Governor Hochul Announces $6.8 Million Bike-Hike Trail Expansion at Allegany State Park

 

Supported with $1.22 Million from Ralph C. Wilson Foundation

New 3.6-Mile Trail Expands Access to Popular Quaker Lake Beach Area for Campers, Hikers and Bikers

Historic Ferris Wheel to Open at Midway State Park

 Governor Kathy Hochul announced the completion of a new $6.8 million multi-use trail at Allegany State Park that provides an accessible alternative for bikers, hikers and campers to reach the park's popular Quaker Lake beach area. The new trail is open in time for the summer camping season at Allegany State Park, which boasts the largest campground in the state park system.

"Allegany State Park is one of the finest wilderness parks in the U.S., and this project will make it easier and safer for visitors to access the Quaker Lake beach from nearby camping areas, hiking trails and recreational areas," Governor Hochul said. "This project not only helps New York achieve its nation-leading climate goals, but it also reflects the State's ongoing partnership with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation to expand access to outdoor recreation in New York State."

The new 3.6-mile paved trail extends a 1.6-mile trail section that opened in Fall 2020 to the north side of Route 3 from the Taft Cabin Trail to the Quaker General Store and park rental office. The new extension, which includes eight pedestrian bridges and an elevated boardwalk crossing a wetland, runs westward from the general store to the Quaker Lake beach. The Quaker Run Area trail extension project is also supported by $2 million in State Parks capital funds as well as $1.22 million from the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, $2.88 million from a Transportation Alternative Program grant from the Department of Transportation and a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant.

New York State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, "Since its opening in 1921, Allegany State Park has been a crown jewel in State Parks. This project will help our visitors see more of the Quaker Run Area without having to access busy Route 3. Partnerships like we have with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, which generously supported this work, are a great benefit to both Parks and our visitors."

Located in the southwestern section of the 64,800-acre park, the Quaker Run Area also includes the Mount Tuscarora Fire Tower, many miles of hiking trails, the so named "Bear Caves" rock formation, the Old Quaker Store Museum, and scores of rental cabins and campsites. The Cain Hollow campground is also located on the Quaker Run side of the park.

Route 3 runs east to west from the southern end of Route 2 near the park's Bradford entrance to state Route 280 at the park's Quaker Run entrance in Coldspring.

During the last two decades, more than 14.7 million people have visited the Quaker Run Area, which averages approximately 740,000 annual visitors. The new multi-use trail runs through woodlands, across streams and other natural features, connecting with trailheads, cabin and cottage trails, and other park amenities along the way to the Quaker Lake beach area.  

Midway State Park Ferris Wheel

A newly restored historic Ferris wheel will also open at Midway Historic State Park in Chautauqua County this weekend. The 1948 Eli Bridge Ferris wheel came from an amusement park in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The purchase and refurbishment of the 30-foot Ferris wheel is the result of a fundraising campaign led by the Allegany Regional Park Commission, the Natural Heritage Trust, the Friends of Midway State Park, as well as work by State Park staff. Midway State Park is a family-friendly destination located on the shores of Chautauqua Lake. Originally established in 1898 as a trolley park, Midway State Park is one of the oldest continually operating amusement parks in the nation.

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 individual parks, historic sites, recreational trails, and boat launches, which were visited by 79.5 million people last year. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit parks.ny.gov, connect on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.