Erie County Bureau of Forestry, East Concord, NY

Visited April 24, 2021

11323 Co Rd 409 (Genesee Road), East Concord, NY 14055

60 degrees Fahrenheit, sunny 

No bathrooms that I saw.  We came via Route 39 and filled the car with gas and used the facilities at the CITGO at the corner of Routes 39 and 219; it is only a few minutes away from the parking on Genesee Road.

Dogs on leash are welcome. 

We hiked over four miles on the Old Scarbrook Trail side of the road while we were there.  I would allow 3 hours or more to fully enjoy the trails. The trails were muddy, very muddy, but so beautiful and many different bridges.  The trails were single file except when we were on the horse trail.    I would recommend long pants for this trail, but I usually recommend long pants.  

These trails are in the southern part of Erie County and there are trails on the other side of the road that we did not even explore.  Dogs and people were splashing in the stream.  

Mosquitos were not a problem for us today.

No cost for parking.  It was a dirt, muddy lot that had space for approximately ten vehicles.  There is another lot within sight across the road with the maple syrup house.

While in the park, my daughter and I saw wildflowers (violets near the cabin, the largest tracts of spring beauties that I have ever seen, trout lilies, my first trillium of the spring, and some other pretty little flowers I do not know), gorgeous trees (pine, cherry, ash, and more), three horses and their riders, more than ten people and their dogs. There is a warming cabin, Camp Sardinia, off the horse trail by a pretty section of the creek.  Daffodils grew near the door.

The trail at Erie County Bureau of Forestry is part of the WNY Summer Hiking Challenge.  I joined the Summer 2021 challenge and this was the eighth trail I completed for the challenge. The first hiker we saw today was also doing the challenge and had done the winter challenge.  Cheers, Mr. Marines T-Shirt! https://outsidechronicles.com/challenge

For more information about the Erie County Forestry:

https://www2.erie.gov/parks/index.php?q=bureau-forestry

Nearby:

Spraguebrook Park

9674 Foote Road, Glenwood, New York 14069

Has great trails, tennis courts, picnic shelters and camping facilities, a stream, and veteran’s memorial.

https://www2.erie.gov/parks/sprague-brook 

https://www.hikingproject.com/directory/8013304/sprague-brook-county-park

Griffis Sculpture Park

6902 Mill Valley Road, East Otto, NY 14729

A neat place to explore.

https://griffispark.org/

The Bigelow Bridge (AKA the Blue Bridge)

A very quick stop off Route 240 where it crosses the Cattaraugus Creek south of Route 240's intersection with Route 39.  Some people park here to fish.  I am old enough to remember when this was the bridge on Route 240.  There is a historic marker but it has been badly treated.

https://bridgehunter.com/ny/cattaraugus/3060570/

May 2025

I stopped by, hoping I could finally explore the Silent Woods, but the trail is closed all month for hunting.