Countywide events encourage everyone to get outside and enjoy the outdoors on June 20
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N.Y. — Chautauqua County is calling all hikers, bikers, paddlers, families, and outdoor enthusiasts to hit the trail for 2026 CHQ Trails Day, a countywide celebration taking place Saturday, June 20, 2026, with a variety of guided activities and choose-your-own adventures happening at locations across Chautauqua County.
Presented by the Friends of the Chautauqua County Greenways (FCCG), CHQ Trails Day is designed to spark excitement for the region’s trail system and inspire more people to explore the 250+ miles of publicly accessible recreational trails that connect communities, parks, forests, waterways, and scenic overlooks throughout the county.
CHQ Trails Day offers something for every pace and every age, from first-timers curious about local trail options to experienced trail users ready for a new route. Participants can join a scheduled group activity, bring friends for a casual outing, or plan a self-guided trip that fits their interests and ability level. Whether the goal is a short family-friendly walk, a longer hike, a ride on well-loved rail trails, or time on the water, CHQ Trails Day is an invitation to make the most of early summer and experience the outdoors close to home.
For those who love to paddle, Everwild Land Trust will host guided canoe/kayak trips at Kyle’s Landing Preserve, with a tentative, weather- and conditions-dependent 2.5-mile paddle down the upper Cassadaga Creek led by an Everwild Land Trust guide. Participants will travel through a series of preserves, with a shuttle provided from Kyle’s Landing Preserve to the launch point, and a few kayaks available for those who do not own one (participants should plan to wear a personal flotation device; reservations will be required through Everwild Land Trust, with details to be shared soon).
Mountain bikers can join a beginner/intermediate, no-drop group ride organized by the Western New York Mountain Bicycling Association at Chautauqua Gorge State Forest in Mayville, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Riders will meet at the main parking lot at the end of Hannum Road and cover the “Gorge Loop” along with the Chautauqua Rails to Trails route; participants are encouraged to bring water and a snack and to wear a helmet.
Also at 10 a.m. is a family-friendly hike in southern Chautauqua County at the Dobbins Woods Preserve, off of Bly hill Rd. in Ashville. This event is also being organized by Everwild Land Trust. This nature walk will be guided by an Everwild staff member and is open to all abilities, ages, and interest.
Families looking for an easygoing way to get outside can head to Boutwell Hill State Forest’s Homestead Loop Project in Cherry Creek from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a family-friendly outing hosted by the Chautauqua County Equestrian Club and Boutwell Hill Ski Club. The event will include free horse-drawn wagon rides over the Homestead Trail, food for participants, and the option of a hike on the trail; attendees are encouraged to come prepared for summer conditions.
Another family option takes place at Portland Town Park in Brocton at noon, where Chautauqua Rails to Trails will host a Family Picnic & Hike—an ideal midday meet-up for neighbors and visitors to enjoy a relaxed trail experience together.
For those interested in seeing trail improvements up close, the Chautauqua County Parks Commission and Parks Department will lead a Family Group Hike at the Earl Cardot Eastside Overland Trail, departing at 1 p.m. from the Harris Hill State Forest lot at the corner of Gerry-Ellington Road in Gerry. The hike will highlight recent trail work, with distance options ranging from approximately 2 miles to 3.5 miles, and leashed, well-behaved pets are welcome.
Beyond the scheduled activities, CHQ Trails Day is also about empowering people to plan the day that’s right for them. The CHQ Trails interactive map makes it easy to discover trail opportunities across Chautauqua County for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, paddling, horseback riding, and more, helping users choose routes by interest and location and encouraging new experiences in every corner of the county.
“CHQ Trails Day is a celebration of the incredible places that are right here in our backyard—and an open invitation to experience them with fresh eyes,” said Twan Leenders of Everwild Land Trust and Co-Chair of the FCCG Advisory Board.
“Whether you join a group event or create your own adventure, we want CHQ Trails Day to be the spark that gets people out on the trails and coming back all season long,” said John McCune of Chautauqua Rails to Trails and Co-Chair of the FCCG Advisory Board.
FCCG works with partners throughout the county to support trail development, stewardship, and awareness, with the goal of making it simple—and exciting—for people of all ages to find a trail that fits their interests. CHQ Trails Day also highlights the way trails help connect communities and encourage healthy, active lifestyles while showcasing the natural beauty that makes Chautauqua County a destination for outdoor recreation.
Most activities are designed to be welcoming and accessible, but participants are encouraged to review event details in advance, come prepared with appropriate footwear, insect repellent, and water, and follow all guidance from event organizers. For paddling activities, safety equipment and on-water readiness are essential; for biking activities, helmets and basic supplies are strongly encouraged. As always, trail users should practice Leave No Trace principles and help keep these shared spaces clean, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.
For more information, visit ChooseCHQ.com/CHQTrailsDay.
About FCCG – The Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways is housed under CCPEG and is an organization whose aim is to collaborate and build on private/public partnerships to position themselves to raise the necessary capital and programmatic resources to realize the primary objectives outlined in the 2012 Greenway Plan. FCCG includes an array of trail user groups including the Chautauqua Rails to Trails (CR2T), Everwild Land Trust (Previously known as the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy), The Chautauqua County Equestrian Trail System (CCETS), Boutwell Hill Ski Club, Chautauqua County Parks Department, and the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development. For more information, please visit choosechq.com/agencies/ccpeg/friends-of-chautauqua-county-greenways/.
About CCPEG – The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for improving the quality of life in our communities, thereby attracting people and businesses to Chautauqua County to live, work, recreate, and invest. For more information, please visit chqpartnership.org.