Visit Buffalo Debuts Buffalo Hiking Guide
A new guide highlights ten local hiking trails with detailed information and walk-through videos
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Visit Buffalo rolled out its new Buffalo Hiking Guide on Wednesday, a new digital resource that highlights ten memorable hikes across Erie County and Western New York.
The guide, which features hikes at several Erie County Parks, New York State Parks, and the Tifft Nature Preserve, encourages residents and visitors to get outside and experience some of the region’s natural wonders. The idea for the guide grew out of strong interest in hiking content already featured on Visit Buffalo’s website. Seeing an opportunity to build on that interest, Visit Buffalo invested in new storytelling, photography and video that would bring the region’s outdoor experiences to life and make it easier for visitors to plan their own adventures.
Visit Buffalo partnered with Justin Ceksters and Lauren Yakiwchuk, Ontario-based content creators and founders of OntarioHiking.com, to explore the trails and develop the content for the new guide. Their walk-through videos give hikers a preview of what to expect before they arrive, while detailed information and immersive storytelling centered around trail access, routes, terrain and other tips to help visitors plan their experience.
The ten featured hikes are intended to be a starting point, with Visit Buffalo planning to add more outdoor experiences to the guide in the future. By showcasing more of the region’s outdoor offerings, Visit Buffalo hopes to give travelers more reasons to extend their stays and explore more of Erie County.
“We want to make it easier for residents and visitors to discover the incredible outdoor experiences we have right here in our backyard,” said Patrick Kaler, President and CEO of Visit Buffalo. “These trails show another side of our county and region and give visitors even more reasons to spend an extra day here, explore beyond the places they may already know and experience more of what we have to offer.”
The guide organizes the ten hikes into four categories: creek hikes, including Eighteen Mile Creek in Hamburg; field and forest trails, including Erie County Forest in East Concord and Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora; gorge hikes, including Zoar Valley’s Valentine Flats Trail; and urban hikes, including Tifft Nature Preserve in Buffalo.
“Erie County is proud to have six of our parks featured in Visit Buffalo’s new Buffalo Hiking Guide,” said Troy P. Schinzel, Erie County Commissioner of Parks, Recreation & Forestry. “Our parks offer an incredible variety of landscapes and outdoor experiences, from scenic trails and waterfalls to forests, lakeshores and unique natural areas, all within easy reach of our communities. We’re excited to see these trails showcased to visitors from near and far, and we hope the guide inspires more people to get outside, explore our parks and discover all that Erie County has to offer.”
Visit Buffalo is encouraging residents and visitors alike to get out and take a hike this fall. To help hikers hit the trail, free Buffalo Hiking Guide kits will be available at the Buffalo Visitor Center at Canalside, 1 Commercial St., while supplies last (limit one per customer). Each kit includes trail mix, travel-sized sunscreen, a Liquid I.V. hydration multiplier packet and other provisions for a day of exploring.
More information can be found at buffalohiking.com.
You can find downloadable pictures of parks featured in the Buffalo Hiking Guide here.
Visit Buffalo is the destination marketing organization for Buffalo and Erie County, promoting the region for tourism, meetings and sporting events. By showcasing the area’s culture, attractions and hospitality, Visit Buffalo drives visitor spending and supports economic growth.
