ALLEGANY STATE PARK
Allegany State Park?s 65,000 acres is known for its primitive forested valleys, un-glaciated landscape, fall leaves and wildlife. The two developed areas, Red House and Quaker, make this the largest state park in the system. Both areas offer sand beaches, picnic areas, museums, hiking trails and naturalist walks. Walkers and bicycle riders take advantage of the 5 miles of paved trails around Red House. The Art Roscoe Ski Touring Area has some of the finest groomed cross country skiing and mountain bike trails in the Northeast. Snowmobilers are attracted to Allegany State Park for its 90 miles of groomed snowmobile trails and over 150 winterized cabins. Other activities include bird watching, picnicking, fishing, hunting, snowshoeing, canoeing, and horseback riding.
Visitors looking for anything from a weekend retreat to an extended vacation are able to choose from Allegany State Park?s 424 campsites, 375 cabins and three group camps available for rental. There are year round vacation rental cottages that are fully equipped with the latest conveniences located in both the Red House and Quaker areas.
The seven Fancher Cottages are located in the southern part of the Allegany State park, adjacent to Quaker Run Creek and offer guests a unique camping experience. Named for Senator Albert T. Fancher, the "Father of Allegany State Park," each Fancher Cottage (located in the historic Quaker Area of the park) has a bathroom with shower, refrigerator, counter-top range and microwave. The fully handicapped accessible cottages sleep six, are furnished and stocked with pillows, bedding, cooking utensils, dishes and coffeemakers. In addition, each cottage has a grill and picnic table outside.
Reminiscent of a classic hunting lodge, the Pitt Cottage in the Red House Area offers the same amenities as the Fancher Cottages. One outstanding feature of the Pitt Cottage is its gas burning stone fireplace. Located on Allegany State Park Rte. 2, the cottage is adjacent to Congdon Trail and three miles from the Administration Building. Pitt Cottage is not handicapped accessible.
1. Native American Presence: The area surrounding Allegany State Park was inhabited by various Native American tribes for centuries before European settlement. Seneca and other Iroquois Confederacy nations used the land as hunting grounds and established villages along nearby waterways.
2. Early Settlement: In the early 19th century, European settlers began moving into the region around what would become Allegany State Park. They cleared forests to establish farms and built small communities.
3. Logging Era: By the mid-1800s, logging became a significant industry in this part of New York due to abundant timber resources available within present-day park boundaries (then privately owned). Lumber companies harvested vast quantities of trees from these lands until they were depleted by the late 1800s.
4. Creation & Development as a Public Recreation Area: Recognizing both ecological importance and recreational potential after decades of deforestation damage caused during logging operations; efforts emerged advocating for preservation measures on former logged areas near Salamanca townsite where Allegheny River flows through valley between two ridges forming Quaker Run Valley which later becomes Red House Lake at southern end while Kinzua Creek forms reservoir known today as Quaker Lake towards northern boundary line with Pennsylvania.
5. Establishment & Expansion:.
In response to public demand for outdoor recreation opportunities following World War II era when returning veterans sought places closer home rather than traveling far away destinations like Adirondacks or Catskills Mountains regions - Governor Thomas E Dewey signed legislation creating "Allegheny" [sic]StateParkin1948whichinitiallyencompassedapproximately7,squaremiles(18km2)oflandwithinCattaraugusCounty'sTownsofRedHouseandSalamanca
6. Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Involvement: During the Great Depression in the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs led to significant development within Allegany State Park by employing young men through CCC camps. These workers constructed roads, trails, cabins and other infrastructure that still exist today.
7. Modern Era & Recreational Activities:.
Allegany State Park has evolved into a popular recreational destination offering various activities such as camping, hiking on over 200 miles of trails including portions Appalachian Trail system; fishing at numerous lakes streams throughout park boundaries - notably Red House Lake Quaker Run Valley Reservoir known locally simply "Quaker" ; boating/canoeing/kayaking opportunities abound with rentals available from concessionaires operating marinas located both aforementioned bodies water plus smaller ones like Science Lakes or Bear Paw Pond among others
Day-UseFishingyes
BoatingLaunch Rampsyes
CampingPrimitiveyes
Electric Sitesyes
1. Allegany State Park offers two main swimming areas: Quaker Lake and Red House Lake.
2. Both lakes have sandy beaches perfect for sunbathing or building sandcastles before a swim.
3. Lifeguards are on duty at both locations during the summer season to ensure safety.
4. Swimming is allowed from 11 am to 7 pm daily when lifeguards are present in the summer months.
5. The park does not allow any kind of inflatable devices, including water wings and inner tubes, while swimming.
6. There's also an accessible fishing dock near each beach area if you prefer angling over swimming.
7. The bathhouses located nearby provide changing rooms, showers and restrooms facilities for swimmers' convenience.
The park offers a variety of boating options for visitors. There are two lakes, Red House Lake and Quaker Run Lake where you can enjoy rowboats, paddle boats, kayaks and canoe rentals during the summer season. Motorized watercrafts aren't allowed to maintain tranquility in the area but electric motors are permitted on both lakes with restrictions applied at certain times of year due to nesting loons. Fishing is also popular activity here as these waters contain several species such as bass, trout and panfish.
Allegany State Park in New York offers a variety of fishing options for both experienced and novice anglers. The park is home to several bodies of water, including Red House Lake and Quaker Run Creek where you can fish from the shore or by boat.
The species available include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, brown bullhead catfish as well as rainbow trout which are stocked annually. In addition to these common catches, there's also an opportunity to catch rare brook trout in some streams within the park boundaries.
Fishing licenses are required for those aged 16 years old and above. Ice fishing is allowed on certain lakes during winter months when conditions permit it.