When it comes to fascinating rock formations and unique terrain, New York has all of the bases covered. From Elephant Head rocks in the Adirondacks to enormous rock piles in the Catskills, there’s plenty to be explored. But if you head out to our westernmost corner of the state, you’ll find several locations that are home to jaw-dropping rock cities that are spectacular to explore.
All the way out in Cattaraugus County, there’s a unusual part of Allegany State Park that’s worth exploring.
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The enormous state park is divided up in two, made up of the Red House Area and Quaker Area.
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With over 3,000 acres of mature forests that are home to some of our state’s largest trees, you’ll love taking a trip into the woods to explore all there is to find.
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In the Quaker Area’s southern sections, you’ll find various spots like the Bear Caves Trail that feature pieces of the state park’s rock city.
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Adventurers will discover the famous Thunder Rocks that they can climb up or gaze at from the trails.
Robby G C/TripAdvisor
Robby G C/TripAdvisor
While most visitors are quick to assume that these rocks are the results of glaciers, this specific small area of New York is unique because it has gone untouched by them.
Dan K/TripAdvisor
Dan K/TripAdvisor
This area of the park is also special because it features a variety of Appalachian species of plants that aren’t generally found out in Western New York.
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Great for adventurers of all ages, you’ll be able to find boulders that have weathered into interesting shapes.
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Visitors even claim to see the shapes of gorillas, whales, turtles and more while looking at some of the rocks!
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If you hike along the Bear Caves Trail, you’ll be able to see several caves that are the result of geological activity that took place 165 million years ago.
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Explorers equipped with a flashlight can go inside the three cave-like openings that are featured on this trail.
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The perfect place for you to dive right into our state’s geologic history, the rock city is one of Mother Nature’s grandest jungle gyms.
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Open all year long, there’s no need to wait to visit our extraordinary Thunder Rocks.
Dan K/TripAdvisor To find out more about Allegany State Park’s Quaker Area, click here.
Did you realize that these rocks were hiding right in Allegany State Park? Share your photos from this amazing state park with us in our comments section! If you’re curious about the park’s other half, check out our post about the Red House Area that you’ll want to add to your bucket list.
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Dan K/TripAdvisor
To find out more about Allegany State Park’s Quaker Area, click here.
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