Places to hang in western NY?

[Suede]

I have to drive to fredonia, ny to pick up my daughter from school next Sunday. It's a 7 hr drive for me so I'm thinking of camping sat night. Anyone familiar with western NY and places to camp/hang? Ideally it would be not far off rt 17 which I take almost all the way out and within a couple hours of buffalo but I'm open to all suggestions.

[Redoleary]

I don't have any suggestions on where to camp, but I do know that NY State parks do not allow anything to be tied to their trees. So that becomes problematic for us hammock folk. You might be ok on state land but not in a regular state park?? Not sure?

[DuctTape]

NYS Forests (not parks) allow dispersed camping off trail (150' iirc). Many State Forests are listed here.

You will going right by Rock City State Forest, McCarty Hill State Forest, Bucktooth State Forest, and quite a few others. The Finger Lakes Trail is nearby and also passes through many of the forests, as well as private land. Some of the private land allows camping also.

[walterharold]

There are a pair of trails in Chautauqua: the Eastside Overland Trail and the Westside Overland Trail. The Eastside looks to be about 5 miles or so outside of Fredonia.

I did the Westside trail last year. The state land areas are nicely wooded paths; the areas between tended to be more farmland. I suspect the Eastside Trail is similar.

To elaborate on what DuctTape said, camping is allowed only on the state land parts of the trail; the trail areas inbetween are for hiking only.

Here's a link to a map:
http://chautauqua.ny.us/departments/...eastsideOT.pdf

Here's a trip summary (mountain biking perspective):
http://trails.mtbr.com/cat/united-st...8_4566crx.aspx

The summary refers to map points A, B, C, etc. . .those refer to the points on this map (you may haave to squint to see the points:
http://www.classicbuffalo.com/images...ndTrailMap.jpg

Here's a couple more maps (I like maps):

http://www.tourchautauqua.com/images...0-%20north.pdf

http://www.tourchautauqua.com/images...0-%20south.pdf

I'm considering doing an overnight in the Boutwell Hill area next Saturday to Sunday. . .perhaps we'll cross paths.

[Suede]

Thanks so much for all the info. I am also looking at allegheny forest over in pa. I have a lot to look at. I appreciate it!

[walterharold]

Thanks so much for all the info. I am also looking at allegheny forest over in pa. I have a lot to look at. I appreciate it!

That's a really nice area. The Tracy Ridge Trail and Morrison Loop are in the Northern part of the forest and are going to be closer to Fredonia. Strange things seem to happen every time I venture down there. They say the area around the Kinzua Dam is haunted.

[Suede]

That's a really nice area. The Tracy Ridge Trail and Morrison Loop are in the Northern part of the forest and are going to be closer to Fredonia. Strange things seem to happen every time I venture down there. They say the area around the Kinzua Dam is haunted.

Interesting.. That was an area I was looking at but trying to locate some trail maps. Looking for something that would be something like 1-2 hours each way in/out. Looking at around warren or Bradford. ...uh what kind of strange things?

[walterharold]

Here's a Tracy Ridge Map:

http://outing.allegheny.edu/wp-conte..._ridge_map.pdf

. . .and Here's one for the Morrison Loop:

http://outing.allegheny.edu/wp-conte...rrison_map.pdf

It's the sort of hike that leaves me with a good good campfire stories for the next trip. Sleep well.

[Suede]

Here's a Tracy Ridge Map:

http://outing.allegheny.edu/wp-conte..._ridge_map.pdf

. . .and Here's one for the Morrison Loop:

http://outing.allegheny.edu/wp-conte...rrison_map.pdf

It's the sort of hike that leaves me with a good good campfire stories for the next trip. Sleep well.

Well you peaked my interest and found some interesting articles http://www.examiner.com/article/kinz...anormal-hotbed and lore of an Indian burial ground that was desecrated in the lake damming, Bigfoot sightings, UNOs, hauntings... Not necessarily the kind of stuff I want to be pondering on a solo trip but then again..

[captaincoupal]

Also check out the Finger Lakes Trail - http://www.fltconference.org/trail/ - my son and I have been hiking sections of the Conservation Trail, which shares common trail with the FLT http://www.cnyhiking.com/ConservationTrail.htm

Lots of good hiking! Lots of good hanging on the state land and at the designated bivy sites, no issue with hammocks at all.