Trail Stewards Needed - Southern Tier Area (contact us for more info)
HIKE RATING GUIDE
Pets are not allowed on hikes
1 - Leisurely pace or nature walk
2 - Moderate pace
3 - Brisk, steady pace
4 - Fast pace
A - Flat or gently rolling terrain
B – Steps/stairs, moderate hills
C – Fairly steep steps/stairs, hills or ravines
D – Steep hills, scrambles possible
See the bottom of this page for additional important Hiker information
Bring lunch on all day hikes
The weather may force cancellations or changes to an outing.
If in doubt, please check the calendar on this page before you leave.
Members will receive a Google email with the latest updates.
Always check trail conditions before you hike at:
Members: Refer to your Tales newsletter or the Google group email for hiking leader and contact information
3/7/2026
Cancelled Due to Weather
Conservation Trail, Map CT7
3/8/2026 10:00 AM 3.4mi 2B
Date changed from March 14th
Letchworth State Park Gorge Trail and Autism Nature Trail
Meet: 6635 Middle Falls Rd. Castile. Upper Falls parking. Be sure to use the Castille entrance. The Portageville entrance is closed for the winter. Winter Hiking Challenge hike.
3/9/2026 10:00 AM 4/5mi 1B
Chestnut Ridge Pond Saunter
Meet: Casino Parking Lot 6121 Chestnut Ridge Rd. Orchard Park, NY. Lunch afterwards in Casino.
3/14/2026
Members watch for email for possible hike
3/15/2026
Members watch for email for possible hike
3/16/2026 10:00 AM 2.5mi 2A
Chestnut Ridge Pond Saunter
Meet: Tifft Farm Parking Lot 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd. Buffalo, NY. Lunch location to be decided.
3/21/2026
Members watch for email for possible hike
3/22/2026
Members watch for email for possible hike
3/23/2026 10:00 AM 3mi 2B
Franklin Gulf Park
Meet: Franklin Gulf Parking Lot School Street, North Collins, NY 14111. (42.5992, -78.9172). We will hike yellow to white to purple trail (just past Tice Rd. area) and back. Lunch at Comfort Zone Cafe 17 Main St. Hamburg, NY.
3/28/2026 9:00 AM 5.5mi 2B
Conservation Trail (M2/CT2, Access 5 to 6)
Meet: Elkdale golf course (Access 6) on Route 353 (42.20444, -78.75274). We will carpool to the hike start. This will take us through Elkdale State Forest (DEC Region 9) and the Pat McGee Rail-Trail. Vertical climb = 500’.
3/29/2026 10:00 AM 4mi 2B
Orchard Park rail trail and Birdsong loop
Meet in Orchard Park library parking lot
3/30/2026 10:00 AM 3mi 2A
Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens: 10:00 am
Meet: Botanical Gardens Parking Lot 2655 South Park Ave. Buffalo, NY around the arboretum. Lunch at Apollo Family Restaurant 3387 South Park Ave. Blasdell, NY.
4/4/2026
Members watch for email for possible hike
4/5/2026
Members watch for email for possible hike
4/6/2026 10:00 AM 3mi 2B
Sprague Brook Park
Meet: Casino parking lot 9674 Foote Rd. Glenwood, NY. Hike up Skunk Ridge and over to Veteran’s Monument to Mordue Way and back. Lunch in Casino afterwards.
4/7/2026 10:00 AM 3mi 1A
Billy Wilson Park Saunter
Meet: in Dash’s plaza parking lot on Hopkins Road side near bicycle store. Rain/snow/ice will cancel hike.
4/11/2026 9:30 AM 6mi 2B
Erie County Forest
Meet: 11323 Co Rd 409 (Genesee Road), East Concord, NY 14055 by the sugar shack. Hike from Genesee to Allen and back (4 mi) then cross Genesee and hike about 2 more miles.
