Shop for Handcrafted Goods Along the Amish Trail in Western NY

With the hustle and bustle of modern life, sometimes we want to take a step back and slow down. Drive along the country roads and stop to see what you can find. And experience another culture while you’re at it. That’s exactly what you can do along the Amish Trail in the enchanted mountains of Cattaraugus County of Western New York. The rural setting is filled with handcrafted and homemade goods, including everything from wooden toys, furniture, baked goods, candies, leather, cabinets, quilts, farm products, and more. Plan a day – or a weekend – to discover the charm of the Amish Trail and feel as if you’re stepping back in time.

Thank you to Sam & Jeremy from Cattaraugus County Tourism for guiding me along a tour of the Amish Trail.

Who are the Amish?

The Amish community is a Christian-based lifestyle that is based in tradition. Members of the Amish community avoid most modern amenities, like electricity, cars, television, and internet. Since they don’t drive, you’ll often find Amish people walking, bicycling, or traveling by horse-and-buggy. Amish communities are tight-knit, with nearly all of their interactions happening within their small community. Schooling, farming, businesses, church, etc. This is particularly true of the Old Order Amish, which is most common in Cattaraugus County.

Amish communities are prevalent throughout rural parts of New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio (and dispersing to neighboring states). You can recognize them by their simple, solid-colored clothing and wide-brimmed hats or bonnets. While most Amish people speak English, you’ll notice they have heavy accents from their Pennsylvania Dutch roots

Many of the homes along the Amish trail are large, white farmhouses with blue front doors. Red barns usually are located next to their homes, where you may see horses and buggies lingering outside. Since they use traditional farming practices, many Amish homes are located on large farms, with sprawling fields and clotheslines hanging up their laundry.

What is along the Amish Trail in Western New York?

Since Amish people don’t use electricity, let alone the internet, there is no easy way for non-Amish people to learn about their businesses. That means no websites, no advertising, and no social media. But they want to sell their products to anyone who will buy them! Luckily for us, the Enchanted Mountains tourism folks put in a ton of effort to create the Amish Trail. By going door-to-door and documenting the businesses by latitude and longitude, an intricate map was developed. The map spans across several towns and villages in Western New York, including Cattaraugus, Gowanda, Randolph, Little Valley, Salamanca, Otto, Leon, and Conewango.

Available both digitally (on AmishTrail.com) and in print (via brochures available throughout the region), the Amish Trail includes over 200 local businesses. Most of which are shops located in small buildings on their personal property.

You can find a little bit of everything along the trail. Custom furniture, homemade candies, cheese, wooden toys, hand-sewn quilts, fresh meat, milk & eggs, baked goods, leather products, and even sheds. Regardless of what you’re buying, there is one thing you always know for sure: Amish products are very well made.

While you’re in the area, try roasting and blending your own coffee at RocketCup in Cattaraugus.

What to Know Before You Go…

Because of their strict lifestyle, most Amish people do not like their photos taken. Some don’t even like to be around cell phones and cameras. Please respect their wishes while you are on their property. Never photograph them without their permission.

Share the road. Just because they don’t drive cars doesn’t mean that they don’t travel — short distances at least. Please be mindful of Amish people walking and biking on the roadside along the trail. You’ll also notice many horses pulling black buggies trotting along the roads. Pass buggies slowly, with wide berth, and only when it is safe to do so. Never beep your horn as it could startle the horses.

Since the communities are very religious, all Amish shops are closed on Sundays. According to the Amish Trails website, businesses are also occasionally closed on Wednesdays. Please plan accordingly.

Bring cash! If you plan to do some shopping, this one should be obvious. You didn’t really think they’d accept credit cards or Venmo did you?

Lastly, and most importantly, while you are in their communities, be respectful of Amish culture and traditions. You don’t have to agree with or practice the same lifestyle in order to respect it.

Highlights Along the Amish Trail

With over 200 shops along the trail, it’s impossible to visit them all. So here are a few spots that I was able to visit that came highly recommended.

Hill Top Toy Shop

Located in Randolph, Hill Top Toy Shop is a delightful little spot. The family specializes in handcrafted wooden toys, and shoppers can see some of the equipment used to make them at the back of the shop. While inside, be sure to look up at the ceiling. There you will notice paper patterns and stencils used to replicate the products they make. The shop also sells some wooden kitchen items (wooden spoons, cutting boards, etc.) and jars of jam and jelly. My favorite thing was the sand pendulum, and yes, I bought one that now sits in my dining room.

Malinda’s Candy Shop

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you can’t visit the Amish Trail without stopping at Malinda’s Candy Shop. Located in Conewango Valley, this quaint shop is filled with sweetness. Browse through a wide variety of candies, jams, jellies, and fudge.

Baked Goods on Seager

My absolute favorite thing to buy at Amish stores and markets is fresh baked goods. They are always just so delicious! Baked Goods on Seager is open on Fridays and Saturdays in the neighborhood of Axeville. They sell the most delicious – and affordable – donuts, breads, pies, and cookies.

If you love a good Amish market, check out The Windmill in Penn Yan.