Scenic Drive through Mountain Roads

Ellicottville's Mountain Roads: A Scenic Drive Through Western New York

Some of the best views around Ellicottville, New York, aren't found at a single attraction. They're found along the roads connecting the mountain town to the forests, farms, valleys, small communities, and rolling hills of Western New York's Southern Tier.

If you have a half day or full day during your Ellicottville vacation, take a break from the ski slopes and downtown shops and experience the surrounding countryside by car. This scenic drive takes you from the village of Ellicottville north toward Ashford Hollow and Griffis Sculpture Park, then back through the mountain landscape before heading south through Great Valley. From there, you can return to Ellicottville or continue toward Salamanca and Allegany State Park for a longer Western New York road trip.

This isn't a drive you need to rush. Part of the experience is watching the landscape change as mountain ridges give way to creek valleys, farmland, forests, old country roads, and small communities. Stop for photographs, walk among giant outdoor sculptures, explore a state forest, have lunch in Ellicottville, or extend the trip into one of New York's largest state parks.

Ellicottville Scenic Drive at a Glance

Starting Point: Downtown Ellicottville, New York
Main Route: Ellicottville → Ashford Hollow → Griffis Sculpture Park → Ellicottville → Great Valley → optional Allegany State Park extension
Best Seasons: Late spring, summer, and fall
Best Time for Fall Foliage: Typically late September through October, depending on the year
Recommended Time: Allow at least half a day for the main drive and most of a day if you include Griffis Sculpture Park, hiking, meals, and Allegany State Park.

Road conditions, construction, seasonal closures, and attraction hours can change, particularly on smaller mountain roads. Use current navigation and check conditions before setting out.

Stop 1: Begin in Downtown Ellicottville

Start your drive in the heart of Ellicottville. Washington Street, Monroe Street, and the surrounding village blocks provide a very different scene from what you'll encounter just a few miles outside town. Restaurants, cafés, breweries, shops, historic buildings, and vacation rentals fill the compact downtown, while the surrounding ridges remind you that you're in mountain country.

Before leaving, grab coffee or breakfast and take a short walk through the village. If you're making the drive during fall, this is also a good place to appreciate how closely Ellicottville sits beneath the surrounding hills. From several points in and around the village, you can see the ridges and ski terrain that helped establish the town as one of Western New York's best-known four-season destinations.

Stop 2: Follow Route 219 North Toward Ashford Hollow

From Ellicottville, take U.S. Route 219 north. You won't have to drive far before the village disappears behind you and the landscape begins to open into the rural countryside of Cattaraugus County.

Route 219 is more than simply a road connecting Ellicottville with Buffalo and communities to the north. Portions of the highway are part of the Western New York Southtowns Scenic Byway, a regional scenic route connecting communities in Erie and Cattaraugus counties. The byway incorporates U.S. Route 219, NY Route 240, and NY Route 242 as it travels through the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains.

This section of Route 219 gives you a good introduction to the geography surrounding Ellicottville. Watch for wooded hills rising above the road, farms occupying flatter portions of the valleys, small creeks, old barns, and narrow side roads disappearing into the hills.

Stop 3: Ashford Hollow and the Back Roads to Griffis Sculpture Park

Continue north on Route 219 toward Ashford Hollow, a small rural community tucked among the hills north of Ellicottville. The drive becomes especially beautiful when fall color covers the surrounding slopes.

From Ashford Hollow, follow the local route toward Ahrens Road and Mill Valley Road to reach Griffis Sculpture Park. This transition from a state highway to quieter country roads is one of the reasons the drive is memorable. Instead of simply traveling from one attraction to another, you're moving through the Western New York landscape that defines this part of Cattaraugus County.

Take your time along these roads. You'll encounter wooded hillsides, open fields, scattered homes, farms, and long stretches where the countryside feels far removed from nearby Buffalo and the busier communities of Western New York.

Stop 4: Griffis Sculpture Park

Griffis Sculpture Park is the signature stop on this scenic drive and one of the most unusual attractions near Ellicottville. Located near East Otto and Ashford Hollow, the park spreads monumental works of art across hundreds of acres of forests, fields, hills, ponds, and hiking trails.

More than 250 large-scale sculptures are distributed throughout the landscape. Instead of walking through a traditional museum and viewing art on walls or behind barriers, you experience the sculptures outdoors, surrounded by the natural environment that inspired the park's design.

The park is divided into two main areas. The Rohr Hill Road Site features large sculptures positioned throughout fields and wooded areas, while the Mill Valley Road Site includes sculptures along easier walking areas as well as miles of trails extending into more varied terrain.

You can make Griffis Sculpture Park a quick stop or spend several hours exploring. If you're taking this drive during fall, allow extra time. Large steel sculptures surrounded by orange, red, and yellow hillsides create one of the most distinctive autumn experiences in Western New York.

