Boutwell Hill State Forest totals 2,944 acres and is located in the Towns of Charlotte and Cherry Creek. The major recreational activities include hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, primitive camping, and hunting.
The Earl Cardot Eastside Overland Trail is a multiple use trail that crosses the state forest from Ruttenbur Road in the north to Erwin Road (County Route 85) in the south. It's part of a 19-mile county trail system that crosses both state-owned and private land. There are 6.4 miles of the trail on the State Forest which are maintained by Chautauqua County. The trail corridor navigates through woodlots, marsh dikes and access trails. Bicycling, hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are allowed on the trail but motor vehicles and horses are not.
There are no designated campsites; however, at-large primitive camping is allowed. Campsites must be at least 150 feet away from the nearest road, trail, or body of water. Camping for more than three nights or in groups of ten or more requires a permit from a Forest Ranger.
There are 6.5 miles of snowmobile trails that are maintained by the Cherry Creek Sno-Goers Snowmobile Club through a volunteer stewardship agreement. The trail connects to various other snowmobile trails that travel off state property so please be respectful of adjacent landowners. The trail can also be used for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding in the off season.
There are approximately 4 miles of maintained cross-country ski trails in the northern portion of this state forest. Parking and trail access can be found at the intersection of Lewis and Ruttenbur Roads. These trails are maintained through a Volunteer Stewardship Agreement with the Boutwell Hill Ski Club. Maps are available at the trail head. The trails follow parts of the Earl Cardot Eastside Overland Trail and parts of the snowmobile trail system, so be sure to use caution and be courteous of other trail users.
There are 8 miles of equestrian trails. The trail system is part of a larger county-wide horse trail system, and the trail does travel off of state land in areas on the southern end of the state forest. The sections of trail that travel across private land are closed October 1st to May 31st each year. There is a portion of trail that is located only on state forest lands that can be used for an additional month. It is a 5-mile section of horse trail that starts at the Lewis and Ruttenbur parking area and travels south to the Boutwell Hill Road parking area, this section will close November 1st to May 31st each year. Arab Hill Forest Road can be ridden unless snow covered.
Cherry Creek, NY 14723
716.363.2052
www.dec.ny.gov/lands/8270.html