Visited September 2026

Address: I used Google Maps to get to Floating Fen Preserve, 7994 Chautauqua Road, Brocton, NY

Parking: Room for 6+ cars, dirt parking

70 degrees Fahrenheit (felt cooler) at 2:30-4:30 PM, sunny

No Public restroom facilities available

The trail is free.

Dogs are not permitted. Wesley stayed home today.

The trail is a natural surface with inclines and declines, tree roots, and mud.  Some sections are single file and some sections are wide enough for two people to walk side by side.

I walked over 2.6 miles.  The blue trail, the Wetlands Trail, was over 1 mile to walk to the end and return to the parking area.  I do not have the exact distance because I did not remember to turn on my GPS for the beginning of the walk.  The yellow trail, the Lenna Foundation Trail, was 1.6 miles to walk to the end loop and return to the vehicle.  These trails were very peaceful and so beautiful with a variety of flora to appreciate.  I really enjoyed this property for my first autumn outing.  I hope to return to check out this area in the other seasons because I believe it will show a changing beauty throughout the year.

I would not enjoy pushing a stroller on either of these trails due to mud, tree roots, and long grasses that would grab at the wheels.  

My friend Lori and I had the trail to ourselves. The sun filtered through the  leaves on this cool autumn day and mosquitos did not bother us.  

I did not see any trash except at the parking area. 

The mosquitos were quiet today.

I might have been okay to wear shorts on the blue trail but I was very appreciative of my long pants on the yellow trail.  The yellow trail appears to be mowed occasionally.  My waterproof hiking boots were very helpful for the muddy sections of trail.  

I did not see poison ivy on these trails.  10/7/26 Update: I spotted poison ivy on the Yellow Trail.

We saw a mulititude of fungi, beautiful aster and goldenrod. We saw wild grape, Virginia creeper, plaintain, wood sorrel, fern, moss, and multifloral rose.  We saw a variety of tree species including maple, pine, hemlock, white birch, curly birch, shagbark hickory, and magnolia.  We saw a bright green frog and a little toad.  We did not see deer but we saw deer prints at almost every muddy area.

Returned on October 7, 2026 @ 1:50 PM, 68-72 degrees.  There were two cars there when we arrived and the people were just returning to their cars.  When we finished our walk, there was a truck there. Its occupant(s) were already out on the trail.  There was a little more mud and the loop at the end of the yellow trail has two fallen trees, overgrown grass, and fewer trail markers than anywhere on either of the two trails.

More information:  www.wnylc.org/floatingfen 

Nearby: 

The College Lodge Forest, Brocton, NY www.wnylc.org/college-lodge-forest