We LOVE hiking near Ellicottville NY. With the proximity to the Canadian border, this has been our go-to place to get in long hikes and some serious vertical. While the town has lost its “yahoo” vibe, it’s still a great place to get away for a few days. Read more to find out where the best place is to chill out in the forest after a long day of hiking.
| Gnarly Single Track in Ellicottville |
| Eagle Forest Rd. Hike |
| McCarty Hill Loop Hike |
| Picturesque Hikes in Ellicottville |
| Spruce Lake |
| Little Rock City |
| Must-Do Restaurants |
Hiking Near Ellicottville NY: Little Bit of Gnarly Single Track
Hiking near Ellicottville NY offers some pretty gnarly single-track trails with lots of vertical. I once referred to the hills as “mountains” and a local asked me where I found mountains. For Canadians without any vertical like that of Ellicottville, these feel like mountains!
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Eagle Forest Rd. Hike
Hike Difficulty: CHALLENGING
- Approximately 14 km (8.5 miles)
- Mostly single track, very windy, rolling trails, double track climb and, switchback descent
- Trails are well marked with signs on trees
- Spring or fall are the best times to hike (the Ellicottville area gets very hot and muggy in the summers)
- Free parking but a small lot
- No bathrooms and no water en route
- Ellicottville is a BIG mountain bike mecca so don’t be surprised to see lots of bikers on trails
- Trail maps are available at Bike and Bean on 11 Martha St. in Ellicottville
Trail Directions for Eagle Forest Rd. Hike
- From Ellicottville, take 219 to Eagle Forest Rd (by school) & park
- Follow double track up Snowmobile Trail
- Go right on Sidewinder
- Go right on Rain Trail
- Go left on Big Merlin (Loop #1)
- Continue right on Big Merlin where the trail intersects with Sidewinder (Loop #2)
- Go right on Dead Dog Loop
- Go right on Mesa (Loop)
- Go right on Eagle Trail and descend through a series of FUN switchbacks
- Go right on Snowmobile Trail back to the parking lot
Looking for other challenges in the NE U.S.? Check out our article Hiking Challenges
McCarty Hill Loop Hike
Hike Difficulty: MODERATE TO CHALLENGING
- Approximately 7 km (4.3 miles)
- Mostly single track, somewhat windy, rolling trails, some vertical & hike up a dirt road at the end
- Trails are well marked with signs on trees
- Spring or fall are the best times to hike (the Ellicottville area gets very hot and muggy in the summers)
- Free parking on the road
- No bathrooms and no water en route
- Ellicottville is a BIG mountain bike mecca so don’t be surprised to see lots of bikers on trails
- Trail maps are available at Bike and Bean on 11 Martha St. in Ellicottville
Trail Directions for McCarty Hill Loop Hike
- From Ellicottville, take 219 to Mutton Hollow Rd and turn right (heads up that the road is dirt and we’ve seen a jeep go off into the ditch before! That said, we bring our trailer up this road)
- Once on top of Mutton Hollow Rd., continue about 1/4 km (1/6 mile) past McCarty Hill Rd. and park on the side of the road
- Take FLT/NCT trail to the left (i.e. away from the ski hills/Ellicottville)
- Go left on McCarty Hill Rd.
- Go right back onto the trails on Growler
- Go straight onto Connector
- Go left on Yukons Lunch
- Go straight onto Porcupine Trail to the road
- Go left on Mutton Hollow Rd, up the hill and around, back to your vehicle
Hiking Near Ellicottville NY makes one HUNGRY: Grab a burrito!
Hands down, when hiking in Ellicottville NY on a route like the Eagle Forest Rd., you are going to work up a BIG appetite. Ellicottville’s best little burrito shop is Bike and Bean on 11 Martha St. They moved years ago from the main street but offer the same amazing burritos (except they dropped the gluten-free option!) The owner is a hardcore biker, which is cool. When we ski in Ellicottville in the winter, we pick up a burrito from Bike and Bean then head on over to the ski hills.
See more eating options in Ellicottville
Hiking Near Ellicottville NY: Picturesque Hikes
Hiking near Ellicottville NY isn’t all gnarly single tracks with lots of vertical. We’ve staked out places over the years where we can relax, take in a view or, just explore at a leisurely pace. Here are two:
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Spruce Lake
Spruce Lake in Ellicottville has a very nice little path around the lake for leisurely strolls. It’s also a super place to grab a lawn chair, hang out and watch nightfall. The BEST thing about Spruce Lake is that it’s SUPER peaceful. We love hanging out here and hearing the crickets chirp away.
