Main Branch Canyon Rim Routes

NorthWest Route - DEC Parking Lot to Confluence Dome

Driving Route to DEC parking Lot (3111 Vail Road Gowanda, NY)

To reach this Ridge(some directions from BK, p. 44), locate the intersection of Vail and Unger Roads north of the Zoar Valley canyon. From this intersection, go east 50 feet and on the south side of Vail Rd is the gravel entrance to the parking lot. Park.

Route to Canyon Rim

Follow the meadow trail (A to E) at the back(south) of the parking lot south(A) until it reaches the woods at the other side of the meadow.(Waypoint E). Where the trail meets the forest edge, it turns left. Walk along the trail (E-F) 400 feet further and you will see where the power lines on poles (Waypoint F) cut through the woods. Turn right off the trail (at Waypoint F) and follow the wires for 275 feet along a path. Just before the last pole (Waypoint G), walk to the right side of the utility corridor. Continue 30-50 feet towards the edge of the canyon, looking for a small trail inside the woods, which will parallel the edge of the gorge away from the electric lines.

Route along Canyon Rim

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has surveyed the Canyon Rim and placed property markers(signs) along the rim to alert hikers as to the boundary between private property and the Zoar Valley MUA.
About 1/2 mile (From 0.61MM ro 1.14MM) along the canyon trail you will come across a large round boulder. At the edge of the canyon is Hogs Back Ridge.

The Northwest Main Branch Canyon Rim Route is divided into two segments: From Vail Road Parking Lot to Hogs Back Boulder (1.70mi) where the route follows a south and west direction and another segment from Hogs Back Boulder to Vail Road Radio Tower (1.60mi) which follows a north/west/north jogging route.



Latitude Longitude MAP GPS MM(Mi) SEG(Ft) Elev(Ft) CMP(°) SG GC Feature
-- C 42.45622° -78.81297° MAP GT Vail-Unger Roads Intersection

Google Maps directions to Vail-Unger road intersection from Buffalo (36mi). Address is 3111 Vail Road Gowanda,NY

-- C 42.45143° -78.87941° MAP GT Parking Lot Entrance

Parking spaces for about 10 vehicles.

A0 C 42.45079° -78.87924° MAP GT 0.00 430 1278 ↑ 190° - Meadow Trail - Start

This is at the rear (south) of the DEC parking Lot.

B1 C 42.44979° -78.87947° MAP GT 0.08 478 1278 - 190° - GC Trail Gate

A metal gate crosses the trail preventing vehicles from entering the area.
C2 C 42.44828° -78.87984° MAP GT 0.17 643 1270 - 180° - Ross Pond Creek

You will cross the creek, but will not see it (except during periods of moderate/heavy precipitation). The creek starts at Ross Pond to the east and terminates near the South Branch confluence where it creates Bare Bunn Falls.

D3 C 42.44659° -78.87978° MAP GT 0.29 968 1307 - 170° - Meadow Trail - Intersection

When you come to this intersection in the trail, stay straight (South). Turning left (East) leads to Ross Pond.

E4 C 42.44400° -78.87907° MAP GT 0.48 471 1307 - 100° - Meadow Trail - End

The meadow trail that you have been hiking(due south) ends when you reach the woods and a perpendicular line of power transmission lines(single pole) that traverses left and right. The power transmisson pole at this location is numbered T214. Turn to the left(East) and about 75 yards away you will see another power transmission line traversing due N-S. That is the power line you want to head to.

F5 C 42.44389° -78.87733° MAP GT 0.57 262 1313 - 180° - Power Transmission Pole(T214)

Follow(due South) the triple pole(Pole Number:T211B) power transmission line for about 750 feet to the end(ie. Canyon Rim).

G6 C 42.44318° -78.87725° MAP GT 0.61 738 1278 - 250° - Last Transmission Tri-Pole(T211B)

The trail along the canyon rim is directly(30ft) to the right(West) of this pole.

The last Transmission Tri-Pole at the edge of the canyon rim, follow trail to the right(west)
H7 C 42.44277° -78.87952° MAP GT 0.95 1027 1278 - 240° - Canyon Rim Overlook H

Spot along the rim trail where you can look out over the canyon.