Why Griffis Belongs on an Ellicottville Road Trip

Griffis Sculpture Park works particularly well as part of this drive because the journey and destination complement each other. You're already traveling through a landscape defined by wooded hills, open fields, and rural roads, and then you arrive at a place where art has intentionally been incorporated into that same natural setting.

It also provides a reason to get out of the car. Stretch your legs, walk a trail, explore the sculptures, and enjoy the surrounding countryside before continuing the drive.

Stop 5: Return Toward Ellicottville Through the Mountain Countryside

After visiting Griffis Sculpture Park, work your way back toward Route 219 and head south toward Ellicottville. Driving the same general corridor in the opposite direction doesn't feel repetitive. The changing direction reveals different views of the hills and valleys, especially in the late afternoon when sunlight begins hitting the ridgelines from a different angle.

As you approach Ellicottville, the ski slopes and mountain ridges begin to reappear. The transition from rural countryside back into the compact village reinforces how closely Ellicottville is connected to the surrounding landscape.

Optional Detour: Explore Route 242 West of Ellicottville

If you want to experience another side of Ellicottville's mountain roads before heading south, follow NY Route 242 west from the village for a countryside detour.

Route 242 climbs away from Ellicottville through the surrounding hills, creating a dramatic change from the village streets below. This corridor also has historical significance. Portions of Route 242 west of Ellicottville follow the path of the historic Chautauqua Road, an early transportation route commissioned by the Holland Land Company during the early 1800s.

Today, the road is a reminder that people were traveling across these hills long before Ellicottville became known for skiing and four-season recreation. The combination of elevation changes, wooded ridges, historic roadways, and rural scenery makes this an especially worthwhile detour during fall foliage season.

Stop 6: Ellicottville for Lunch or an Afternoon Break

Returning to Ellicottville gives you a natural place to break up the drive. Stop for lunch at one of the village restaurants, visit a brewery, browse the shops, or simply sit outside for a while before beginning the southern portion of the route.

This is also where you can decide how long you want the day to become. You can finish your scenic outing after exploring the northern loop, or continue south toward Great Valley, Rock City and McCarty Hill State Forests, Salamanca, and Allegany State Park.

Stop 7: Drive Route 219 South Into Great Valley

For the second half of the drive, leave Ellicottville on Route 219 south toward Great Valley. Within only a few miles, you're back in the countryside.

Great Valley lives up to its name. The landscape opens between long wooded ridges, with Great Valley Creek and surrounding tributaries helping shape the terrain. Farms, forests, homes, and mountain roads extend outward from the main highway.

This stretch provides a different experience from the route north toward Ashford Hollow. Rather than focusing on a specific attraction, enjoy the changing landscape and the sense of moving deeper into the Southern Tier.

Optional Stop: Rock City and McCarty Hill State Forests

If you want to turn the scenic drive into more of an outdoor adventure, consider a detour into Rock City and McCarty Hill State Forests. These public lands encompass thousands of acres of forest south and west of Ellicottville and contain hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and other recreational opportunities.

One of the area's most fascinating destinations is Little Rock City, where enormous conglomerate rock formations create narrow passages and house-sized stone formations beneath the forest canopy. The rocks are especially dramatic when surrounded by autumn foliage.

Another access point is located along Eagle Forest Road, only a few miles south of Ellicottville from Route 219. If you plan to explore the state forests rather than simply enjoy the drive, bring appropriate footwear, download a current New York State Department of Environmental Conservation map, and allow additional time.

Stop 8: Continue South Toward Salamanca

Continue south on Route 219 and the road eventually leads toward Salamanca and the Southern Tier Expressway. This section of the trip gives you another look at the hills, forests, and small communities south of Ellicottville.

Salamanca is also the gateway to the next major portion of the drive: Allegany State Park. If you've already spent several hours exploring Griffis Sculpture Park and the countryside, Salamanca can be your turnaround point. If you still have time and daylight, continue into the park.

Stop 9: Enter Allegany State Park at Red House

For the full-day version of this scenic drive, take I-86 west from the Salamanca area and use Exit 19 for the Red House entrance to Allegany State Park.

At roughly 65,000 acres, Allegany State Park is the largest state park in New York's park system and one of the great outdoor landscapes of Western New York. The park contains mature forests, lakes, streams, trails, rock formations, historic structures, wildlife habitat, and miles of roads through a heavily wooded landscape.

The Red House Area makes a good introduction for a scenic drive. Red House Lake and the historic Tudor-style Administration Building sit at the center of this portion of the park, giving you an easy place to stop, walk, take photographs, or simply enjoy the lake and surrounding hills.

