Panama Rocks

The western part of New York State is hardly in our back yard but it can be traveled to by car in around four hours or so. I took a trip up that way recently for some fall hiking. The place I went to is very similar to a place near Garretsville Ohio called Nelson Kennedy Ledges. It is a park system of rock formations partly formed by ancient oceans and earthquakes as well as the last ice age. What is left of the rocky terrain is a vast trail system of towering rock crevices that can be climbed on and crawled under. While I understand some of you may be a bit claustrophobic I happen to be the opposite. I seem to be comfortable enough climbing and crawling through these formations. To be honest I have never visited Nelson Ledges but plan to this coming year. I did however photograph this place and thought it would be nice to share here.

Nelson and Panama are really the only two places of this size that are relatively close to our region. Both are similar in size and scenic beauty. Panama has been opened up to the public since 1885 and is privately owned. Nelson is an Ohio State park and maintained by the state. Panama Rocks is near Jamestown New York in Chautauqua County. Nelson Kennedy Ledges is located near Garretsville Ohio. Below are some photos of the formations at Panama Rocks. There were about fourteen different named areas to go through. Since the park is privately owned there is a small fee to enter and of course waivers to sign off on. You can spend as much time as you want there but it closes at dusk. It took about ninety minutes to get through the trail. 

For more information on the history of Panama Rocks 

Go to : http://www.panamarocks.com/home