock City Forest, near Salamanca.
18-Mile Creek
Located in Hamburg, just 40 minutes north of Fredonia is 18-Mile Creek. I like to think of the creek as a smaller version of Letchworth, which is a huge park in the Finger Lakes region following the Genesee River’s massive gorge. At Letchworth, a seven-mile trail (15 miles both ways) runs alongside the top of the cliffs leading with a few smaller trails branching off, getting closer to the Genesee River.
In comparison, 18-Mile Creek’s trail is around four miles long and is relatively flat with some optional steep trails leading down to the creek’s gorge. The landscape varies, offering a variety of vegetation and plenty of waterfalls.
It’s a popular place, but it’s gorgeous.
Zoar Valley
Speaking of gorgeous gorges, 40 minutes east of Fredonia near Gowanda is another impressive river gorge. Zoar Valley offers trails near the gorge as well as the option to walk around in the gorge. If you plan on walking on the banks of the river, wear shoes if you don’t mind getting wet!
There are also nearby trails on Deer Lick Nature Sanctuary that provide trails with lookouts of the valley from above, if you don’t like getting all up close and personal with gorges.
Allegany State Park
About an hour southwest in Salamanca lies Allegany State Park. There’s something for everyone here: long trails, short trails, hiking trails, skiing trails, snowshoeing trails, snowmobile trails, cabins, tent camping, mountains, lakes, beaches, dams, huge rocks, old towers, old buildings, new buildings and more.
My personal favorite trail is Thunder Rocks, which is a trail .3 miles long that contains — you guessed it — humongous rocks. Because it’s a popular location, a lot of the vegetation on the rocks is worn-down, which makes the rocks ideal for climbing. Climbing boulders is a fun hobby, but please don’t do it unless someone is with you and you feel comfortable doing it.
A lot of Allegany’s trails cross over into Pennsylvania, where Allegany State Park turns into Allegheny National Forest. There are breathtaking trails in the national forest alongside the Allegheny River, if you’re a fan of longer trails with moderate elevation, or if you just want an excuse to technically get out of New York State.
Other Resources
If you’re looking for neat nature near you, check out the AllTrails app or website, filter your searches by a variety of options — distance, difficulty, popularity, activities — and read reviews from other people who already checked out the trails.
You can also join Facebook groups dedicated to natural New York if you’re looking for inspiration, or want to see what other people are doing.
Welp, there you have it folks. Now, get on outside!