Zoar Valley - Valentine Flats

From the Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area page on NYS DEC:

The trail north to Overlook Point is a 0.75-mile loop that includes a hogs back vantage point that juts out into the gorge.

The Valentine Flats trail to the south from the parking area is a steep trail into the gorge area, ending at the confluence of the South Branch and Main Branch of Cattaraugus Creek. This trail was an old access road leading to a former farm on the flats along Cattaraugus Creek near the confluence. The trail winds down into the gorge through the old growth hemlock/hardwood forest for about 0.8-miles. Along the flat flood plain, the trail winds through a black walnut plantation with thick brush before reaching the creek. It will take considerable time to hike in and out of the gorge. Plan for enough daylight hours to make the hike safely.

Fishing

Fish for rainbow trout(steelhead) or other trout on Valentine Flats section of the Cattaraugus Creek.

Hiking

Hike to a great place to overlook the gorge or to sit by the flowing water of the creek.

Canoeing & Kayaking

Accessing the Cattaraugus Creek from this parking area by canoe or kayak is not recommended as you can hike to the water but you are looking at a hike of just over 0.75 miles with your equipment.

Geology

At one point there were glaciers covering most of New York State. These glaciers melted and refroze several times. As the glaciers would melt away all that water had to go somewhere. What path would this water have taken? In order to answer this question we traveled to a local site that we suspected was formed by this leftover water. When we arrived at the site we were awed by the magnificent cliffs at each side of the river bed. We would recommend that everyone looking for amazement and adventure to travel to Zoar Valley.

Maps

If you were to go to the Valentine Flatts outlook in Zoar Valley you might find that the walls of the valley remind you of the Grand Canyon. In one way or another Zoar Valley is a small scale model of the Grand Canyon. To find out for your self put these coordinates 42.4465°N 78.9002°W into your GPS or into Google Maps and follow the directions given.

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation has a great page about the Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area.

Information compiled by Tyler Wilder and Jacob Domes 5/31/2012 for the Cattaraugus County Geology Trail