By Daniel Leopold
Contributing Writer
Are you an outdoorsy person looking for the perfect way to spend an afternoon? An artist looking for a natural aesthetic? Or just a bored college student seeking an inexpensive day trip? Just 20 minutes south of campus, Rock City Park is an ideal place to observe the beauty of the surrounding area while getting in a good workout.
My hiking experience only stretches as far as the trails at Letchworth and Chestnut Ridge parks, so I had to ask locals what the best spot was. The resounding answer was Rock City. Based on their comments, I had no choice but to add it to my list of adventures.
I decided to go in the late afternoon to have a chance to see the park at dusk. On the day of the trip, there was no hint of rain or inclement weather. Waiting anxiously with a friend for our ride, I noticed the signs of fall were becoming evident.
Upon our arrival at Rock City Park, I noticed two rock structures which foreshadowed the attractions I would later experience.
After paying the $4.50 admission fee, the tour guide led us into a large room. On one side, a video describing a brief history of the park played. On the other half of the room was a very cool glowing rock exhibit.
The trail began atop a group of massive boulders. Overlooking valleys and mountains, the view was spectacular. We continued along the trail, stepped down a flight of stairs and entered a nook between two huge rocks.
A map helped us identify all the notorious rock formations and their names, as well as some interesting history about the park.
After attempting to traverse every challenging rock, my hiking partner and I accrued some scrapes and bruises. However, the feeling of conquering a tough climb was sweet retribution for our minor injuries.
As we moved along, we came across some unique formations, such as the “Moray Eel” and “Half Sphinx,” but the highlight was a grouping of stones called “Balancing Rock.” This consisted of a 1,000-ton rock inexplicably balancing atop another large rock. The experience was a must-see for any park-goer.
As the path circled back to the start, it led us to the “Indian Stairs.” The map told us these were authentic steps built by the Seneca tribe. Slight and narrow, the stairs led us back to the monolithic boulders we started on.
To end the trip, my friend and I decided to take a picture with a statue of the mythological creature Bigfoot. Appropriately hiding behind a grove of trees, the statue was a humorous way to end a fun day of hiking.
Besides the rocks, the trail wound through a verdant forest full of critters. During the hike, I encountered chipmunks and squirrels and even a porcupine. The surrounding area was the cherry on top of a great hike.
The park usually takes an hour to traverse, but I stayed for two hours going on auxiliary paths and revisiting my favorite spots.
Visit www.rockcitypark.com to download directions and view pictures of the park. Plan a trip soon while the weather is nice and the leaves are changing colors. Don’t forget to take a picture with Bigfoot!
