I'm a huge fan of Griffith Park. This cultures are super fun and interesting. You can climb on them and touch them and otherwise engage with them. This year I was here for part of the Outside chronicles, hiking challenge, as were other people I saw here.I hope it continues to thrive as a place for locals to be able to come and do an interesting hike with their families. They have easy parking access at the bottom of the hill, and there is a suggested donation through Venmo or other apps. read more

Griffis Sculpture Park - Parks Near Me - East Otto, New York

See all

Nice hike through the park. Lots of sculptures. Can easy spend a few hours there. Pond at the bottom. Castle up top Is cool read more

Meticulously kept grounds, interesting sculptures, pristine woods. No litter, great for a romantic date with your spouse of 30+ years, and great for little kids to run around in the fresh air. Lots of nooks and crannies to explore. Admission is only five dollars a person And I would gladly have paid considerably more. This is a Place worthy of repeated visits. read more

See all

If you haven't been here, you need to go! Pick a nice day, drive out here and walk around the grounds looking at beautifully made metal statues. The art work is amazing and was done by Larry Griffis himself as well as 100 other artists. It's great for adults but kids would also love it too! I picked a cloudy day that ended up with pouring rain but it was still enjoyable. read more

Griffis Sculpture Park - Mushrooms - Parks Near Me - East Otto, New York

See all

I can't really review the Sculpture Park because I was only here for an outdoor concert. I did not go look at the artwork, but what I did see, I did not care for. Not my taste. read more

See all

We made a day visit and a night visit for their fall Night Lights event. There is a variety of sculptures throughout the park, including giant insects, giant women, climbing structures and a set of mushrooms that would be perfect for a fairy photo shoot. One of my sons remains aghast at nude art despite my reminders that the human body is art, and it's not inappropriate for children in the context of art. It didn't help when we encountered a family whose younger sons were saying and doing things that absolutely were inappropriate with the statues. Despite that, my son's has fun staging happy pictures during the day and scary pictures at night. Night Lights ends shortly after the first field you encounter. My sons were disappointed it didn't at least extend to the halfway point with the large castle. Pricing seemed high for the same reason. Still worth visiting at least once. read more

See all

Love this place! Please bring a trash bag and pick up after yourself. Its beautiful in all seasons too.

We wanted to try some place new to visit and since we were in the area, we tried it. I really didn't expect such a hike and was not really prepared for this but it was still enjoyable. First thing, If you see the port a potties, I would use them before starting out. Those were the only places to go to bathroom, unless you are a guy and go behind a tree you are out of luck until you return back to the home base. There are You Are Here signs throughout the walk and you will need to view them to figure out where you need to go to next. We started through the metal entrance and began our trek up to see the castle. You encounter sculptures all through the trail. And the first landing takes you to more things to see - Ladies by the lake (yes - they are not clothed so if you have small children - buyer beware of naked ladies) There are insects and interesting things which you can also climb. The next hike was a little more steeper and it was quite muddy so beware to wear hiking boots for this trail. We made it to the castle and some other interesting sculptures. Unfortunately, I was drinking water to keep hydrated and needed to use the restroom so I could not get to see the Strange Heads. We may have to make another trip soon. But on the way down we chose another trail, which was wider and not as steep or muddy, thinking its a service road. So if we go next time, we may choose to use that - not as many sculptures to see but an easier walk. Price was a donation of $5.00 and they have a small shop with local artists. So glad we were able come and see something new and different. Note: There are some off beaten paths if you like to hike. But if you don't want to get lost, stay true on the mail paths. read more

See all

I went a long time ago with my son, my aunt and her friend and it was so inspiring. It was so amazing and it was a long walk, but it was a nice walk. Go and check it out. It's amazing. read more

Went out with the Young Black Professionals of WNY Meetup group and it was such a good time! Beautiful weather and great company can make any trekking around that much more fun. The park has a $5 suggested donation for adults for entry and it's worth so much more than that! There are literally hundreds of sculptures throughout this massive place. Even got our picture taken Mr. Griffis (the sculptor) himself! Highly recommend chekcing it out with family or friends. Be prepared for some hilly parts, but it's all worth it. Would return again to explore all the sculptures missed with the group. read more

