Allegany State Park, Osgood Trail
Visited July 1, 2022
Parking: I used Google Maps: Red House Beach at Allegany State Park, Allegany State Park (ASP) Route 1, Salamanca, NY to enter the park on ASP Route 2 off of Exit 19 from Route 83. I used 42.106477, -78.742412 coordinates in Google Maps to find the parking at the Osgood Trail Head.
65 degrees when I arrived at 8:20 AM - 78 degrees Fahrenheit at 10:30 AM with no notable breeze
No restrooms at the parking area or trail but if you drive to the Red House Beach Parking, there is a toilet building there.
There was no one at the gate collecting admission fees before 9:00 AM on this Sunday morning.
Dogs are supposed to be on a leash. Owners are supposed to pick up after their dogs.
The trail is well marked with one tricky intersection. I included photos below.
I logged 3.5 miles. I walked .44 miles from parking before reaching the actual loop.
The trail is single-file with a natural surface. There has been no significant rain for over a week so there was no mud on the trail. The trail was mostly steep incline and decline with roots and rocks to watch for. This trail could be tricky and treacherous during times of significant rain. I recommend long pants and copious amounts of bug spray. I wore a bug net over my head for awhile because I was so frustrated with the buzzing around my head.
I believe trying to navigate this trail with a stroller would be a miserable experience due to the roots, rocks, and many downed trees.
I did not see any people on the trail. I did see people who had recently arrived in the parking lot as I was preparing to leave.
I did see trash on the trail. I picked up a half-empty water bottle, an empty candy wrapper, an empty beer can, and a piece of ring-shaped plastic.
The mosquitos were determined today and did not care that I had on long pants, a hat, t-shirt, and bug spray.
Parking: Dirt with some gravel. Small lot that might hold four or five vehicles. There is a large, paved lot a short drive down the road.
I saw evidence of a pileated woodpecker, and I heard songbirds. I saw a squirrel. There were mosses, ferns, daisies, mayapple, buttercups, forget me nots, pink clover, white clover, multiflora rose, trillium, and a variety of tree species including shagbark hickory, oaks and maples.
Website: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/73/details.aspx
Trail Map PDF: https://parks.ny.gov/documents/parks/AlleganyRedHouseAreaTrailMap.pdf
This hike is part of the WNY Hiking Challenge, Summer 2022. To learn more: https://outsidechronicles.com/summer/.
This park hosts a Geocaching Bash in May. There are many geocaches in the park. www.geocaching.com.
Dirt parking lot off of ASP 2
Trail Entrance as viewed when standing by the information board
Recent pileated woodpecker activity
When the first choice comes, go left.
If you go right, you will see this blocking the trail.
When I arrived at the loop .44 miles in, I chose to go counter clockwise.
My walking sticks were placed to help you see the size of these amazing rocks.
Numerous downed trees on the path
Trillium after flowering season
Located at the trail summit
Great height for a bench approximately 3/4 of the way around the loop.
Turn right to get back to parking. The Osgood Loop sign is to the left in this picture.