As the trail follows the canyon rim, some sections permit a view across the canyon to the south rim.
I8 C 42.44125° -78.88258° MAP GT 1.14 157 1246 - 300° - GC Hogs Back Boulder

The Hogs Back Boulder(4-5ft diameter) is obvious and Hogs Back Ridge is 20ft to the left(South). The Canyon Access trail descents from 1246ft at the canyon rim to 862ft (384ft) at the river and is steep! The gradient down Hogs Back Ridge is 845ft horizonal and 384ft vertical giving a slope of about 40°. The Boulder is a glacial erratic deposited by the Laurentide Ice Sheet during the Pleistocene Epoch (about 11,700BP). The Canyon Rim Trail continues to the west towards the confluence.

Members of the Meetup.com/Buffalo-Outdoors group View from near the top of Hogs Back Ridge during descent towards the east(upstream)
J9 C 42.44146° -78.88308° MAP GT 1.17 367 1246 - 300° - Seasonal Creek

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K10 C 42.44193° -78.88428° MAP GT 1.24 113 1230 - 315° - Canyon Overlook K

Continuing west along the Canyon Rim from the Top of Hogs Back Ridge you will come upon several openings in the forest which will permit a view across the canyon. The gradient of the trail along the canyon rim is slightly down, descending from 1246ft at Hogs Back Ridge to 1130ft at Confluence Dome.
L11 C 42.44216° -78.88457° MAP GT 1.26 768 1246 - 300° - Seasonal Creek

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M12 C 42.44316° -78.88707° MAP GT 1.41 764 1175 - 250° - Overlook M

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N13 C 42.44244° -78.88972° MAP GT 1.55 443 1171 ↓ 230° - Overlook N

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O14 C 42.44173° -78.89104° MAP GT 1.63 325 1130 ↑ 240° - Low Point

This is a depression between the east canyon trail and the Confluence Dome. The trail ascends to the west from here to the top of Confluence Dome.

P15 C 42.44133° -78.89211° MAP GT 1.70 --- 1130 - 000° - Confluence Dome

When you are at this location, you are standing on a Dome of Devonian Shale and silt stones of the Canadaway formation. The Dome was created by the erosion of the underlying rock to the East, South and Southwest by Cattaraugus Creek and to the Northwest and North by Ross Pond Creek. Immediately (<100ft) north of this location is Ross Pond Creek which drains Ross Pond (to the east) and creates Bare Bunn Falls which is west and 100ft below. To the west you can observe Pyramid Hill (elevation 1012ft, 120 feet lower) located within the Valentines Flat area. The pyramid is purported to have been built by the Mayan civilization over 5,000 years ago. Towards the southwest you can see the South Branch tributary of Cattaraugus Creek as it intersects the main branch of Cattaraugus Creek at the confluence and Valentine Point which is between the South Branch and Pyramid Hill. Directly south is Martins Point.

Parking Lot to Confluence Dome


Main Branch Canyon Rim Routes

NorthWest Route - Confluence Dome to Radio Tower Exit

Latitude Longitude MAP GPS MM(Mi) SEG(Ft) Elev(Ft) CMP(°) SG GC Feature
A0 C 42.44133° -78.89211° MAP GT 0.00 404 1130 - 320° - Confluence Dome

See description above. The trail changes at this point from an east-west orientation to a south-north direction.

B1 C 42.44227° -78.89288° MAP GT 0.77 822 1038 - 310° - Ross Pond Creek

Ross Pond Creek is at the bottom of a depression north of Confluence Dome. Select your crossing spot carefully.

C2 C 42.44382° -78.89510° MAP GT 0.23 417 1105 - 300° - Trail Marker C

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D3 C 42.44446° -78.89626° MAP GT 0.31 523 1047 - 40° - Canyon View Point

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E4 C 42.44547° -78.89522° MAP GT 0.41 636 1130 - 25° - Tiny Little Creek

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F5 C 42.44699° -78.89428° MAP GT 0.53 752 1130 - 350° - Trail Marker

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G6 C 42.44908° -78.89488° MAP GT 0.64 375 1175 - 340° - Crescent Bowl Ridge South

From this area you can view across the canyon towards the west to observe Outlook or Overlook Point). BK mistakenly refers to this as Point Peter.

H7 C 42.45002° -78.89545° MAP GT 0.71 614 1146 - 285° - GC Crescent Bowl Ridge North

At or near this location you will see to the north a line of power poles running in a east-west direction. They are on private property, so stay closer to to Canyon Rim and keep traveling in a westerly direction. From this location until waypoint J, travel west. There is a Geocache at/near this location (42.450033°, -78.89550°).

