Allegany State Park, Bear Springs Trail

Visited May 2026

Parking:  I used Google Maps to get to the Quaker Area Entrance for Allegany State Park, Allegany State Park Route ASP3 to enter the park from Route 83.  We turned left off of ASP3 onto ASP1 and the trail was on the left.  We parked in a small natural-surfaced parking area near the sign for the trail.  (Looking at Google Maps, there is a label for "Bear Springs Parking Lot" so that should work.)

70s Fahrenheit; 12:12 PM - approximately 1:12 PM

No restrooms at the parking area or trail but if you drive a bit further down ASP3 there is a comfort station by the Indian Cabins.

There was no one at the gate collecting admission fees at 9:05 AM on the Friday morning of Memorial weekend, but there was someone at the gate when I left on Sunday around noon.

Dogs are supposed to be on a leash.  Owners are supposed to pick up after their dogs and have the dog's rabies certificate available if asked to produce it. Wesley stayed home today.

The trail is well marked.  It appears to continue on for a short distance past the posted end.

I walked 1.24 miles with my friends on this trail (this was the "there-and-back" total mileage).  With only 88 feet of elevation change, this was a very nice trail for me as I am easing back into hiking after surgery this past winter.  It was so nice to be out enjoying a variety of trees and plants with the trickling of the iron-stained spring.  The air smelled great, and we had the trail to ourselves except for passing one other small group right after we reached the end and turned back toward the car.

The trail is mostly single file with a natural surface.  The trail had some wet and muddy spots but nothing that seriously impacted footing. I wore a hat, long pants and bug spray. I also wore a bug net which has improved my enjoyment of the outdoors over the past few weeks.

I believe trying to navigate this trail with a stroller would be a miserable experience due to the roots, rocks, and downed trees. 

I did not see trash on the trail.  

The mosquitos were not very pesky today with the cooler temperatures in the morning; but even though the bugs were waking up as the day warmed, we had prepared with a coating of bug spray.

Parking: Dirt with some gravel.  Small lot that might hold four vehicles.  

I saw a broken robin eggshell and heard songbirds. There were mosses, ferns, trillium, mayapple, buttercups, forget me nots, violets, dandelions, ragwort, blackberry briars, and a variety of tree species including cherry, shagbark hickory, curly birch, oaks and maples.

Website: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/alleganyquaker/details.aspx

Trail Map PDF: AlleganyQuakerAreaTrailMap.pdf 

This park hosts a Geocaching Bash in May.