WNY Outdoors: Top 5 Dog-Friendly Parks in WNY
Fall is in full swing, and there are plenty of local spots to visit with your furry friend to enjoy the crisp, refreshing weather.
By Catie Keller
(Above: Image courtesy of Africa Images on Canva Pro)
In the City of Good Neighbors, we love our four-legged friends!
If you’re looking to spend quality time getting some exercise with your beloved dog, we have a treat for you: Shake up your walking routine and bring your canine companion somewhere new!
Here are some popular trails across the area, loved by dog owners and dogwalkers alike.
Buffalo Harbor State Park & Greenway Nature Trail
Over 200 acres along the Lake Erie waterfront sits the Outer Harbor, Buffalo’s well-loved marina park where locals come together for all kinds of events and to watch the sunset.
The trail starts at Times Beach Nature Preserve, just a little bit north of Wilkeson Point, and is 5 miles in length, point to point. It’s roughly 88 ft in elevation and crosses paths with Gallagher Beach, Lakeside Bike Park and the Outer Harbor DIY Skatepark. The park also features the Independent Health Wellness Trail, a 3-mile paved trail that is wheelchair-accessible.
Many people enjoy biking, skating and rollerblading, making it a great way to take in all the scenery, with plenty of convenient Reddy Bike stations around the park. Visitors often take the opportunity to admire the grain elevators; the structural remains of our city’s industrialized history.
Bird enthusiasts have recorded a multitude of bird sightings here, including migratory songbirds, swallows, finches, swans, egrets, and a Peregrine falcon!
For owners of highly energetic dogs who love long-distance walks, this one is for you!
Cazenovia Park Loop
There is a well-known 83-acre recreational park in South Buffalo, complete with playgrounds, a splash pad, and various designated athletic fields. Named after the creek that flows through it, Cazenovia Park has a low-intensity trail that comprises a one-mile paved loop along the creek with very little elevation change. There’s even a small waterfall near the northern section of the creek that attracts more than a few visitors and fishermen!
The park hosts many flourishing hardwood species, along with delightful lilac trees scattered throughout the park grounds. With the gentle water and lots of wide-open, grassy space, plenty of dogs enjoy taking a dip in the creek after a nice walk!
Multiple species of herons, robins, warblers, blue jays, and woodpeckers have been seen here.
Ellicott Island Park Trail aka Bark Park
In 2014, a slice of off-leash paradise opened in Tonawanda along the banks of Ellicott Creek Park. Here, dogs can roam and run free, gleefully and safely. The park is located on a 15-acre island with peaceful outlooks of the Tonawanda Creek, complete with a footbridge and gated access. At the entrance inside the gated area, there are water stations for dogs to stay hydrated and be cleaned after playtime, along with dog waste stations.
The trail itself is a 0.8-mile paved loop, adorned with pavilions, a free little library, a garden, and a beach area for pups to cool off. This park is open seasonally from mid-May to mid-March, so be on the lookout for updates on its availability and weather conditions. Friends of Ellicott Creek has a detailed website with regulations that all dog owners must follow.
Visitors can admire the variety of willow trees, sugar and silver maples, smoky gray beech trees, red oak, and Eastern Hemlock trees throughout the park. Blue jays, cardinals, herons, mourning doves, yellow warblers, and wild turkeys can be spotted here in the past. Some rarer birds observed include owls, hawks, and a bald eagle.
Ellicott Creek Park is 165 acres, with waterside trails throughout, making it a great way to extend leashed adventure time with your pup.
Don’t forget to check out the murals inside the remains of the picturesque stone castle along the creek!
Buckhorn Island State Park
This underrated gem in Grand Island is an 895-acre nature preserve along the Niagara River, a medley of lush forests, marshlands, and meadowlands. Many visitors enjoy fishing, biking, kayaking, canoeing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing here.
One of the main out-and-back trails is 8.2 miles round trip, with very little elevation. There are two alternate trails as well, accessible.
The forest and park grounds are adorned with towering oak, maple and hickory trees, with lots of native wildflowers like mullein, milkweed and chicory. For those who enjoy birdwatching, many migratory species have been spotted here, such as egrets, herons, cardinals, goldfinches, sparrows, and the occasional owl!
The park allows a maximum of 2 leashed dogs per visitor.
Elma Meadows County Park
This quaint, peaceful park features a single-mile loop trail with colorful birdhouses dotted along the way, with a small waterfall flowing along Buffalo Creek in Elma. The playground, even terrain and ample picnic space make it an opportune spot for the whole family to enjoy, and a great place to visit in the fall to admire the foliage! Some birds that have been spotted include woodpeckers, cardinals, and even a hawk or two if you’re lucky! Leashed dogs are allowed, so feel free to bring a blanket and enjoy the sounds of chirping birds and a babbling brook.
Honorable Mentions:
Como Lake Bark Park in Lancaster
Knox Farm Dog Park in East Aurora
Smith Road Paw Park in East Amherst
Before venturing out, be sure that your dog is a good fit for certain park environments. Take the time to read through the guidelines each facility has provided and take the necessary precautions to ensure everyone’s safety.
Always remember to go at your own pace and leave no trace — that includes your pup, too!