Drive the Interior Roads of Allegany State Park

If time allows, don't simply enter Allegany State Park and turn around at Red House Lake. Part of the experience is driving the park's interior roads through mature forest.

The park's road system connects Red House with other recreational areas and provides access to trailheads, overlooks, cabin areas, lakes, and natural attractions. The drive is particularly impressive during fall when the road can feel enclosed by a tunnel of changing leaves.

Keep your speed down and watch carefully for wildlife, cyclists, hikers, and changing road conditions. Cell service can also be inconsistent in portions of large rural parks, so having an offline map is a good idea.

Optional Allegany State Park Stops

If you have turned the drive into a full-day adventure, consider adding one or two park stops rather than trying to see everything.

Red House Lake is the easiest place to slow down and enjoy the landscape. Walking and biking opportunities surround the lake, and the historic Administration Building provides one of the park's recognizable landmarks.

Thunder Rocks provides a completely different experience. Huge conglomerate boulders sit among the forest, creating a natural "rock city" shaped by geology and weathering. If you enjoyed Little Rock City earlier in the drive, Thunder Rocks provides an interesting comparison.

The Stone Tower area offers another reason to explore deeper into the park, with elevated views across the surrounding forested hills.

Turn Around or Make It a Full Western New York Scenic Day

From Allegany State Park, you can return to Ellicottville by retracing the route toward Salamanca and heading north on Route 219. By this point, you'll have experienced a surprisingly broad cross-section of the region: mountain resort country, small villages, historic roads, farmland, outdoor sculpture, state forests, massive rock formations, creek valleys, and one of New York's largest state parks.

The return to Ellicottville is especially enjoyable near sunset. As you travel north through Great Valley, watch the surrounding ridges change with the evening light before arriving back in the village for dinner.

The Best Time to Take This Ellicottville Scenic Drive

Fall

Fall is the showcase season. The hills surrounding Ellicottville, Ashford Hollow, Great Valley, and Allegany State Park become covered with changing hardwood foliage, making nearly every section of the route scenic. Peak color varies each year, so check current foliage reports before your trip.

Summer

Summer brings deep green forests, long daylight hours, and plenty of time to combine driving with hiking, Griffis Sculpture Park, mountain biking, picnicking, and stops in Allegany State Park.

Spring

Spring provides a quieter version of the drive as forests begin turning green and streams carry more water. Be aware that some seasonal attractions and roads may have limited access early in the season.

Winter

The snow-covered hills around Ellicottville can be beautiful, but this itinerary is best approached differently during winter. Mountain weather can change quickly, smaller roads may be snow covered, and some attractions have seasonal access. Check road and weather conditions carefully and avoid unnecessary back-road detours during poor weather.

Why Driving the Back Roads Changes the Way You See Ellicottville

It's easy to visit Ellicottville and think only about Holiday Valley, HoliMont, restaurants, shopping, and the village. Drive 10 or 20 minutes beyond downtown, however, and a much larger picture of Western New York begins to emerge.

Ellicottville sits within a landscape of Appalachian foothills, wooded ridges, creek valleys, farms, state forests, historic roads, and small rural communities. The mountains that create the ski terrain are part of a much broader landscape stretching across Cattaraugus County and into the Allegheny region.

That's what makes this drive worthwhile. The road itself becomes part of your Ellicottville experience.

Make the Drive Part of Your Ellicottville Vacation

You don't need to complete every stop in one day. If you're staying in Ellicottville for several nights, divide the route into separate adventures. Spend one morning driving north to Griffis Sculpture Park, another afternoon exploring Great Valley and the state forests, and save Allegany State Park for a dedicated day trip.

Staying in an Ellicottville vacation rental gives you the flexibility to explore at your own pace. You can spend the morning on the mountain, take an afternoon scenic drive, return to your vacation home to relax, and walk into the village for dinner.

Book Direct. Book Local. Avoid the Extra Fees and Enjoy Expert Service. Booking directly with a professional Ellicottville vacation rental manager also gives you access to local knowledge that can be especially valuable when exploring the mountain roads, attractions, restaurants, trails, and small communities surrounding Ellicottville.

Stay in Ellicottville with EVL Rentals

Make Ellicottville your home base for exploring the mountain roads, scenic overlooks, parks, and small towns of Western New York. EVL Rentals offers professionally managed Ellicottville vacation rentals near Holiday Valley, HoliMont, and the village, with accommodations ranging from slope-side condos to spacious mountain homes and chalets.

Staying locally makes it easy to spend the day following Ellicottville's scenic roads, visiting Griffis Sculpture Park, exploring the surrounding forests, or continuing south toward Allegany State Park before returning to Ellicottville for dinner and an evening in the village. Book directly with EVL Rentals for local service, direct communication, and a vacation rental that puts you close to everything Ellicottville and the surrounding Western New York countryside have to offer.

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