Zoar Valley Geology Hike

Zoar Valley Geology Hike 

Saturday, September 12 

(Rain Date: September 19) 

Join geologist Ray Vaughan for our annual fall geology hike to the Sweet-land Preserve.

Hikers will enjoy a walk through one of the most dra-matic stratigraphic columns in Western New York—the South Branch of Cattaraugus Creek gorge. Ray will be showing hikers the predomi-nantly shale bed-rock that formed hundreds of mil-lions of years ago from tiny particles of clay and other sediments. These sediments were deposited underwater, and accumulated on the sea-bottom for several million years, at a time about 365 million years ago when Western New York was under a shallow inland sea. 

The hike will take us past a shear zone where an ancient fold serves as an example of how bedrock responds to tectonic stress. We’ll also talk about evidence of more recent geological changes, such as the evolution of the gorge, since the last glaciers retreated from our region some 13,000 years ago. 

The hike will be held on Saturday, September 12, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, weather permitting. The hike will start at the Forty Road parking lot of the NYSDEC Zoar Valley Multi-ple Use Area (off Point Peter Road, about 3 miles southeast of Gowanda) and proceed up the South Branch of Cattarau-gus Creek to Sweetland. The hike will cover approximately 4 miles total (difficulty level: Moderate). Hikers should wear water shoes and be prepared to walk in water and ford the creek at least four times at thigh depth. Bring water, lunch, and snacks; a hiking or wading staff is recommended. As al-ways, we will bag and carry out any trash we find. There is no charge for this field trip, but participants must register be-forehand.

Please email Ray at rcv9@verizon.net with the subject line “Zoar Hike” to register.