Owens Falls Sanctuary
Location: East Aurora, Erie County
Size: 57 acres

Hiking difficulty: Easy

Listed on the Greater Niagara Birding Trail

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Few places are as serene as Owens Falls. The 57-acre property’s creek, its headwater forests, vernal pools, and wetlands provide a haven for rare wildlife and improve water quality throughout our region. Over the rush of two spectacular waterfalls, springtime brings a chorus of spring peepers. On a warm summer day, you can hear the eerie, flute-like song of the wood thrush.

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The property had been listed for sale and was a very tempting spot to clear the trees for development. The Land Conservancy had less than a year to prevent this treasure from being lost. The community rallied around this cause and, together, we protected this magical place forever. Creating the Owens Falls Sanctuary preserved a part of our heritage. East Aurora is home to the world-famous Roycroft Campus and drew one of the Roycroft’s earliest artisans, Cecil Jackson, to purchase the Owens Falls property more than 100 years ago. From here, he could look over the entire Village of East Aurora.

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Please respect the boundaries of the preserve and do not trespass onto neighboring properties. The parking lot for this 1.4-mile trail is located on Center St. in East Aurora.

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Address: 720 Center Street, East Aurora, NY 14052