Chestnut Ridge Park, Ward Trail
Visited August 16, 2021
6121 Chestnut Ridge Road, Orchard Park, NY [Usually, I go through the stone-pillar gates and park in the huge lot near the casino and the sledding hill. Today I turned down the road on the other side of the road and followed it through the park to the gate.]
76 degrees Fahrenheit 1:13 PM - 2:12 PM
I used the clean bathroom facility that is the first building in the park on the side of the road opposite the sledding hill. Other bathrooms are on the Chestnut Ridge map but some of them were closed so I am glad I stopped here before going further down the road. [The casino near the sledding hill has toilets that are accessible in the winter months when I have visited in the past.]
Dogs on leash are welcome. Come prepared to pick up after your dog.
I would allow 2 hours or more to explore more of the trails in this park. Wesley and I hiked for 1.7 mile on a pleasant undemanding paved trail called Ward Hill Walkway. We left it to explore the path to the Ward Monument where we heard owls hoot "who cooks for you all" and then again we left the paved trail to return on a trail that bordered the creek.
We have in the past enjoyed hiking to the eternal flame, geocaching all over the park, and snowshoeing the trails near the casino parking lot. This is a beautiful park and it is worthy of repeat visits.
The trail was maintained so shorts would be okay if you are staying on the trail.
The paved trail is as wide as a road. The dirt trails that were off the paved trail were mostly single file. I saw people on the paved trail but I had the side trails to myself.
Mosquitos were present but respected the long pants, hat, and bug spray.
No cost for parking.
Parking: a choice of lots but the lot closest to the trail is a gravel lot that might host five or six vehicles.
While in the park, Wesley and I saw robins and a chipmunk. I saw cherry, birch, maple, and oak trees. I saw Queen Anne's lace, milkweed, asters, cat tails, and goldenrod.
Chestnut Ridge Park is part of the WNY Summer Hiking Challenge. https://outsidechronicles.com/challenge
This park is also in the 2021 Erie County Parks Passport.
Chestnut Ridge Park has been a great place to geocache since we began in 2006. For more information about this interesting hobby: www.geocaching.com.
For more information about the park and trails: https://www2.erie.gov/parks/index.php?q=chestnut-ridge
Toilet facilities after leaving Chestnut Ridge Road.
Small parking area near this gate. Be wary of trash if you have a super snarfer dog such as Wesley.
The paved walkway.
Ward Hill Walkway
Cat tails
This toilet facility did not appear open but I did not go up to it to check, either.
A chipmunk froze halfway up this trunk believing it was invisible to us.
Stairs to the monument.
Monument dedicated to Hamilton Ward, Jr., instrumental to the development of Chestnut Ridge Park. He bequeathed several hundred acres to the park.
Returned to the parking area via the trail closest to the creek.
Not much rain recently so the creek is low.
Wesley found a small pool to cool his paws and rewet his cooling jacket.