We bsrely even scratched the surfacw on all there is to see here and holy cow - this place is AMAZING. If you're in Ellicottville or Cattaraugus county in general, this is a must hit park. We went early in the morning and found this place to be eerie and COOL. There was a welcome station with no one manning it and no one else in the park period. We ventured onto the path and had done no research on what lay ahead. What we found was a HUGE sprawling path/hike filled with sculptures that elicited all kinds of different emotions. We didn't have time to complete the path (I would recommend leaving two full hours as though you are visiting an art gallery) but saw the divers, the bugs, and a few other gorgeous stops along the way. It was a gorgeous day for us to explore and I can't wait to go back and complete the rest of the trail. With a mix of water, pathways, open green spaces, and more - this is an ideal walk or hike for a family and really provided some great time for reflection. Don't miss it! read more

See all

I've been going to Sculpture Park for decades. My parents used to bring me and my little brother here when he and I were kids. When my husband and I started dating, I introduced him to the park. Now we bring our own kids here, and still steal away from time to time just the two of us. Once you start coming to Sculpture Park, you'll be coming for generations. The park is both nature and sculpture, which is seamlessly combined. The landscape is rugged, with the trails and fields of course susceptible to the elements. In the springtime, or if it has been rainy, plan your footwear for mud. The first half of the full hike is mostly uphill. But you can access some parts of the park with an easy walk from parking areas, which is what we used to do when the kids were small. Now we hoof it up the hill to get the full experience. We are by no means in shape nor exactly young anymore, but we can still make it up the hill. So I'd say it is doable for many people. As you hike up the hill, along the way there are sculptures sprinkled into the landscape. They must be strategically placed to keep you moving up the hill. I'm always like, "I can see the red one! Just keep going! Here comes the black one, we can make it!" :-D Making it from sculpture to sculpture is definitely a motivator to keep climbing! Several of the sculpture are abstracts. And several are nude human forms. Some are animals and insects. Plus there are interactive sculptures, where climbing is encouraged. There is a spaceship, a rocket ship, and a tower that are all designed to climb. Really all of the sculptures are durable and designed to get close, touch, examine, and experience them fully in the context of their natural surroundings. Admission to Sculpture Park is $5 adults and $3 children, and payment is on the honor system at the main parking lot. Sadly they no longer take cash donations, as someone ripped the cash box off of the wall and stole it. That really steams me!! Just unreal!! Now there are PayPal and Venmo instructions in place of the cash box so you can still give to Sculpture Park. Visiting is an easy drive down the 219 from the Buffalo area, barely an hour to get here. No matter how many times you visit Sculpture Park, it never gets old, never feels like there isn't still more to see. This natural arts & culture gem of the Southern Tier is well worth the visit, and visit again, and again. read more

See all

This was a really nice daytrip for us especially during social distancing. It ended up being a more difficult "hike" than we expected mostly due to the weather. We went while it was still pretty soggy and muddy so the trails near the amazons was a little tough but we made it! Love the art throughout the trail and it was lovely to get some fresh air read more

See all

Trails could be better marked to understand how best to see everything, otherwise it's an interesting place

I don't know how I haven't reviewed Griffis yet, this is a great spot. I'd put it as one of my top 10 places in WNY. If the art weren't there, the full loop would still be a fun little hike. The art is there though and it's awesome! Where else in the area can you see 40ft tall woman, a castle overlooking looking the rolling hills, dinosaur eggs and so much more? Often overlooked is that there are 2 sites, so be sure to check out both. read more

See all

This place is an exceptional place to visit and enjoy the beauty of the natural world and some truly impressive sculpture art in and around the natural setting. There are lots of little trails with your choice of easy or more hilly terrain and lots to see. The sculptures are super great and vary in size and type. The castle is one of the highlights and features a tower with ladders to climb to the top for an excellent view of the hill side. There is plenty of parking and tickets to enjoy the park are I think $5 dollars for an adult. This is a wonderful place to visit and support and a must see in the Ellicottville area. They do a number of events here throughout the year including a truly stunning night time walk with lights in the woods that is just beautiful! read more

