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Salmon River Falls Unique Area, Altmar, NY

10/28/2014

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When we took a spontaneous trip to Salmon River Falls in October 2014, we were shocked to see a completely full parking lot and people parked along the side of the road.  I had no idea that this "unique area" which can't even be found on google maps, attracted so much attention.

Admission is free and pets are welcomed, although when we were there, some families prefer not to follow the "keep dogs on a leash rule" which really pissed me off.  Not everyone wants their ass sniffed while trying to climb a cliff.  But I certainly wasn't going to call out that family for not following the rules just incase they were locals.  On the drive to the falls, we passed several locals and every last one of them was dressed in full camo, many carrying shotguns and wearing hunting badges.  If you've ever seen the movie "The Hills Have Eyes", it was kinda creepy like that. 

Needless to say, Lucia, Marshmellow and I toured the falls and hiked down to the gorge below, which is an easy hike down but getting back up was a bit more challenging for my weak muscles, especially in the rain.

The waterfall offers a 100 ft plunge, in three parallel sections becoming a single raging torrent during spring thaw. NYFalls.com says that the best time to visit is: "Year round, but the best water flow will be after rain and in the spring and fall. Winter will give you the opportunity to see the falls frozen over and people ice climbing on the cliffs below."

http://nyfalls.com/waterfalls/salmon-river-falls/

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Chittenango Day Trip on a Budget

9/3/2014

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Our adventure in Chittenango, New York was a blessing for so many reasons. My better half and I were crawling out of our skin and needed to get out of the house, but with cash at a bare minimum, some planning was necessary.  Chittenango Falls in Upstate New York is 25 minutes away from our home and that is about all the gas we were willing to guzzle for any weekend fun. 

We enjoyed spectacular views, a picnic, some shut-eye on a blanket, a hike, and an extraordinary experience with wild animals!  All this, including beautiful blue skies for under $25.00.
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The gorge and waterfall loop trail is only one mile long but there are other hiking opportunities if you choose.  There are a couple videos you can watch on cnyhiking.com, which I find to be a very useful site with detailed info. 

After our hike, picnic and nap, we stumbled upon The Wild Park, an up close and personal, privately-owned zoo with animals such as bobcats, black bears and bengal tigers.
While we walked through the park, we watched the feeding of the tigers and a wolf seminar.
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Itinerary:
Chittenango Falls State Park - hike and picnic
The Wild Park

What to bring:
Cooler with sandwiches, snacks, water
Sneakers
Sunscreen if necessary
Camera

Cost:
- Chittenango Falls State Park fee is $5.00 on weekends - or free for military members.
- Lunch sandwiches and snacks shouldn't be more than $5.00 if you are an extreme couponer and can gather up some snacks from your stock.
- The Wild Park is $9 per adult.

Options:
- Head to The Wild Park first and hit the falls at sunset for great photo ops.
- While in town, check out All Things Oz, open on Friday's and Saturday's in the Village of Chittenango.  It's a fantastic tribute to L. Frank Baum and The Wizard of Oz, including a museum and store.
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Chimney Bluffs State Park, New York

9/3/2014

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We visited Chimney Bluffs State Park during a weekend camping trip. The park was only 5 minutes away from Lake Bluff Campground and surprisingly there is no entrance fee at this State Park. 

We parked in the lot and began the hike up to the bluffs. After we reached the top, we took the shorter way back, by way of the shoreline, though we got a bit wet and muddy from climbing over and under all the fallen trees.  At the entrance to the beach/shoreline there are clean restrooms. 
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The total hike took us 3 hours. It’s an easy hike for the kids, although at certain areas, they need to be watched like a hawk because there is no protection from a possible fall.  We also brought Marshmellow, who hiked about half way and then rode in our dog carrier backpack for the duration.

The bluffs are made of clay and could cave at any time, so with the heightened sense of danger, my dad was very intrigued.  What I loved especially about this park is that there is a spectacular view of Lake Ontario from the top, but also amazing views of the bluffs from the bottom.

The park has approximately four miles of hiking trails, including a mile-long trail along the Bluffs from the West entrance to the East entrance.

Location: Upstate New York
Link: http://nyfalls.com/lakes/ontario/chimney-bluffs-state-park/

Find more hiking adventures on my pinterest page.
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I prefer not to be defined by cancer, but my life has certainly changed because of it.
Today, the simplicity of life and small moments of joy is what drives me.
Thanks for following my journey!