When Herbert F. Darling of Amherst donated 1,425 acres at Zoar Valley to New York State in 1963, he said he wanted people to enjoy nature in its simplest state.
“We wish to have New Yorkers see the land as the good Lord intended them to see it – not full of empty beer cans and park benches,” Darling told The Buffalo Evening News when the conveyance papers were signed.
The state wants visitors to be safe when they enjoy the vista overlooking the gorge, with its 400-foot high cliffs towering above Cattaraugus Creek.
New York today owns nearly 3,000 acres in the Zoar Valley, categorized as a multiple-use and unique area, managed by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. It has grown in popularity over the years, as has the number of injuries and deaths, prompting the state to increase public awareness of the hazards of the cliffs, waterfalls, creek and forests.
Dozens of signs marking trails and warning of dangerous spots were erected two years ago, and the state stationed several assistant forest rangers at the gorge, which cuts into Erie and Cattaraugus counties.
The state also shortened the Overlook Trail at Valentine Flats, which features one of the most spectacular views, to keep visitors safely away from the gorge rim.
Unofficial trails on the property were brushed in to discourage the use of potentially unsafe trails and promote use of official ones.
The start of nice weather and hiking season brings more work to Zoar Valley, including construction later this summer or in early fall on the new Overlook Trail. It is designed to keep visitors on the trail and a safe distance from the edge of the cliffs overlooking the gorge.
“We continue to encourage all outdoor adventurers to plan ahead and prepare to recreate safely and responsibly,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said in a news release.
Lifelong Gowanda resident Bill Cain has long had concerns about safety in the valley.
“People don’t understand the difference between…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply