Tifft Nature Preserve
Tifft Nature Preserve
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
About
Only three miles outside downtown Buffalo, this environmental education and conservation site bordering Lake Erie offers hiking trails, boardwalks and a cattail marsh that is great for bird-watching. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are popular in winter.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.5
67 reviews
Excellent
40
Very good
22
Average
2
Poor
1
Terrible
2
Baseball Enby
Tonawanda, NY115 contributions
Dec 2020
It's perfect for an easy sunset walk through the forest and in nature. You will see many animals and birds. I suggest going for events as well. The staff are also very friendly.
Written 1 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sket101
lima1,017 contributions
Mar 2021
When we went the weather had been warm and then cold so the trails were icy, muddy or fine. We saw a lot of birds and many bird watchers! It was a fun hour walking around the preserve.
Written 7 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kwnike13
Grand Island, NY491 contributions
Sep 2020
This park is a gem right near the Outer Harbor in Buffalo. It has a few miles of many dirt/grass/unpaved walking trails through woods. It is easy hiking with good views of the outer harbor and old grain mill and Seneca One tower in the distance. You can easily socially distance here and enjoy nature and the outdoors. There is also a big pond for fishing in the park. There is an onsite parking lot as well.
Written 11 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laurie P
Cortland, NY7,496 contributions
Aug 2020
We stopped here on the way home from Buffalo for a hike. We walked a bit, and realized that it would be a more interesting walk for us near Lake Erie, so we walked across the street to Buffalo Harbor State Park.
There were a few people fishing on Lake Kristy, and it is a beautiful serene place. There are a number of trails, and I'm sure if we had more time we would have been able to enjoy the trails.
There were a few people fishing on Lake Kristy, and it is a beautiful serene place. There are a number of trails, and I'm sure if we had more time we would have been able to enjoy the trails.
Written 22 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ckamery
Buffalo, NY17 contributions
Nov 2019
One of my favorite spots in Erie County for birding.
Pros:
Top spot for birding any time of year, but especially great during migration season. Depending on time of year, expect to see waterfowl, warblers, osprey, raptors, sparrows, herons.
Nice bathrooms to use before/after heading onto the trails.
They keep-up with the boardwalks maintenance, which have nice views over the marshland.
Decent amount of trails that stretch around a pond, marshland, and even on busy weekends never seem too crowded.
Negatives:
Seems that the park is getting too overcrowded with deer. This year bucks have been bedding down right on the trails, which is a bit iffy trying to walk past during rut and they don't want to move, or start walking right at you. Numerous others have voiced concerns about the deer while walking the park as well.
Parking lot could use some TLC.
A couple parts of trails have been getting washed out in spring the last couple years, which isn't really the parks fault, but make sure to bring proper footwear.
As a personal preference, I wish signage showed milage of each trail.
Pros:
Top spot for birding any time of year, but especially great during migration season. Depending on time of year, expect to see waterfowl, warblers, osprey, raptors, sparrows, herons.
Nice bathrooms to use before/after heading onto the trails.
They keep-up with the boardwalks maintenance, which have nice views over the marshland.
Decent amount of trails that stretch around a pond, marshland, and even on busy weekends never seem too crowded.
Negatives:
Seems that the park is getting too overcrowded with deer. This year bucks have been bedding down right on the trails, which is a bit iffy trying to walk past during rut and they don't want to move, or start walking right at you. Numerous others have voiced concerns about the deer while walking the park as well.
Parking lot could use some TLC.
A couple parts of trails have been getting washed out in spring the last couple years, which isn't really the parks fault, but make sure to bring proper footwear.
As a personal preference, I wish signage showed milage of each trail.
Written 20 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amanda G
Buffalo, NY37 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
This is not what a nature preserve is. This place smells like chemicals, sounds like the thruway and looks like a dead body might float up at any minute. Kids walking the trails smoking weed, potholes in the parking lot to swallow up my van- turned heel and got my kids the hell out. Go to Chestnut Ridge, Reinstein, Delaware park- anywhere else is nicer!
Written 5 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DayTrip763784
1 contribution
May 2019 • Solo
THE birding hotspot of the Niagara Frontier. Always a pleasure to visit as I have many times. But early spring is my favorite time: the ponds are full of migrating waterfowl, the marshes resonating with the calls of rails and herons, and the woodlands full of land bird migrants.
Center staff and volunteers have always been helpful.
Center staff and volunteers have always been helpful.
Written 7 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John S
Buffalo, NY734 contributions
May 2019 • Solo
05/24/19 My wife and I decide to take a walk at Tifft Nature Preserve on one of the sunny days in Buffalo.
Paths are cleared and marked. Some really good viewing of different bird species.
Check out the Bat houses
They have a nice lodge with bathrooms. Visitors can book events there if desired. Looks like it would be an interesting venue sitting on the pond with a huge deck.
Interesting history of the area.
Paths are cleared and marked. Some really good viewing of different bird species.
Check out the Bat houses
They have a nice lodge with bathrooms. Visitors can book events there if desired. Looks like it would be an interesting venue sitting on the pond with a huge deck.
Interesting history of the area.
Written 26 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
svf1991
Madison, WI65 contributions
Apr 2019 • Friends
From some of the reviews, I was expecting a secluded nature preserve excellent for birding. It’s not a bad place. It’s good.
At all locations in the preserve you can hear road or highway traffic. In the distance, you see dilapidated old factories.
Deer were plentiful. Saw a few types of migrating waterfowl (scaups, buffleheads, cormorants) as well as native birds like sapsuckers, red bellied woodpeckers etc.
It’s a nice place. Walking is easy and they had at least one blind to watch through. Visitor center had some good information.
At all locations in the preserve you can hear road or highway traffic. In the distance, you see dilapidated old factories.
Deer were plentiful. Saw a few types of migrating waterfowl (scaups, buffleheads, cormorants) as well as native birds like sapsuckers, red bellied woodpeckers etc.
It’s a nice place. Walking is easy and they had at least one blind to watch through. Visitor center had some good information.
Written 12 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RobM682
Buffalo, NY31 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
This is a wonderful place to visit if you are only in the are for a day or live here.
This nature preserve is just in from the Buffalo boat harbor and offers a great selection of trails through a variety of habitat. Great birding, especially in the spring. Also deer and other wildlife are a common sight.
There is a small but interesting nature center.
This nature preserve is just in from the Buffalo boat harbor and offers a great selection of trails through a variety of habitat. Great birding, especially in the spring. Also deer and other wildlife are a common sight.
There is a small but interesting nature center.
Written 19 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HazardBuck
Houston, Texas28 contributions
Can you take your dog ( on leash )?
Cat lady
Buffalo, NY16 contributions
There are no pets since it is a preserve. There is no entrance fee. You go at your leisure through the flat and short trails. Nice lake, ducks, deer, birds. Picnic area. Easy access and free parking. Can bring a picnic lunch
What is the ticket price
Jeff R
Buffalo, NY16 contributions
There is no fee to access.
TIFFT NATURE PRESERVE (Buffalo) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Tifft Nature Preserve
- Tifft Nature Preserve is open:
- Sun - Sun 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
- Wed - Sat 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Hotels near Tifft Nature Preserve:
- (7.01 km) Oscar's Inn (Bed & Breakfast)
- (3.64 km) Buffalo Marriott at LECOM HARBORCENTER
- (8.16 km) InnBuffalo off Elmwood
- (10.38 km) The Parkside House
- (3.74 km) Courtyard Buffalo Downtown/Canalside
- Restaurants near Tifft Nature Preserve:
- (0.80 km) Charlie's Boat Yard
- (3.99 km) Mulberry Italian Ristorante
- (4.97 km) Bacchus Wine Bar & Restaurant
- (3.51 km) Chef's
- (2.02 km) Gene McCarthy's