See all

WNY, for its size, has always had a very strong arts scene. You can experience unique and high quality stuff that's normally only available in the largest cities. Griffis Sculpture Park is one of those unique art experiences. In 1966, sculpture Larry Griffis purchased 100 acres near Ashford Hollow in the Southern Tier of Western New York and placed 15 of his own 25 feet welded steel works on a hillside along a country road. The now 450 acre park has over 200 sculptures of Larry Griffis, Jr. and other international artists have been residing in the woods, fields, and ponds. The park is split into two sections: Rohr Hill Road Site and Mill Valley Road Site. The Rohr Hill area is characterized by towering sculptures set in fields and woods just off the road. The Mill Valley Road Site features both a smooth walk area, as well miles of trails through a variety of terrain. Admission is $5 on a honor system. read more

See all

I highly recommend this adventure! We were lucky to go on a sunny day while the leaves were starting to change. Zero staff and you are free to wonder. We only encountered other like minded cool small groups quietly wandering around this trippy one of a kind open space. Wooded trails, open fields, streams and just a feeling of freedom and creativity. I honestly felt like I was waiting for my "trip" to begin. The naked models had me and my girlfriends mind starting to drift into the possibilities......... we spent a few hours here and took some amazing photos. We were bummed we didn't pack lunch and a blanket. There is a beautiful rolling open field that would have been delightful for a picnic. There was zero litter and it was so quiet you could here birds and the wind blowing through the trees. Great place for a date or too ponder life with dear friends. Please get there! read more

See all

Great hike on a beautiful day! Just watch out for the naked bathers scattered around the park

Cool and unique little gem of a park. Made the hour trek out to East Otto with my husband and we really enjoyed walking around and seeing the sculptures. There were some trails with sculptures almost blended in with the trees and such on the side of the paths, but also some open fields with a variety of statues and also so sculptures and things you could climb which was pretty cool. The downside is that it is very poorly marked, which we found out the hard way. There was a sign by the "main entrance" that had the general outline of the easy, moderate and hard trail, and one or two of those signs posted throughout the area but once you get up and exploring it is really a maze of many different paths and trails that are way more complicated than that basic map shows you. I found it not too bad until you get up to the "hard" section. I"m not sure what they meant by hard, the terrain was much less steep than the moderate section but there were tons of paths in every direction, some of which weren't much cared for but that could really lead you out of the park and places you wouldn't necessarily be welcome. That happened to us, and while its a great story now of us making some new friends with a couple we got lost with and ending up following a trail that lead us out of the park and onto the road 4 miles from where we parked and then hitchhiking our way back on the back of some stranger's pick-up truck, it is a little concerning that the trails aren't well marked and that that it isn't clear when you are leaving the park. I really caution you to be careful, we got lost as I mentioned in the "hard" difficulty level by the sculptures of heads in the forest. Be careful there, and if you start wandering and don't see any more sculptures, head back, unless you want a fun story to tell! Haha Overall a fun place, just be aware of the confusing nature of the trails, but bring a picnic and your kids and enjoy the more clear areas of the park! read more

Griffis Sculpture Park - Where we were led astray - Parks Near Me - East Otto, New York

See all

Due to mobility issues, I was really only able to see and walk the field on Rohr Hill Road. But that alone was enough for me to deem this one of my favorite places. Drove over from Cleveland not really knowing what to expect, and when I made the final turn and finally saw the sculptures, I was blown away. Thank you Griffis family for your vision. read more

I thought this place was cool, although my girlfriend thought it was a bit creepy. Imagine open fields with rusted steel sculptures, everything from weird looking futuristic people to giraffes, snakes, huge looking spiders and everything in between. It was mostly creepy because there was almost no one here and you're walking through the woods among these objects, but I think it's a really cool spot. Grab some drinks, some friends and venture out here for some hikes. Bring some insect repellant since there are rampant amount of bugs and the trails go through some heavy tree areas and are not well made. Also, it's only 15miles from Ellicotville, so you can make a nice little day trip out of coming here and then getting some nice food on a patio over there or just walking around among the cool shops. Gotta say that it's hard to find the "main entrance" to this park though and we were in this big open field with a lot of sculptures, but we weren't quite sure whether this was the main entrance or not. Good luck if you venture out here! read more

