Allegany County

Allegany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,946.[1] Its name derives from a Delaware Indian word, applied by settlers of Western New York State to a trail that followed the Allegheny River. Its county seat is Belmont.

Allegany County is in the southwestern part of New York State, along the Pennsylvania border. Allegany County does not lie along the Allegheny River, as its name would suggest. The highest point in the county is Alma Hill with an elevation of 2,548′ above sea level. This is the highest point west of the Catskill Mountains in New York State. The highest point of Interstate 86 is located in the Town of West Almond with an elevation of 2,110′. This is also believed to be the highest point of any Interstate in the New York.

The Genesee River bisects the county from south to north. In June 1972 the remnants of Hurricane Agnes stalled over the area, dropping more than 20 inches (510 mm) of rain. There was memorable flooding in Wellsville, Belmont, Belfast and other valley communities of the county. The Genesee River is extremely popular with canoeists (as it was a favored route for Native Americans) and the river abounds in smallmouth bass, trout and panfish.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegany_County,_New_York

Still Haven’t Made it to Allegany County

|

Much to my disappointment, I never made it out to Allegany County this year. I had hoped to spend at least a few nights camping out there during November, but it got cold and snowy early, and by the time I got my week off for vacation, snow had set in the roads to the backcountry where I wanted to camp would have been impassable. I had great fun camping there in 2016, as you can see from this video.

Allegany County has always captured my imagination the few times I’ve been out there. Not because it’s as spectacular as Cattaraugus County, or as scenic as the Adirondacks, but because it’s rural and remote. The history of the county’s fight against the nuclear waste dump, makes it even more exciting. In recent years, thanks to increased digitization of mapping data by the DEC, the lands have become easier to discover, and learn what campsites and recreational opportunities exist there.

Campsite

Maybe next summer during my summer vacation I’ll spend some time out there. I don’t have my trip laid out, so it’s one of many options.

Looking Forward to Camping in Allegany County

|

This November one of the things i am looking forward to doing in my road trip is camping for a few nights in Allegany County. Two years ago, I spent a night in a tent up in the woods in Ossian State Forest (near Rattlesnake WMA) but this year I’m leaning more towards one of the roadside sites in one of the many state forests in Allegany County — Bully Hill, Klipnocky, Karr Valley, and Jersey Hill are one of many that have designated road sites.

Based on my past exploration of those state forests, I can say for a fact that those designated campsites are lightly used, many of them even lack fire rings. But I bring a trowel, and can always dig out a fire pit. I would probably set up for multiple nights, and one day go out hiking and hunting from camp, especially if I have enough sun to bring the battery voltage back up by end of the day.

I have spent several nights in the fairly remote parts of Cattaragus County, but very little time in Allegany County, except for that one night in Ossian State Forest. I want to explore it more and learn more about the countryside in Allegany County, take some of backroads and get to understand the landscape better. I will probably drive one day up to Letchworth State Park, and then down to Canacadea State Forest and Almond Lake in Hornell.

Heading Out of the Mountains