Fall/Winter 2011

Snowshoeing is a great way to get some exercise and fresh air during the long cold western New York winter, and it doesn’t even require any specialty ability or equipment — if you walk, you can snowshoe.
One of the region’s best places to snowshoe is Beaver Meadow Nature Center in North Java, New York, located in rural Wyoming County, about 40 miles south of Buffalo. The nearly 400-acre nature center has been operated by the Buffalo Audubon Society for more than 50 years.
One could easily spend an entire day exploring the eight miles of trails at Beaver Meadow. The trails are fairly flat, making them perfect for beginners, and for a nominal fee you can rent a pair of snowshoes and walking poles. In addition to snowshoeing, cross-country skiing is a popular winter pastime — cross-country skis are also available for rental.
Head inside the visitor’s center to warm up after a day on the trails. The building houses a variety of hands-on exhibits for kids, as well as exhibits about the flora and fauna found in the nature center.
Beaver Meadow also has an observatory with a 20-inch diameter astronomical telescope, which is open to the public the first and third Saturdays of the month from April to December.
During the winter, Beaver Meadow offers naturalist-led interpretive snowshoe hikes through the woods. Throughout the year, a variety of environmental education programs are hosted, including hikes, birding programs and maple sugaring programs, held in February and March.

- State - New York

- Type - Outdoor Adventures

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