Griffis Sculpture Park - Steel sculptures all throughout the park - Parks Near Me - East Otto, New York

The Sculpture Park is an awesome asset to the community. I love this place, it's so unique and cool. I've already been here twice this year. I've been going here on and off throughout my years, with a visit to the Canadian Invasion which was a really cool concert back when I was in college. Also went last summer to their summer concert which was super fun and chill. The folks that work here are always really friendly and really nice. Recently attended the Night Lights event they do in the Fall. I highly recommend it. It was so cool to see the park lit up, especially if you've seen it on a normal day. It reminded us of Disney Animal Kingdom Avatar land! They have the bottom part of the Hill all it up, the top area with the castle, etc is not lit up. They were showing some films from the park and there was a really nice guy who talked to us about them and about the park. One of the things that's cool about the park is there are two different areas, you walk through the forest and just discover sculptures, it seems like it's never ending, in a good way! Bring a picnic so you can enjoy it for as long as you like. There are clean port a potties. I'd like to go back in the fall when you can see the leaves changing. I was excited that I got a t-shirt last time I was there. It's close to Ellicottville, so a trip there as well is a great idea if you have time. If you haven't been here, go now!!! read more

See all

BY FAR the coolest place I've been to in a long time. The art was amazing.... so many little details and surprises all over and in the woods.... overall hike was about 2 to 3 hours... With stops for photos in between... I took my small dog with me and he was able to hike the entire time. I would recommend bringing bug repellent and lots of water though. I can't wait to visit again. read more

See all

Great unique hiking experience with beautiful sclptures...finally had the opportunity to go with a guy friend. Especially loved the maze, and castle...plan to return for night lights next year. read more

Griffis Sculpture Park - Parks Near Me - East Otto, New York

If you're ready for a hike this is the place to go, numerous trails and a lot of uphill climbing. There was an attendant at the entrance who collected a $5 fee but it's kind of optional and if there's no one there it's an honor system thing. The park itself looks well-maintained and the trails are well-defined and of course sculptures everywhere small pieces to 20 ft tall works of art. read more

I have been wanting to come here for awhile. There is a lot of stuff to look. I think the park needs to work harder on the upkeep. Several of the nude statues were missing body parts. One lady was missing an arm and foot. Most of the nude statues by the pond were covered in cobwebs. I heard some rude remarks from a group that discover a spider nest in the woman's private area. They were commenting about how the lady had crabs. (Spiders, but I could see where the comment came from) It was just nasty. I did take a few pictures. read more

See all

Finally took the hour drive this past summer to E. Otto, NY and discovered this hidden gem I heard from my "art" buddies. Griffis Sculpture Park is free but your encouraged to donate $$ to help preserve the upkeep of the large sculpture park! I imagine it takes a lot of time and effort! We donated $20 As we entered it said this sculpture park is one of the largest in the World!! I believe it now! Not only did we see various sculptures blended into the nature surrounding us but we were hiking while doing it. There are some hills and steps, so make sure you wear comfortable sneakers. Some sculptures were large enough for people to interact and climb up or go into the works of art. I took many cool pictures!! I should make a "Griffis Sculpture Park Collage"! Theres a large pond with human figures around in various poses. Larry Griffis and these other artists were or are very talented. There steel sculptures of various sizes on 450 acres!! This sculpture park has been around since the early 60's. We brought some healthy snacks and waters to take a break with. They had a picnic table we should sit at. Just make sure you don't litter! If you haven't experienced Griffis Sculpture Park...your missing out read more

See all

Nice trails and Inyeresting art work nice place to walk and relax Little difficult if you are in a wheelchair unless it's an all terrain one read more

I had my sights set on the sculpture park for some time now and I finally went! You can bring leashes dogs, which is cool because they need exposure to art too. It's a cool little hike with more uphill than I imagined. Not gonna lie, I went to school for art and I have a hard time with appreciating sculpture... just not my thing. But all in all the park was neat! Some of the sculptures you can climb in/on and it's really quiet. Bring cash for the entrance fee. You slip it into a little slot. Also, my dog loved it and is judging me for not 'getting' sculpture. read more

