Hiking and Biking
Fall foliage in Letchworth State Park.
Western New York offers miles of trails through lush forest, scenic gorges and past dramatic waterfalls. The 122 mile Conservation Trail ends in Western New York, traveling across Erie and Niagara counties. Take a short drive to Zoar Valley for a beautiful waterfall hike or to Letchworth State Park for 66 miles of trails in the area aptly nicknamed "the Grand Canyon of the East."
Fishing
The Buffalo/Niagara region offers a variety of fishing challenges. Within minutes, you can be fishing for smallmouth bass in Lake Erie, salmon in Lake Ontario, musky and northern pike on the Niagara River above Niagara Falls, or steelhead, lake trout and walleye downriver.
Golf
There has been a recent explosion of championship golf courses in the area. Among these new courses you'll find Glen Oaks and the Links of Ivy Ridge. On the Canadian side, you'll find John Daly's Thundering Waters and Lochness Links at Hunters Pointe.
Delaware Park
For those who like a little more urban setting, there is Delaware Park. This 376-acre oasis near downtown Buffalo features forest, lake and meadow areas, and plays host to joggers, golfers, tennis players and bocce players. The park system includes an acclaimed botanical garden and the third-oldest zoo in the nation.
A Word About Winter
When Buffalo's famous winters set in, the outdoor activities keep coming. Hiking poles are traded for ski poles and golf shoes are traded for snow shoes. As for the fishermen, they just cut a hole in the ice and keep fishing.
The Cascade at Shale Creek.