I8 C 42.45047° -78.89764° MAP GT 0.83 123 1122 - 260° - Trail Marker I

From this location you can see Overlook point to the Southwest. Towards the North of this location are a set of telephone poles and a large open field with a pond. The trail is level towards the west.

J9 C 42.45044° -78.89808° MAP GT 0.85 256 1122 ↓ 260° - Canyon Overlook J

At this location the trail diverts towards the Southwest and descends glently.

K10 C 42.45033° -78.89902° MAP GT 0.90 191 1124 - 240° - Canyon Overlook K

The trail continues in a Southwest direction.

L11 C 42.45007° -78.89962° MAP GT 0.94 254 1112 ↓ 250° - Trail Marker L

Continue in a Southwest direction, on a moderately descending trail.

M12 C 42.44982° -78.90049° MAP GT 0.98 231 1084 ↓ 240° - Canyon Overlook M

The trail continues in a westerly direction after this location and descends.

N13 C 42.44954° -78.90125° MAP GT 1.03 257 1047 - 240° - Ravine

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O14 C 42.44917° -78.90205° MAP GT 1.08 298 1003 - 230° - Trail Marker O

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P15 C 42.44868° -78.90292° MAP GT 1.13 609 1004 - 250° - Trail Marker P

At this location the trail leads away (towards the west about 15°) from the Canyon Rim slightly and onto a well worn path.

Q16 C 42.44819° -78.90508° MAP GT 1.25 545 980 - 350° - Trail Marker Q

When you reach this location a small pond is within 15ft of the trail. Traverse past (west) the pond and head north along the west edge of the pond. This is the location from where you need to travel directly north to intersect Vail Road. The Zoar Valley MUA extends north from here as a narrow band of property bounded by twin Gravel Pits to the West and East. The Gravel Pits are private property, so stay within the narrow corridor of the MUA boundaries. The small pond to the northeast of this location is NOT within the boundaries of the MUA. From this location the path ascends about 150ft to the gravel pit area.
If you continue along the Canyon Rim west of this location you will come across the section of Zoar MUA that Bruce Kershner refers to as "The Ancient Pines of Voar Valley" in his book "Guide to the Ancient Forests of Zoar Valley Canyon" on p. 39. If you continue west to visit this area you must return to this location as this is the only exit.

R17 C 42.44967° -78.90545° MAP GT 1.35 258 1063 ↑ 0° - Trail Marker R

The trail takes a sharp left turn (west) and steep for a short distance.

S18 C 42.44998° -78.90570° MAP GT 1.40 226 1088 - 350° - Trail Marker S

The trail becomes slightly more level. Just keep hiking towards the tower (Due North).

T19 C 42.45100° -78.90560° MAP GT 1.44 177 1114 ↓↑ 0° - South Ravine

At this waypoint you will be at the south side of a ravine that cuts across the path. Descent into the ravine, and back up the opposite side, then just keep hiking towards the tower (Due North).

U20 C 42.45150° -78.90556° MAP GT 1.48 440 1147 - 0° - North Ravine

This is the north side of the ravine. Just keep hiking towards the tower (Due North).

V21 C 42.45278° -78.90549° MAP GT 1.56 233 1147 - 0° - Radio Tower

Travel to the left(west) of the Radio Tower to stay on State Property.

W22 C 42.45339° -78.90554° MAP GT 1.60 --- 1147 - - Vail Road

The walk back along Vail Road(East) is 1.3mi with an accumulative vertical ascent of about 500 feet. If you don't know which direction is East, take a right when you reach Vail Road, travel until to get to the Unger road intersection (first intersection) and the parking lot is 50ft farther on the right.

Special Informational Column definitions

MM: The Mile Marker which is the distance (in miles) along the trail from the starting point.

SEG: The distance (in feet) from this location to the next.

Elev: The elevation of this location (in feet) as obtained from Google Earth.

↓↑-: Whether the trail after this waypoint descends(↓), ascends(↑) or is level(-).

CPS: The compass heading to the next waypoint on the route. The magnetic declination for the Zoar Valley area is -10.3°

GPS: The GPS coordinates are obtained from several sources: Google Maps(GM), Google Earth(GE), and Ground Verification/Truth(GT).

SG: The stream gradient in feet per mile

GC: Geocaching: A GeoCache is located at or near this location.

Confluence Dome to Radio Tower



Main Canyon - NorthWest Rim Route


Property Boundary (Parcels) Maps

Tax Map from MM A-M

Tax Map from MM M-Q


as obtained from the Erie County GIS System