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Western New York Outdoors
A Parks and Recreation Guide to locations for
outdoor adventures in WNY.
The Westside Overland Trail
Town of Chautauqua, Chautauqua County.
Description:
Actually named the Fred J. Cusimano Westside Overland Trail, it is a 24 mile long
nature trail spanning 4 towns and six state forests. It is located
near Mayville and Sherman. This has always been a favorite and one of the
most challenging hikes or mountain biking trails in WNY, but well worth it for
the scenery and nature.
The trail begins in the Chautauqua Gorge, proceeds southeast to Route 430
parking lot and Mount Pleasant. There are lean-tos along this stretch of
woodland and eventually you reach 2 ponds and the next parking lot. The
next 5 miles proceed thru private properties until you reach Whalen Memorial.
You will cross a dirt truck trail that goes near Prendergast Creek, good for
trout fishing.
Next you travel Eggelston Hill into
the North Harmony forest. This will take you to more lean-tos near a small
pond. Continue south to Warner Road, cross the Snake Forest Road truck trail, then cross Wiltsie
Road until you reach Route 474 in Panama and the third parking lot. Again
you will travel private land until you reach Panama State Forest and cross a small
creek.
Finally, the last stretch takes you thru Brokenstraw
State Forest and the
last parking lot. This trail is great to explore over several days.
There are printed maps with trail distance by sector (A thru S) available along several of the trail locations.
Photos from last hike on May 15th, 2006.
Images: Click on a thumbnail pic to enlarge the image.
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Fred J. Cusimano Westside Overland Trail |
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Detail trail map. |
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Parking Lot Sign |
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One of four NYS DEC parking areas along the trail. This one at point S in Brokenstraw State Forest. |
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Chautauqua Gorge State Forest
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Chautauqua Gorge |
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NY State Forest and streets map. |
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Hannum Road |
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Aerial photo of Westside Overland Trail point A, parking and picnic area near Chautauqua Creek. |
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Mount Pleasant State Forest
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Mount Pleasant |
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State Forest and street map. |
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Parking Lot |
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Aerial of trail and parking lot at Point C on Route 430. |
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Mount Pleasant Road |
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Aerial of trail Sector F-G, Lean-tos area, two ponds and parking lot near Morris extension.
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Whalen Memorial State Forest
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Whalen Memorial |
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State forest and streets map. |
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Drake Forest Road |
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Truck trail to Prendergast Creek, trail Sector K-L. |
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Prendergast Creek |
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Aerial of Stebbins Road to Drake Forest Road truck trail and Prendergast Creek. |
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North Harmony State Forest
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North Harmony |
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State Forest and streets map. |
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North Harmony State Forest |
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Sign along Wiltsie Road. |
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Small Pond |
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First pond on trail off Wiltsie Road, west of trail Point H. |
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Little Brokenstraw Pond |
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The larger and 2nd pond on trail off Wiltsie Road, west of trail Point H. |
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Two Ponds |
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Aerial view of trail, Little Brokenstraw Pond, and a smaller pond off Wiltsie Road. |
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Snake Forest Road |
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Gate at Wiltsie Road connecting to Warner Road. |
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Jasper Park |
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Picnic area with shelters off Warner Road. |
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Lean-tos |
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Camping site with privy near pond off gated trail from Warner Road. County land at trail point M and near Goose Creek. It was snowing. |
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Parking Lot |
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Parking area on Route 474 at trail point Q and Little Brokenstraw Creek. |
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Wilderness Camping |
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Olmz camping in May of 2006. |
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Panama State Forest
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Panama |
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State Forest and streets map. |
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Panama State Forest |
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Sign and trails off Goshen Road. |
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Panama Rocks |
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Rob at top of huge boulder in woods. Take Rt. 474, left on Route 10 up Rock Hill. |
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Cave |
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Dale and Dave down in cool cave at Panama Rocks. |
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Brokenstraw State Forest
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Brokenstraw |
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State Forest and steets map. |
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Brokenstraw State Forest |
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Sign off Townline Road near parking and point S, the end of the Westside Overland Trail. |
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Westside Overland Trail Parking |
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Sign, parking lot and truck trail to point S. Hiking north crosses Brokenstraw Creek to Panama State Forest. |
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Sign |
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Fred J. Cusimano Westside Overland Trail. |
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Hiking |
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Simz traveling north on trail with blue marker and sign-in log at box. |
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Goshen Road |
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Aerial of ponds and truck trail west of Goshen Road. |
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Other Related Sites:
NYS DEC - Public fishing information for
Chautauqua Creek.
Chautauqua County State Forests - Unit Management Plans and
North Harmony Management Unit.
NYS DEC
Forest Rangers - Region 9 roster.
Chautauqua County Parks
Panama Rocks
Tour
Chautauqua
Click here to return to the
WNY Outdoors page.
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