Eight cheerful hikers enjoyed warm, sunny weather for a 4-mile hike in Emery Park, a WNY gem known for its natural beauty and solitude. 
We hiked along ravines on paths selected to see 5 picturesque waterfalls located throughout the park. 
We also spotted delightful wildflowers including bloodroot, cut-leaved toothwort, white and red trillium, trout lily, and spring beauty. Spring has finally sprung in WNY!
Emery Park was once a vibrant homestead established by Josiah Emery in the early 1800’s, and included an outdoor amphitheater, Emery Inn, gardens, gazebos, a stocked pond, and stone bridges. Remnants of that era remain, including a stone sculpture in the now-dry sunken pond area. One person in our group used to be a waitress at the historic Inn! The Inn is gone, but nowadays this Erie County Park is a multi-use facility, offering hiking trails, a free downhill ski hill with a T-bar lift, a frisbee golf course, picnic shelters, and baseball diamonds.
— Submitted by David and Janet Kowalski