By: John Thomas

 Looking at the calendar I see spring has arrived a day early this year thanks to the leap year. Judging by the number of people I already see out on the paths; it’s also arrived early in our health and wellness journeys. There are many hiking, biking, and paddling options in our area so this month I’d like to share with Your Bliss readers a few less-trafficked favorites from a long-time Western New Yorker.

Boston Forest County Park

WNY hikers will have noticed there is a growing number of people finding enjoyment on our many trails. If a trail with woods and creeks and some moderate hill climbs sounds appealing, Boston Forest County Park should be on your options list. There is a parking lot located 1 mile west of Route 219 on Rice Road where there usually is plenty of parking as it is common to see only a couple of other cars parked here. From the parking area, a snowmobile access trail heads south then branches west and east on the main snowmobile trail. East is less hilly and has more creekside views, west offers a moderate climb to a good view of the surrounding landscape. I recommend exploring both directions if you want to travel more than a few miles. The trail is well-marked and easy to follow. I like this hike because it is close enough to Buffalo for a quick outing but still has a good wilderness feel. There generally are not the large crowds that some other nearby hikes have on a weekend afternoon. The wide trail makes it possible to walk alongside friends and talk as you go. Be prepared for possibly muddy conditions when other trails may have already dried out and note there are no facilities located in the park. 

Hemlock Lake

Kayakers and canoers have probably similarly noticed increases in traffic on the waterways.  This increase has grown in parallel with the availability of inexpensive kayaks and an increase in the number of public launches in our area.  Paddlers with their canoe or kayak looking to explore should be sure to consider Hemlock Lake.

Your starting point is the South Hemlock Lake Boat Launch just off route 15A near the south end of the lake amongst some old-growth forests. From there it is a 7.5-mile paddle to the north end of the lake. The boat launch area can get quite busy on the summer weekends, but once you are out on the lake it is a different story as Hemlock Lake is a water reservoir for the city of Rochester, NY and the development is extremely limited. 

There are no homes built along the lake, motorboats are limited to 10 horsepower and kayaks and canoes are far more common. I like this paddling location because of the quiet solitude on a fairly large body of water. Eagles flying overhead are a common sight and I’ve encountered them perched not far above me in trees observing me as well.

Niagara Gorge / Devil’s Hole State Park

Road biking for me covers more miles than hiking or paddling and finding routes with minimal motor vehicle interaction is desirable. Recent improvements to the paths alongside the Niagara Gorge have made this a much better option than in the past. 

Starting from Devil’s Hole State Park, you can travel south on a repurposed parkway and some new bike paths along the gorge to Niagara Falls.  There is minimal foot traffic as most walkers use the dirt paths alongside the gorge and there are few vehicle crossings. You should expect some congestion around Niagara Falls especially during the tourist season and slow down, but once you get past the Goat Island bridge, you’ll find some additional bike paths going along the river above the falls.  These paths aren’t as pristine as the others but are quite serviceable.  Upon returning to Devil’s Hole if 20 miles wasn’t enough you can travel north crossing the New York Power Authority dam to a former parkway now limited to bike and foot traffic.  A long gentle downhill will lead you into the town of Lewiston. I like this route for an early morning ride before the tourist hours where I don’t have much traffic to contend with and I have the benefit of some very scenic riding. One caution, the full loop is only about 25 miles roundtrip, but I don’t encourage inexperienced bikers to extend it further along the river in either direction as you will encounter significant traffic and rougher paths.

Maybe you’re remembering that New Year’s resolution to do more or maybe you’ve been going strong all winter. Either way, grab your gear and inspire some companions to enjoy the outdoors with you.  I hope I’ve sparked a new destination opportunity for some of you or a reminder of a good option. If we cross paths on one of these gems, I’ll surely wave or say hello because I’m happy to be out and about and hope you are too.