See all

Griffis is an artists playground! While there are two separate sections, the main park is full of hiking, nature and fun as the artists and Griffis family welcome its visitors to interact with any and all of the sculptures. There is a small admission fee, as noted on the website, payment is based on an honor system. This does not mean that you should cheat the system, and explore the park in all its glory for free, as the park is run by donations, which really means, if you can, give a little more than the honor system asks! Events are hosted frequently, often times welcoming the public for music, picnics, hiking and more! While this is very much a family friendly location, parents should take note that a number of the sculptures are nude, mostly women, with at least one very proud man in the mix. However, I encourage parents to visit nonetheless and embrace the teachable moments in spotting these sculptures as opposed to shying away from them. This particular sculpture park is fantastic year round, with a whole different look and feel each of our fabulous Western New York seasons! The park also changes regularly, with new installations, and movement of some of the staples, so one visit is certainly not enough! Check it out, you'll fall in love!! read more

See all

I wanted to do some hiking but I couldn't figure out where I wanted to go, until a friend suggested here. I'm not a huge fan of art, but this park incorporates art with nature and it's fun for all adults and children alike! When I told my husband where we were going to go he thought it sounded "lame". By the end of our hike, he couldn't wait to come back. Take a look at the pictures, he loved it! The maps weren't very detailed or useful, and we got lost onto private property in the red area, which from what I hear, happens very often. But the land is very up-kept and I love that they have events once in a while. It's a great time for family fun! read more

Last weekend was the first time that I've been to sculpture park in over 10 years and it looks pretty much the same. Some of the trails have been moved around so you're not walking through the property owner's yard, the lower pond is a little muckier than I remember and the ducks are gone and some of the sculptures have fallen over. Its funny how much smaller it seems now than it did when I was a kid. I wore my GPS and from the parking lot to the top of the blue trail and back it was less than 2 miles. It's still a great place. You can climb all over the sculptures and there are plenty of opportunities to take pictures of yourselves doing obscene things to them. Our family photo album is full of 30 years of crotch and booby grabs...It's pretty much a requirement. I still like Larry Griffis' original metal sculptures the best. There's something creepy and exciting about coming up on Amazon women and giant metal bugs in the woods when you're not expecting it. The newer pastel and wood sculptures just don't have the same effect. It's definitely off the beaten path...something fun to do if you're in E'ville outside of ski season (or you're a local who just wants to get away from all the tourists during summer festivals). Stop by Hog Shed Pottery for some beautiful pottery (I LOVE my coffee mugs!) or Brookside Studio for a watercolor and stop by John Boys for some grub while you're out that way. read more

See all

I live about forty miles away from the sculpture park and I still manage to go to it at least once or twice a year. It is very unique and should be a destination for everyone (who's able to take a day hike, anyway!). I haven't been here during the winter yet, but I imagine it's great to go to during the winter as well as the summer. There is something whimsical and special about the sculpture park. Different statues are hidden throughout the rolling East Otto hills. My favorite are the huge insects! There has been some construction I've seen going on for a year or two, so more is being added to the park. Bring a small bag with water bottles and lunch, as the sculpture park would take an afternoon to get through. Some areas may be muddy so footwear you don't mind getting dirty would be smart to wear, too. The admission to get in is based on an honor system, but the sculpture park runs on donations, so give back to this wonderful gem! read more

Griffis Sculpture Park - Parks Near Me - East Otto, New York

Recently spent a weekend in Ellicottville, NY and was excited to visit Griffis Park. This is a s p r a w l i n g property that is not in just one area. Pay attention at the welcome area so that you don't miss any major installations. The first section we visited was the hiking path up the mountainside. There is a limited amount of signage and there are pieces of art everywhere, you really need to remain vigilant. The hillside is somewhat steep but certainly manageable. There is art in the woods, near the path, in open fields around ponds and in the trees. Mediums includes aluminum, steel, iron, wood, rubber and cement. Subjects are mainly women, some men, animals, birds, architectural designs and insects. Wear comfy shoes, take your camera and don't forget bug spray. We meandered, hiked, strolled, pondered and speculated for about 4 hours. It was a great day, for sure and completely at our leisure - no guides... just an information center and donation box! read more

See all

Great place for a small and short hike! I wish I knew it was an actual hike before I went here with my heels on lol almost broke my neck read more

