Chautauqua County Visitors Guide 2009 - (Page 31) terrain Chautauqua County lies atop the Allegheny Plateau with rolling hills, woodlands, meadows, wetlands, and lakes. To the northwest, the county borders Lake Erie for 50 miles with a narrow low lying Great Lakes Plain. A few miles inland, the escarpment rises nearly 800 feet to the Chautauqua Ridge offering a diverse habitat for migrating birds, a varied landscape for hikers, country roads for cyclists, and inland lakes for families seeking fresh water recreation. At 2,060 feet above sea level, the Tom Erlandson Overview Park southeast of Jamestown marks the highest vantage point in the county. take a class Lana’s the Little House, gardening workshops, Forestville, lanasthelittlehouse.com, 716-965-2798 Roger Tory Peterson Institute, birding festival June 2009, Jamestown, rtpi.org, 716-665-2473 Audubon Nature Center, “Little Explorers” camps, jamestownaudubon.org, 716-569-2345 Findley Lake Nature and Wildlife Center, 716-769-7610 Public Stargazing, Martz Observatory, Frewsburg martzobservatory.org p trails lore forests, fields and creeks Nature abounds throughout Chautauqua County with trails, beaches, migration flyways, state lands, and a gorge that winds eight miles from Mayville to Barcelona Harbor on Lake Erie. Visit French Creek Preserve, one of the most biologically diverse waterways in the northeast. Stand in awe of quartz conglomerate rock formations at Panama Rocks or kayak down river outlets and meandering creeks. Thermal currents and flyways along Lake Erie, heavily forested areas, wetlands and open fields welcome a diverse bird population. Designated trails provide year 'round opportunities for hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, and cross-country skiers. The Boutwell State Wildlife Area is home to groomed snowmobile trails and dedicated horseback riding trails, as well as hiking, snowshoe, cross country skiing and strenuous mountain biking trails. Hike from the Pennsylvania border to the Chautauqua Gorge over the Fred J. Cusimano Westside Overland Trail or explore hardwood forests along the Earl Cardot Eastside Overland Trail. Adirondack lean-tos, latrines, fireplaces and tables outfit campsites along the way. Magnificent views are common atop the county's ridges and hills. Take in a panorama of Lake Erie from the Luensman Overview Park. On a clear day, you might see all the way to Canada. www.tourchautauqua.com 866.908.ILNY(4569) | 31 http://www.lanasthelittlehouse.com http://www.rtpi.org http://www.jamestownaudubon.org http://www.martzobservatory.org http://www.tourchautauqua.com
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