Hike Difficulty: EASY
- Approximately 1 km (1.6 miles)
- Open area with a flat path around the lake (the lake is the reservoir for the ski hill)
- No trail markers but none are needed
- Spring or fall are the best times to hike (the Ellicottville area gets very hot and muggy in the summers)
- Free parking on the road
- No bathrooms and no water en route
Trail Directions for Spruce Lake Hike
- From Ellicottville, take #219 to Mutton Hollow Rd.
- Go right and drive up Mutton Hollow Rd. (heads up it’s a dirt road)
- Go past McCarty Hill Rd and park on the road approximately 1/4 km up (1/6 mile)
- The trail is on right-hand side (toward ski hills)
- The trail can be overgrown and wet
- Lake is approximately 1/4 km (1/6 mile) from road
- Bring lawn chairs!
Little Rock City
We learned of Little Rock City one day while hiking around Spruce Lake. A local told us “We must visit.” It honestly didn’t sound challenging or gnarly but we were intrigued by stories of really cool rock formations.
This is a very short hike that is filled with massive rocks and secret little passageways. It’s very family-friendly and a great spot to bring a picnic lunch.
Hike Difficulty: EASY
- Just over 1 km in one direction (1.6 miles) but lots of little offshoots to explore
- Double track, easy walking trails
- Spring or fall are the best times to hike (the Ellicottville area gets very hot and muggy in the summers)
- Free parking in the lot by the trailhead
- No bathrooms and no water en route
Trail Directions for Little Rock City
From Ellicottville:
This is a very pretty, hill route to Little Rock City. The alternative is to take #219 to Hungry Hollow Rd. to Rock City Rd.
- Take #242/Fish Hill to Whig St.
- Turn left on Whig St.
- Turn left on Hungry Hollow Rd.
- Turn right on Rocky City Rd. and follow to the end
From one of the above Trails:
- From Mutton Hollow Rd, take McCarty Hill Rd and follow down the road
- Go right on Hungry Hollow Rd.
- Go left on Rock City Rd. and follow to the end
Hiking Near Ellicottville NY: Must-Do Restaurants
Dina’s and The Banq Cocktails and Lounge
When hiking near Ellicottville NY you MUST visit Dina’s restaurant. Start with drinks at her newest place next door, The Banq Cocktails and Lounge. Then head over to Dina’s. If it’s not off-season and you want to be guaranteed a spot, make reservations.
Our favourite dish at Dina’s is her pizza. The wine selection is massive so it’s a fun place to try new wines that we can’t get in Canada.
Dina did her interior design and the place is stunning! We go back just to eat in different sections. I guarantee, cowboys and girls, this place will blow you away!
Balloons
I was never a fan of craft cocktails until I had one at Balloons. The drinks here are REALLY good. Food is bar style and perfect to fill your belly for happy hour! Great live music too. If it’s summer you want to sit on the back patio as a nice breeze blows through.
Gin Mill
Several years ago the Gin Mill moved down the main street. The vibe is the same but much cleaner inside. Not sure if bikers still gather here on Sundays but this place is rocking in ski season. They are known for incredible music and good times. Great place for a drink and bar food. The sweet potato fries are outstanding!
Hiking Near Ellicottville NY: Where to Stay
When hiking near Ellicottville NY you have plenty of options for accommodations from high-end to downright free.
Free Accommodation in Ellicottville NY
Ellicottville NY has Bureau of Land Management land above the ski hills where anyone can stay for free. While there are a limited number of spots, and the areas can be uneven, we have never had a problem finding a site. Keep in mind that these places are without any services and the road up, Mutton Hollow is steep and not paved. We once saw a jeep go over into the ditch.
Cheap RV/Trailer Accommodation in Ellicottville NY
The Inn at Holiday Valley has a paved lot at the intersection of Holiday Valley Rd. and #219. Reservations are not required. You pay at the desk at Holiday Valley Inn when you arrive. It’s super cheap (around $30 per night). They have electrical hookups but no other services.
Lodge/Airbnb/Hotel Accommodations
Accommodations in Ellicottville can be pricey as the village has grown significantly through the years with lots more to do year-round. Options include:
- Edelweiss Lodge
- Airbnb
- Holiday Valley Inn
- Holiday Valley Resort
- Wingate by Wyndham
Hope you enjoyed this overview of some of our favourite hikes near Ellicottville! We love this little village and hope to keep exploring more trails through the years. If you are looking for an even more adventurous challenge in this area, try this:
Point to Point Hike: Base of Holiday Valley Ski Hill to Little Rock City
See our Hiking Guide for input on preparing for a big hike
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