4/12/2026
Members watch for email for possible hike
4/13/2026 10:00 AM 3mi 2B
Chestnut Ridge Park
Meet: Orienteering Trail parking Lot. Across from park section with Casino 6121 Chestnut Ridge Rd (Call me if you need directions). Lunch in Casino afterwards.
4/14/2026 10:00 AM 2-2.5mi 1A
Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens Saunter
Meet: parking lot (2655 South Park Avenue). We will hike around the ring road 1-2 times. Optional: visit the gardens for their Easter display (pay on your own). Lunch at Christie’s in Southgate Plaza afterward.
4/18/2026
Members watch for email for possible hike
4/19/2026 10:00 AM 4-5mi 2A
18 Mile Creek Park Hamburg
2687 South Creek Rd. 4 to 5 mi depending on conditions.
4/20/2026 10:00 AM 3mi 2A
Franklin Gulf Park
Meet: Larkin Rd. parking lot. 9998 Larkin Rd, Eden, NY 14057. We will hike orange trail to pink to yellow and back. Lunch at Comfort Zone 17 Main Street Hamburg, NY.
4/21/2026 10:00 AM 3mi 1A
Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve Saunter
Meet: parking lot at 93 Honorine Drive, Depew off Como Park Boulevard.
4/25/2026 9:30 AM 4.5mi 2B
CT 08 Mammot Rd to Clinton St
Meet: (42.8352, -78.43257) Clinton St from there we will carpool to (42.87821, -78.4188) Mammot Rd and hike back to Clinton St
4/26/2026
Members watch for email for possible hike
4/27/2026 10:00 AM 3mi 2B
Chestnut Ridge Park Hike
Meet: 6317 Newton Rd. parking lot. We will hike on main trail. Lunch at Casino afterwards
4/28/2026 10:00 AM 4mi 1B
Williamsville Escarpment to Glen Park Saunter
Meet: Wegmans bottle return area, Sheridan Drive and Essjay Road. Rain will cancel hike.
Important Hiker's Information
INSURANCE NOTE: Attention members: Foothills Trail Club carries liability insurance to financially protect all of us in case a participant in a Foothills activity is injured. As a condition of our insurance coverage, no pets of any kind are allowed and every participant in an activity needs to sign the liability waiver before the activity begins. So please make sure you sign the form!
Hike Leaders and Hikers: Before you commit to lead a club hike or plan a personal hike, check the trail conditions to ensure that the trail is open. This information can be found on the FLT website: www.fingerlakestrail.org. Click on “TRAIL CONDITIONS” and select the map # for your intended hike. Map numbers that appear in ORANGE have trail closures for hunting. Trail conditions are outlined for all the other maps #’s.
HIKER RESPONSIBILITY: We remind you that you, and only you, are responsible for your own actions. Come to our events prepared. Do not participate if the event may present a hazard for which you or your party members are not prepared. If weather is questionable or if you have questions, please call the named hike coordinator; the hike may be canceled. When participating, please respect the coordinator and do not break away from the group without telling them. We suggest you always keep your eye on someone in front of you, and behind you if you are in the lead. Please remember that hike leaders are not guides; they are volunteers, willing to share their knowledge and experience with you. Please give them your cooperation and respect. The leader has the right to refuse anyone who is not prepared for the outing. In addition, if the hike leader does arrange carpooling, passengers are expected to contribute toward the cost of transportation. Finally, since there are RISKS INVOLVED in hiking everyone participating does so at his or her own risk.
REMEMBER TO RESPECT LANDOWNER RIGHTS: Stay on the trail, don’t take shortcuts, don’t walk on crops, don’t build fires or camp on private land and NEVER, EVER enter landowner buildings.
BE SURE TO THANK THOSE MEMBERS WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO LEAD THESE ACTIVITIES.
HIKE COORDINATORS: IF YOU NEED TO CANCEL YOUR HIKE OR SEND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR HIKE TO FOOTHILLS MEMBERS VIA THE CLUB’S GOOGLE GROUP.
Please refer to your Tales newsletter or the Google group email for hiking leader and contact information