See all

It's a unique park with imaginative sculptures throughout the property. It's a real treasure. Hiking the park is deceptively challenging and and enjoyable. read more

Beautiful evening at Griffis' Night Lights event. Our group of 25 had no problem parking. No lines to wait in. A whimsical park to explore! read more

See all

What a gem of a place! So glad that we saw a sign for this sculpture park as we were on our way from Ellicotsville to Niagara. I only wish we had more time to explore! Well maintained and family friendly there is lots to see here and enjoy. I am grateful to the people that maintain it and make this beautiful place accessible to the public. We only were able to spend about twenty minutes but it would be easily possible to spend the whole day here. read more

If I were Ironman I might find myself mildly aroused visiting Griffis Sculpture Park... LOL!!! There are all kinds of sculptures of metal naked ladies in a variety of freaky-deaky positions lining the landscape here that might make a metal man stop and say "How yoUUU doin'!?!" ============ THE SCENE The drive in from Buffalo, NY off US-219 will lead you down Rohr Hill Road. Along this road you will see a field of sculptures that are the part of the experience of hiking here. You can either stop and look around or drive a mile or so further to the main entrance and use the "red" trail to bring you back to this section of the park. Let me warn you the hike here from the main part of the park has a pretty good calorie burning uphill climb. So if you are not looking to spend a hour or so walking the entire loop, I would highly encourage you to stop along the Rohr Hill Road section first and then drive down to the main entrance. Turn right onto Mill Valley Road and look for the entrance signs on the right. You'll pass another field of sculptures before coming to a small unmanned welcome center that operates on the honor system (like many state parks). You are asked to leave a donation in a metal box based on age: $5 for adults to free for small children. A path leading to the main area of the park is just to the left of the welcome center marked by a colorful gateway. ============ THE EXPERIENCE If you are freaked out by bugs, some of the sculptures here will make your skin crawl. There are a few huge spiders, a large house fly, wasp, yellow jacket, beetle, mosquito and one enormous praying mantis. There are also many abstract pieces and a section that I can only describe as alien spaceships that might have been created after smoking some of those funny cigarettes and listening to a Bootsy Collins Album! Near the woods is a naked dude that seems to be inspired by the statue of David in Florence. There you will find the red trail leading to the Rohr Hill Road section of the park. Part of the display here includes a Teepee with a large wasp guarding it. The trail is muddy so wooden plank have been placed throughout to help. We didn't find much along the trail and turned back midway. Aside from the sculptures, there are many scenic views, a lovely babbling brook and a pond with clear enough waters to see the fish and aquatic creatures living inside. The view from the upper trail back towards the pond is particularly nice: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/griffis-sculpture-park-east-otto?select=ZM1rIRsMn9yp_Ph9RepjTA#I0qZ7yYZSicotwWvPKrylQ ============ FINAL THOUGHTS I can only laugh as I imagine what it would be like to be lost and stumble across this place accidentally. Some of the weird pieces might make me concerned for my safety. I mean seriously, what would you think if you had no idea where you were and stumbled across this: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/griffis-sculpture-park-east-otto?select=ZM1rIRsMn9yp_Ph9RepjTA#ZM1rIRsMn9yp_Ph9RepjTA However, there is so much more to the story here.The park features many pieces by Larry Griffis and members of the Griffis family, some dated as far back as 1966. Simon Griffis and the Ashford Hollow foundation in cooperation with the Erie County Arts in Education grant hosted about 125 students from Springville Elementary as part of a bronze art project. The students experienced molten bronze being poured into molds of their own design and were rewarded with bronze reliefs they could take home. The students also learned about the make-up of bronze and what it takes to melt metal. What a fun way to be educated! The park has also inspired high school students @ Ellicottville Central School to create their own mini sculpture park. Many of the students that took part in the sculpting project (overseen by Mr. Griffis himself) admittedly didn't think they had artistic abilities but found participating in this project to be highly inspiring. The 400 acre Sculpture Park is definitely an interesting experience you must add to your vacation if visiting the Buffalo New York area. PARENTS, just be aware your kids will be getting a quick education on the male/female anatomy! LOL read more

See all