Cattaraugus State Forest

Discover

Cattaraugus State Forest offers a woodland history that can be read in both trees and ground cover. Its 1,059 acres lie in New Albion and Mansfield, Cattaraugus County. Former farm ground,1930s conifer plantings and later timber management all contribute to the present landscape. A visit becomes more interesting when those layers remain distinct rather than blending into a general story of untouched nature.

The Civilian Conservation Corps planted thousands of pine, larch and spruce trees here during the 1930s. Earlier residents had used much of the property as farmland. DEC notes former house sites along the roads and describes creeping myrtle, an evergreen vine planted around foundations, as a clue to some of them. Observe those traces without collecting material or assuming that every patch of the plant proves a house stood in that exact spot.

A small schoolhouse once stood on Smith Hill Road near the Mansfield town line. That is a documented former location, rather than a promise of a standing building or a visitor attraction with access facilities. The history makes an ordinary road name worth noticing, but the current forest map should guide your visit. Historic references alone do not establish a maintained route between former settlement features.

The present tree cover has its own chronology. DEC describes converting some planted conifer stands toward hardwood cover by removing overstory trees and allowing existing hardwood seedlings to grow. Young hardwood stands resulting from earlier conversion work are already part of the forest. Some white pine may be retained for its native character and wildlife value. These descriptions explain management choices without guaranteeing the timing or outcome of any future operation.

Large trees deserve similarly careful interpretation. DEC explicitly cautions that stands which appear old may have been managed to favor larger trees. Their size can produce an impression of old growth even where that designation is inappropriate. For a woodland photograph, shape, bark texture and the relationship between young and mature trees are useful subjects in their own right; an unsupported ancient-forest label adds nothing to the picture.

A snowmobile trail crosses the property and connects with private-land parcels. The Snow Bounders club maintains it through a volunteer stewardship agreement, and DEC asks users to stay on the trail and respect adjacent owners. Walking and several other recreation activities are allowed within the state forest, but there are no designated hiking trails or maintained areas for those activities. Match the route to its actual permission and season rather than treating every connected parcel as generally open.

Three designated roadside primitive tent sites are described: two off Potter Hill Road and one off West Hill Road. Dispersed camping elsewhere carries 150-foot setbacks from roads, trails and water; stays beyond three nights or groups of ten or more require a ranger permit. Review current camping information before deciding where to stop.

DEC's driving approach from Little Valley uses Kahler Hill Road, Toad Hollow Road and Krager Hill Road. There are no designated parking areas, although roadside parking is noted. Dobbins State Forest appears in the nearby-land list, while Little Valley, Cattaraugus and Ellicottville offer different amenities. Keep your attention on this forest's particular story: settlement plants, CCC conifers and a managed woodland whose changing tree cover continues the account.

Fun facts

1. The forest covers 1,059 acres in New Albion and Mansfield.
2. The CCC planted pine, larch and spruce in the 1930s.
3. DEC identifies creeping myrtle as a clue to some former house sites.
4. A schoolhouse formerly stood on Smith Hill Road near the Mansfield town line.
5. Three designated roadside primitive tent sites are described: two off Potter Hill Road and one off West Hill Road.

Read the official sources →

Capture

1. Contrast young hardwood cover with conifers where both can be observed from appropriate public access.
2. Photograph creeping myrtle in its setting without disturbing vegetation or claiming an unverified house-site identity.
3. Use trunk texture and canopy shape as subjects without labeling the scene ancient or untouched.

Social

Cattaraugus State Forest covers 1,059 acres in New Albion and Mansfield. Its woodland reflects former farming, CCC planting and later timber management. #Cre8Travel

During the 1930s, the CCC planted thousands of pine, larch and spruce trees at Cattaraugus State Forest. The landscape has several historical layers. #Cre8Travel

DEC describes creeping myrtle near some former house sites at Cattaraugus State Forest. Observe the vegetation without disturbing historic traces. #Cre8Travel

A small schoolhouse formerly stood on Smith Hill Road near the Mansfield town line. A documented former site is not a promise of a surviving visitor building. #Cre8Travel

Conifer-to-hardwood conversion has helped shape parts of Cattaraugus State Forest. Young hardwood stands continue the woodland’s management history. #Cre8Travel

Big trees do not automatically mean old growth. DEC notes that managed stands at Cattaraugus can give that impression without being old-growth forest. #Cre8Travel

Cattaraugus State Forest’s snowmobile trail connects across private land. Stay on the permitted route and respect adjoining owners. #Cre8Travel

Myrtle, conifers and young hardwoods: which detail would you use to tell Cattaraugus State Forest’s story in a photograph? #Cre8Travel

Hashtags

1. #Cre8Travel
2. #CattaraugusStateForest
3. #NewYorkOutdoors
4. #NatureAndHistory
5. #PrimitiveCamping
6. #HikingAdventures
7. #Ecotourism

Sources & visitor information

• Source — Cattaraugus State Forest