By Kate Bartlett
Spring into summer is a beautiful time of year in the Enchanted Mountain region. Visitors and locals alike can enjoy this area for various outdoor activities including hiking, biking, kayaking, canoeing, exploring giant rock formations and sculptures, golfing, fishing, white water rafting, white water kayaking and more. The area offers motorsports to watch, mountain bike trails to explore, horseback riding and is home to one of the largest old order Amish Communities in the state.
where art and nature come together in an open-air
gallery complete with trails and events throughout the season
(griffissculpturepark.org).
The Enchanted Mountains refers to all of Cattaraugus County, including Ellicottville and its surrounding attractions: Allegany State Park, New York’s largest state park offers miles of hiking trains, wildlife, scenic lakes and camping. Griffis Sculpture Park offers a unique experience where art and nature come together in an open-air gallery complete with trails and events throughout the season. Rock City Park and Little Rock City Park offer rock formations up to 3-stories high. Onoville Marina Park provides 90 miles of unspoiled shoreline. New York’s Amish Trail offers a simpler way of life with over 200 Amish shops and rolling hills to discover. Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino provides a variety of entertainment and dining options, and nearby Seneca Iroquois National Museum gives a glimpse of Seneca-Iroquois culture.
This Spring, Brothers Osborne will perform at the Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino on May 16 and Spring Along the Amish Trail is on May 17. “The Amish trail is open most days (excluding Sundays), but this is an event we feature in order to kick off the major Amish Trail tourism season,” says Samantha Hayes, Tourism Specialist for Cattaraugus County. “A lot of our English businesses offer additional discounts to visitors.” The 67th Allegany Nature Pilgrimage is on May 30, and Freedom Speedway kicks off with a season opener event on May 30 as well. For a full list of events visit EnchantedMountains.com/Events.
Samantha confirms that a new outdoor attraction is coming to the area, but is not able to release further information at this time. “We are very excited about this attraction, and will share more information as soon as we can!”
Samantha encourages visitors to explore the Enchanted Mountains. “It really is the perfect getaway, especially during the spring and summer months. Whether you’re looking for a new outdoor place to explore, paddle or camp, tasting fresh maple syrup, or wandering through sunlit woods, this is a place where you can breathe a little easier. It’s where memories are made. Pick your Enchanted Mountains adventure and start planning.”
For more information visit enchantedmountains.com, follow on social media, and look for upcoming articles in The Villager in print and online at thevillagerny.com.