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.
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.
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.
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.
Good morning! Sunny and 42 degrees in Ossian State Forest. There is a west-southwest breeze at 10 mph. Not a half bad morning but still pretty breezy. Taking down camp now and will be heading north to Letchworth State Park in a bit. Then I’ll be heading west, most likely to Cattaraugus County.
Definitely nice and warm in the tent, it makes getting changed and washed up so much more pleasant when it’s 75 degrees versus the truck cap when you’re above the covers and it’s only slightly above the ambient air temperature between 20 and 30. On a breezy day like today, you occasionally feel a cool breeze blowing in the tent but it’s still very comfortable for getting changed and warming things up before bed.
Carbon monoxide detector continues to read zero, which is normal because a catalytic converter heater should never put out any measurable level of CO. That said it is fuel burning appliance and a malfunction could occur. It also never gets real hot to the touch because it radiates the heat but never gets above a couple hundred degrees on its surface. You can touch the metal safely except when its on its highest setting.
Today will be a nice one. Look for sunny conditions, with a high of 56 degrees at 2pm. Seven degrees above normal. Southwest wind 7 to 11 mph. Should be a pretty nice day especially compared to last year. Last year, mostly cloudy with a high around 44. The record high of 70 was set in 1973. There was 14.4 inches of snow back in 1972.
The sun will set at 4:48 pm with dusk around 5:19 pm, which is 54 seconds earlier than yesterday. Today will have 9 hours and 46 minutes of daylight, a decrease of 2 minutes and 9 seconds over yesterday.
Tonight will be partly cloudy, with a low of 36 degrees at 5am. Three degrees above normal. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. One year ago, partly cloudy with a low around 30. The record low of 14 occurred back in 1939.
Good evening! Ample moonlight and 49 degrees at the Ossian State Forest. Tonight is the Beaver Full Moon. Under clear skies the woods is pretty easy to see. There is a west-southwest breeze at 15 mph. Not so cold but just as breezy or maybe more so then when I was at Finger Lakes National Forest. The breeze does blow out the pilot a fair bit but it’s mild enough I’ll probably just leave the heater off and just sit next to the fire until bed.
Took Waze out to Ossian State Forest, taking the blue highways. This one county highway I took wound through a deep gorge and was kind of interesting. Drove through Bath for the first time. Looked at camping at Evergreen Lake but the firewood was well picked over so I decided to set up my tent in the backcountry about 200 ft off a back road.
Didn’t visit any place special today but I still liked seeing the small towns and back roads. Sometimes the best and most interesting trips aren’t any one in particular.
Tonight will be clear, with a low of 37 degrees at 5am. Four degrees above normal. Southwest wind around 15 mph. One year ago, mostly cloudy with a low around 35. The record low of 12 occurred back in 1996.
Tomorrow will be sunny, with a high of 58 degrees at 2pm. Nine degrees above normal. Southwest wind 7 to 13 mph. Last year, mostly cloudy with a high around 44. The record high of 70 was set in 1973. There was 14.4 inches of snow back in 1972. The sun will rise at 7:01 am with the first light at 6:31 am, which is 1 minutes and 15 seconds later then yesterday.
Tomorrow I will spend some time in Rattlesnake WMA then Letchworth State Park. I think I will break camp in the morning and head further west – maybe East Otto State Forest or Rock City State Forest. I’ll have to think what I want to do come the morning.
Looking ahead, Christmas is in 6 weeks and New Years Day is in seven. .
Good morning! Happy Sunday. Today is first day of the Winter 2016-17 season when we can expect am average low below freezing every day. It’s also seven weeks out through New Years Day and six weeks out from Christmas.
Right now we have sunny conditions and 36 degrees in Watkins Glen. Breezy, 16 mph breeze from the west. But not as bitterly cold as Friday night but I’ll be glad to be camping somewhere tonight that is a bit more sheltered.
Today will be sunny, with a high of 52 degrees at 2pm. Four degrees above normal. West wind 14 to 16 mph. Except for the wind not too bad. Getting off the mountain should be less windy. Last year, partly cloudy with a high around 56. The record high of 69 was set in 1964. There was 6 inches of snow back in 1886.
The sun will set at 4:45 pm with dusk around 5:15 pm, which is 56 seconds earlier than yesterday. Today will have 9 hours and 48 minutes of daylight, a decrease of 2 minutes and 11 seconds over yesterday.
Tonight will be clear, with a low of 32 degrees at 6am. Typical for tonight. Southwest wind 15 to 17 mph. One year ago, mostly cloudy with a low around 35. The record low of 12 occurred back in 1996.
There are 6 weeks until Christmas when the sun will be setting at 4:40 pm with dusk at 5:12 pm. The average high temperature is 33 degrees, with a record high of 66 in 1889.
