When you’re in a big state with a lot of people, you need a big state park to give them someplace to get outdoors. Allegany State Park is nearly 65,000 acres of wooded hills, picturesque lakes, and lush river bottoms that are affectionately referred to as “the wilderness playground of Western New York.” Located on the Pennsylvania border, about an hour south of Buffalo, the park is divided into two primary units. The Red House Area is located in the northern park of the park, around small Red House lake; the Quaker Area is located in the southwestern part of the park, on larger Quaker Lake, and near the Allegheny Reservoir. There are three main roads that provide access to the camping and recreation areas, and nearly 80 miles of multiuse trails for satisfying any wandering whim.

For camping in the Red House Lake Area, the park offers 125 tent and RV campsites, and 144 cabins, alongside Stoddard Creek. Some campsites are ADA accessible, and many have electrical hookups; water faucets and bathhouses are dispersed around the campground. This campground is located near the Red House Wetland Interpretive Area, several hiking and equestrian trails, sports fields, and swimming and paddling on Red House Lake. The Quaker Area offers 190 tent and RV campsites in two campgrounds—Diehl and Cain Hollow—and 230 cabins, near English Creek and Quaker Lake, respectively. Both campgrounds have water faucets and bathhouses; electrical hookups and ADA accessible sites are available at the Cain Hollow campground. These campgrounds have access to numerous hiking and equestrian trails, sports courts, Bear Caves, and a swim beach at Quaker Lake. Campsite rates range from $18–$35/night.

You will not be at a loss for things to do in Allegany State Park. Besides the numerous hiking and riding trails throughout the park, and the water activities on the lakes, there are also several historic sites and natural points of interest right within the park. Tour an area of the park where an F1 tornado touched down in 1990, take a short walk to seasonal Bridal Falls, scramble around the Thunder Rocks, or visit the Summit Fire Tower or CCC Stone Tower. There’s also plenty of wildlife to be on the lookout for. Scan the trees and skies for eagles, owls, osprey, and merlins, and watch the woods for raccoons, beavers, porcupines, bobcats and black bears. If visiting in the winter, there’s snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling available on the park’s roads and trails, and ice fishing on the lakes.