Are you looking for a fun way to enjoy the beautiful fall weather on this long weekend?
What better way to enjoy the fall scenery and crisp autumn air than to go for a long run, walk or hike at a local trail?
We gathered a list of some of our favorite Western New York trails to run, walk, or hike this fall!
Hunter's Creek (South Wales, NY)
Located just a few miles outside of the town of East Aurora, Hunter's Creek is nestled in the town of South Wales and includes several wooded loops with well-marked trails that cross over small streams throughout. It's a great place for hiking with the family (including the dog!), moderately challenging trail running, or even mountain biking. This time of year you can enjoy some beautiful fall foliage in the woods and then venture a few miles into the walkable streets of East Aurora to explore popular shops, breweries, and restaurants post-hike!
Knox Farm State Park (East Aurora, NY)
This popular State Park in East Aurora is the site of many events including music festivals, weddings, soccer games, cross country races, and more! It's also very dog-friendly and includes a large fenced-in dog park for your furry friends to run around and socialize. The park has a mix of paved paths around the barns, and nature trails in the woods. It's a great place to go for a scenic walk or run! If you're doing a long run, you can mix it up by staying within the trail loops of the park or venturing on the adjacent roads with rolling hills outside the perimeter of the park.
Niagara Gorge Trail (Niagara Falls, NY)
The Niagara Gorge Trailhead Center offers a gateway to several beautiful hiking and biking trails in the Niagara Falls area. The Gorge Trail system includes a mix of easy and challenging trails with various terrain, stairs, and rocks to climb, and of course the 'gorge'ous views of of the falls! This is arguably the best time of year to enjoy this magnificent waterfall scenery surrounded by vibrant fall foliage!
Erie Canal Trail (Lockport, NY)
The Erie Canal path stretches throughout several towns in Buffalo through Rochester and beyond! We typically prefer running the nice long stretch within Lockport; however, you can start anywhere between North Tonawanda and Lockport! This is the perfect place to do a point-to-point or out-and-back long run in the fall. The established gravel and dirt path along the Erie Canal is a nice break from the asphalt without being technical like a woodsy trail. And although beautiful fall foliage lines most of the entire pathway, it's not shaded, so this path is perfect for running in the cooler fall temps when the sun is more desired.
Letchworth State Park (Castile, NY)
Letchworth comprises of lush forests and trails made even more magnificent by fall foliage surrounding beautiful waterfalls throughout the Genesee River. The park includes about 66 miles total of beautiful hiking trails, and offers campsites if you'd like to spend the weekend camping and exploring the park!
Ellicottville (Ellicottville, NY)
The charming town of Ellicottville is an awesome place to visit on a long weekend, but especially in the fall! This weekend (Oct. 12th-Oct. 13th 2024) actually features the town's annual Fall Festival! It's also the site of the upcoming popular Halloween-themed EVL Half Marathon & 5K, which takes place this year on October 26th. Ellicottville's beautiful mountainous landscape becomes extra inviting with fall colors, and the town offers entertainment with numerous restaurants and bars to check out. The Finger Lakes Trail goes through Ellicottville and includes an expansive trail network that weaves through diverse terrains and scenic views!
Chestnut Ridge Park (Orchard Park, NY)
Most weekends, you can find local runners meeting up at "The Ridge" for a hilly long run. This popular yet challenging running and hiking spot offers several different trail routes to explore, as well as surrounding roads within and outside the perimeter of the park to run if you're not into the rougher terrain. The park even includes a great disc golf course, if you're into that! The most popular and unique hike within the park is the Eternal Flame Trail. The Eternal Flame Trail literally leads you to an eternal flame under a water fall-- such a cool natural gem to experience right here in WNY!
John B. Austin Nature Trail (Lockport, NY)
Right in the town of Lockport on Slayton Settlement Rd., the John B. Austin Nature Trail is comprised of 3 walking trails ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 miles in length. The trails offer beautiful scenery with benches to relax and enjoy the fall foliage, and a natural waterfall along the paths to admire! This is a great area to explore without committing to an all-day hike, and it's also dog-friendly!
Buckhorn Island State Park (Grand Island, NY)
This state park is actually classified as a nature preserve that includes a total of 895 acres of marsh, meadows, and woods to explore. The park's marshlands and meadows border the Niagara River, and the park is comprised of walkable nature trails to explore and observe the vast wildlife! The park includes a continuous restoration plan to increase public trail access, scenic overlooks, and bird watching structures.
The places listed above include only a portion of the amazing places to hike, run, and walk right here in WNY! We're so excited to start enjoying this fall weather and take in all the beautiful foliage of reds, oranges, and yellows. The long weekend coming up is the perfect time to get outside and explore nature!
And if you are living with pain or an injury that's preventing you from enjoying your favorite fall activity or sport, then don't hesitate to reach out to us at AWAKEN for help! Our passion is helping athletes and active adults get out of pain, stay out of pain, and AWAKEN THEIR POTENTIAL!!!
Happy Fall!
Dr. Greg exploring Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora
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