DEC Announces Reopening of Valentine Flats Parking Area and Trails at Zoar Valley Multiple Use and Unique Areas

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the immediate reopening of the Valentine Flats parking area and associated trails at Zoar Valley Multiple Use and Unique Areas. Valentine Flats was temporarily closed on Aug. 26 in order to accommodate trail repair work to address erosion.

Other access points to the Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area and Unique Area, including Forty Road, as well as the Holcomb Pond and Ross Pond areas, are also open to visitors. Visitors are encouraged to read and be familiar with important visitor information prior to visiting. For more information, go to DEC's Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area website.

DEC reminds visitors to recreate safely and responsibly by following all rules and regulations and taking appropriate outdoor safety measures, including:

Signing in and out of all trail registers. Only one person should sign in for groups;

Following all State Forest Regulations, Outdoor Safety Practices and posted signage at access points, along trails and at the gorge rim;

Staying on marked trails. The property contains hazards associated with rocks, steep slopes, cliffs, and swift water. There is no authorized, safe trail to access Cattaraugus Creek on the Erie County side of the Multiple Use Area;

Observing all the rules and regulations. Before visiting, visitors should familiarize themselves with DEC's regulations, which restrict access upstream from the Forty Road parking area, include a 15-foot setback from the cliff edges, prohibit climbing of cliff walls, and create a new restricted area along the South Branch of Cattaraugus Creek. Additional rules and regulations continue to prohibit camping, fires, alcoholic beverages, and glass containers at Zoar Valley;

Following @NYSDECAlerts. The @NYSDECAlerts Twitter feed helps provide real-time updates about the most crowded places, especially when those places and parking areas are at capacity; and

Practicing Leave No Trace^TM principles when recreating on State land to enjoy the outdoors responsibly, minimize impact on the natural resources, and interact respectfully with others.

New Yorkers are encouraged to Love Our New York Lands at Zoar Valley and all natural spaces by practicing Leave No Trace™ principles and by recreating safely, sustainably, and hiking in suitable conditions based on weather and experience level.

For more information and for updates on trail and parking closures, please visit DEC's website.

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