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Park Features
When you take a ride to Akron Falls, you'll take notice of the lush moss, ferns and dense forest that surround the cliffs. Here you can breathe the mystical breeze as the water cascades over the falls especially in the fall season. Down stream along the lake, you can spot many types of birds that have made the park their home.
Plant Life: American Beech, Basswood, Hawthorn, Butternut Hickory, Eastern Cottonwood, Sycamore, Black Walnut, Virginia Bluebells, Ostrich Ferns, Goutweed, Japanese Knotweed, Lesser Celandine, Red Pine, Scotch Pine, European Pine, Norway Spruce, Staghorn Sumac, Black Birch
Mammals: Squirrels, Opossums, White- Tailed deer, Raccoons, Skunks
Birds: Great Blue Herons, Belted Kingfishers, Black-capped Chickadees, Whited -Breasted Nuthatch, American Kestrels, Eastern Screech Owls, Woodpeckers, Ducks, Geese
Water Life: Akron Falls leads into sparkling streams and to the lake for fishing of pan fish, bass and carp.
As a park with natural aquatic features, aquatic alerts of various types may have been issued. Be sure to check these sites below!
For more information about preventing the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species: www.dec.ny.gov/animals/48221.html
For more information on Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) visit: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/83310.html
To learn more about Fish Consumption Advisories for Western New York, visit https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/outdoors/fish/health_advisories/regional/western.htm
Activities
Summer
Bicycling, hiking, photography, and fishing. The park contains and basketball court and 2 tennis courts. Swimming is not allowed.
Winter
Ungroomed cross-country skiing daily from 10:00AM- dusk, snowshoeing daily from 10:00AM- dusk, sledding daily from 10:00AM- dusk and ice skating daily from 10:00AM- 8:00PM. For winter sports/ activities updates, please visit our Winter Activities section on our home page.
Park Facilities
In 1961, Mabel H. James, the last conservationist and teacher pictured a hiking trail extending from Pennsylvania to Canada and started a section of trail near Holland, NY. The Foothill Trail Club, formed in 1962,continued this trail. The trail extends 176 miles from the North Country Trail, at the Pennsylvania line, to Lewiston NY, where it meet the Canadian Bruce Trail. Much of the Conservation Foot Trail is on privately owned land. The trail has distinct orange markings. Please respect the property rights of these landowners when hiking these areas.
History
The earliest inhabitants of the Akron Park Area were three major groups of Indians: the Eries, Neutral-Wenros, and the Hurons. These cultures lasted until approximately 1650, when the Iroquois Nation absorbed the tribes. The area immediately adjacent to and including the village of Akron belonged to that segment of the Iroquois Indians known as the "Seneca". The Seneca Indians remained the strongest and most prominent tribe at the time. In 1798, the Holland Land Company transformed the Great Central Trail (the Iroquois trail which passed from Albany through Akron) into a rutted wagon road for ambitious pioneers. This road was called the "Buffalo Road" and it became the first wagon trail in Erie County. (The Akron News, 23 June 1966) The Civil Works Administration, which was funded by the WPA, initiated the development of Akron Falls. They hired 90 men to develop the park and each received a minimum of $15.00 per week. Later that same year the dam and artificial lake was constructed from bond funds. (The Akron News, December 1933) Erie County Parks acquired Akron Falls Parks System in 1947. The county purchased additional acreage to provide for a skating rink and picnic space. This further led to the construction of footbridges, stone fireplaces and tables. (The Akron News, June 1966) In addition to it's cultural history and charms, Akron Falls Park is also the setting of a beautiful, yet tragic love story.
Make your shelter/building reservation online or call (716) 858-8355 from 8:00 to 3:45 weekdays.
View shelters at this park *Please be advised that several shelters have been re-numbered for 2023. Please check the chart carefully to ensure you are renting the shelter that you want.
