Western New York's Letchworth State Park boasts tremendous beauty just 35 miles south of Rochester and 60 miles east of Buffalo in Wyoming County. The park earned its nickname "The Grand Canyon of the East" with its densely forested gorges carved out by the Genesee River on its way to Lake Ontario. Along 66 miles of trails, hikers pass the massive Mount Morris Dam, the Lower Falls stone footbridge, gorge footpaths, William Letchworth's hidden country cottage, wild orchids, bald eagles, 350-million-year-old rock formations, 600-foot cliffs and three breathtaking waterfalls.
History
The Letchworth State Park area was first inhabited by the Seneca Indians, who called the area Vale of Three Falls. By the 1800s, railroads and canals brought tourists to the gorge. The Parade Grounds area was used as a Civil War Training Camp. Later, Buffalo business tycoon William Pryor Letchworth purchased the land surrounding middle falls, built a small mansion, planted trees and preserved this rare paradise. The space became an official New York state park in 1907. Several disasters struck Letchworth over the years, including a 1972 flood and an 1852 railroad bridge fire. A new steel bridge was erected immediately following the fire. The Mount Morris Dam, finished in 1954 by the US army corps engineers, proved its worth by saving thousands of farm acres from flooding annually.
Location, Entrance Points & Accessibility
From Rochester, you can get to Letchworth State Park by taking the 390 South to exit 7 and following NY-408 to NY-36. There are five entrances to Letchworth, with the main ones at Mount Morris in the north, Perry in the northwest and Castile in the southwest. Other entrances include Portageville in the south, Parade Grounds in the southeast, which are closed in the winter. The park is open year-round from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., with an $8 vehicle fee at most gates. Most trails are not handicap accessible, but the viewing and picnic areas are. Pets are allowed on leashes.
Basic Trail Information
Generally speaking, the trails at Letchworth are wide, stone-lined and well cleared. Some trails are paved, while others are marked by brown wooden signs and colored paint markings on trees. Less-traversed trails are marked only by worn dirt, rocks and branches. The difficulty varies, with easy trails along short, flat, scenic routes and more arduous treks down steep, slippery gorge ravines that may or may not be water-logged. Hikers should exercise caution, even on the well-marked trails, as a portion of the Gorge Trail overlook at middle falls eroded in 2006. The visitor center is situated 0.4 miles from the Inspiration Point Overlook.
The Waterfalls of Letchworth
Waterfalls are one of the major attractions at the park. The Upper, Lower and Middle Falls, which are in the southern portion of the park near Portage Canyon, are best known. Lower Falls has a neat stone bridge, Middle Falls is the highest of the three, and Upper Falls has an active railroad bridge with an excellent vantage point. Inspiration Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in New York state, plummeting down 350 feet. Wolf Creek Falls offers a 225-foot drop visible from Tea Table Picnic area and the 40- to 70-foot St. Helena Falls can be seen from the St. Helena Picnic area. The trail to Horsetail Falls will take you to a 130-foot waterfall, while providing a view of the Detour Cliff Cascade. The beautiful 150-foot Deh-ga-yo-soh Falls can be reached by taking the Finger Lakes/North Country Trail. You also won't want to miss The Three Sisters, a cascade of tall water accessible from the Gorge Trail.
Trails For Beginners
If it's your first time to Letchworth, your best bet is to hike the 7-mile Gorge Trail and back. Even though there are 25 other trails to choose from, this one offers many of the best views in the park. Enter half a mile from the Portageville Entrance. You'll see the Upper and Middle Falls in your first mile, followed by the Lower Falls and the St. Helena Picnic Area. Other easy trails for beginners include Lee's Landing, Portage and Pond Trail---a short, 0.75 mile walk to a trout-stocked fishing pond for the kids.
Trails For Rigorous Multiple Day Trekking & Camping
The Finger Lakes Trail is the longest in the park. The full trail begins at the Pennsylvania/New York border and extends east to the Long Path in the Catskill Mountains. In Letchworth, you'll find a 24-mile section of the trail beginning at the Genesee Greenway Trail, south of where Route 436 crosses the Genesee River near the Parade Grounds entrance. If you're feeling really adventurous, this is the extended camping trip to plan.
Wildlife
Letchworth State Park attracts anglers who come for the trout-stocked pond and bird watchers who clamor to see over 150 species of birds and waterfowl, including mergansers, wood ducks, wild turkey, red-tailed hawk and bald eagles. Other commonly spotted creatures include small predators like red fox and coyotes, as well as prey like white-tailed deer and cottontail rabbits. Woodchucks, beavers, squirrels and chipmunks forage through the forests of Letchworth.
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