Elkdale State Forest

Discover

Elkdale State Forest in Cattaraugus County offers a compact example of several recreation systems meeting in one landscape. DEC identifies horse trails, forest roads, and access from the Pat McGee Trail. The rail trail crosses the property but is not part of the state forest. That distinction is useful from the beginning: a continuous route on the ground can pass between different management arrangements and different sets of visitor information.

The setting also has a working role. DEC uses a building complex here as an Operations Unit base. Those buildings, visible from Route 353, should not be treated as a public visitor center or a museum. The surrounding land includes former agricultural use and railway alignments, giving the forest a history of changing practical functions. Public recreation occupies part of that landscape rather than replacing every other use.

Horse trails are a particular feature. DEC describes a network maintained through an agreement with the Crosspatch riding group and connected with the Pat McGee system. A rider can investigate route choices, but the network's overall mileage is not the length of one standard outing. Check the current map, access point, equipment needs, and required horse documentation before planning a visit.

Walking is also allowed on horse trails and roads. That makes considerate sharing important. Give horses and riders space, communicate calmly, and follow current instructions rather than assuming the route is a pedestrians-only path. The presence of several possible loops does not establish that every option is equally suitable for a particular group, surface condition, or season.

The former railway connection provides a different perspective on movement. A rail-trail corridor can make part of a landscape accessible while the adjoining forest trails introduce changes in terrain. Keep the trail and forest boundaries clear in your plan. Do not assume that a route permitted for one activity throughout the corridor is automatically permitted everywhere it connects.

DEC also identifies a pond-side picnic stop associated with the riding routes. Confirm its current condition and availability rather than treating published facilities as reserved for your group. A water feature does not create an automatic paddling or swimming option. Let the visit remain centered on the route and activity that you have actually planned, with any rest stop fitting the conditions encountered on the day.

If the group includes people with different interests, choose one shared route rather than assuming separate walking and riding plans will reconnect easily. The map, terrain, and permitted access should establish that arrangement, not the apparent closeness of points on a small screen.

Before traveling, check current maps, weather, hunting seasons, and access. Winter snowmobile use introduces further shared-route considerations, while an overnight stay requires separate camping preparation. Carry navigation, water, and suitable clothing, and keep operational areas and gates clear. Photograph from a stable position without distracting horses or blocking the trail. Elkdale rewards a clear understanding of its connections: a working state forest, a maintained riding network, and a separate rail trail that can help visitors reach parts of the property without making all of them the same place.

Fun facts

1. The Pat McGee Trail crosses Elkdale but is not part of the state forest.
2. Horse trails connect with that separate rail-trail system.
3. DEC operational buildings are distinct from recreation areas.

Read the official sources →

Capture

1. Photograph from an allowed position without blocking trails or distracting horses.
2. Use the change between corridor and woodland as a subject without entering operational areas.

Social

1/8 Elkdale State Forest: Horse Trails and a Separate Rail-Trail Connection.

2/8 The Pat McGee Trail crosses Elkdale but is not part of the state forest.

3/8 Horse trails connect with that separate rail-trail system.

4/8 DEC operational buildings are distinct from recreation areas.

5/8 Use the correct map and rules for each connected property.

6/8 Prepare horse documentation and route choices before a riding trip.

7/8 Share horse trails calmly and leave room for riders.

8/8 Save Elkdale State Forest for a future New York outing. #Cre8Travel

Hashtags

1. #Cre8Travel
2. #NewYorkState
3. #NatureTravel
4. #TravelIdeas
5. #DiscoverMore

Sources & visitor information

• Visitor information — dec.ny.gov
• Source — dec.ny.gov
• Source — dec.ny.gov
• OpenStreetMap — destination identity