We feature a whole lot of information on this site, and while we sometimes take the more is more approach, we realize it’s sometimes best to keep it simple. That said, it’s time to cut out the fluff and get right to the best of the best. Outdoorsy readers, get ready: if there are only five hikes you ever do near Buffalo, make them these.

1. Eternal Flame Falls
Adam Moss - Flickr
Trailhead: just beyond the intersection of Seufort Road and Route 277, Orchard Park
Eternal Flame Falls, Eternal Flame Hiking Trail, Orchard Park, NY 14127, USA
Kim Carpenter - Flickr
First things first: If you haven't hiked to the Eternal Flame yet, you haven't truly lived. This is undoubtedly the most enchanting place near Buffalo, and with a relatively easy hike, it's worthy of the top spot on this list!
2. Letchworth State Park (1 Letchworth State Park, Castile)
Letchworth State Park - Facebook
Letchworth State Park, New York, USA
Letchworth State Park - Facebook
Letchworth State Park is a 14,427-acre park located just over an hour outside of the City of Buffalo. It was recently named the Best State Park in the USA. If you're an avid hiker, you absolutely must add it to your list of must-treks! There are several trails here to choose from – each with varying difficulties, but all with the same amazing scenery.
3. Tifft Nature Preserve (1200 Fuhrmann Boulevard)
Courtney Yonce - GoogleMaps
Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Boulevard, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
row4food - Flickr
Tifft Nature Preserve is one of our favorite easy hikes to take near Buffalo. Its wooden boardwalks and well-groomed trails make for an enjoyable and peaceful afternoon adventure that hikers of any skill level can enjoy.
4. Akron Falls State Park
gardener41 - Flickr
Akron Falls Parking, 83 Skyline Dr, Akron, NY 14001, USA
gardener41 - Flickr
Akron Falls State Park is a stunningly scenic hike. The low difficulty level of this hike is worth every ounce of effort when you stop to look around! Head here to see why we consider this place a little slice of heaven.
5. Emery Park
2084 Emery Rd, South Wales, NY 14139, USA
Timothy Demay - GoogleMaps
Ryan Hallock - Flickr
Emery Park is home to one of our favorite hidden waterfalls and it's also one of our favorite places to hike! We highly recommend trekking these trails in the spring and fall when the water is flowing.

Where are your favorite hiking trails near Buffalo? Do you agree with our top five? Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments, and don’t forget to share photos of your adventures by tagging us on Instagram using #onlyinbflo!

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More to Explore

Best Hikes in Buffalo

Tori Jane | April 08, 2022

What are some of the most amazing scenic hikes in Buffalo?  

New York is a beautiful place, and Buffalo is a city that showcases this beauty in unique ways you may have never considered before. One of the best ways to really appreciate this is by taking a nice scenic hike, and there are plenty of trails on which to do so for a great time. Some of our favorite scenic hiking trails in (and around) Buffalo include the Tifft Nature Preserve Trail, at Tifft Nature Preserve; it’s 1.9 miles long, easy, and perfect for a lazy day hike with the family. If you’re a fan of waterfalls, check out the Glen Falls Trail Loop at Amherst State Park. That one’s a little longer than the Tifft Nature Preserve Trail, at 2.7 miles long, but it’s just as easy, so you’re sure to have a nice, laid-back time. Finally, check out Hoyt Lake Loop, at Delaware Park. It’s 1.1 miles long, quite easy, and features some amazing lake views. No matter which hiking trails in Buffalo you choose, you’re sure to have a great time.  

What are the best easy hikes in New York?  

Okay, so what are some great easy hikes in New York outside of the city of Buffalo? We’re glad you asked; with more than 3,000 amazing hiking trails all over New York, more than 2,000 of those are rated as easy, which is great news for those of us who love the great outdoors but don’t want to put in crazy amounts of blood, sweat, and tears to do so. We suggest checking out Lake Minnewaska Loop, at Minnewaska State Park Preserve. It’s 1.9 miles long and, like many of our beautiful hikes, features some wonderful lake views. The Kaaterskill Falls from Lauren House Road in the Kaaterskill Wild Forest is another great one, and at 1.6 miles long it’s not a hard trek at all. That one features an amazing waterfall, and if you enjoy waterfall hikes in New York, you’ll also love the Taughannock Falls via Gorge Trail at Taughannock Falls State Park, which is 1.8 miles of the quickest trail to the bottom of yet another awe-inspiring waterfall.  

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