The beauty of Letchworth State Park is legendary, not just in New York but in the entire country. This park has miles of trails, activities of all kinds, amazing scenic vistas, waterfalls, and history. Letchworth State Park is America’s #1 State Park.
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Letchworth State Park is a 14,427-acre park often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the East. This majestic park is perched on the deep gorge of the Genesee River and spans 17 miles. The park has so much to offer visitors. Whether for a day trip or a weekend of camping, Letchworth brings families closer to the breathtaking beauty of this historic and natural wonder.
History of the Park
Letchworth is named for William Pryor Letchworth, who originally owned the land surrounding the historic Glen Iris Inn. The park was founded in 1906 when the 1000 acres of the property was given to the State of New York.
The park has a heavy Native American influence as this area is the home to the Seneca Indians. The park is the final resting place of Mary Jamison, the White Woman of the Genesee. A Shawnee raiding party captured Mary at the age of 12 and later adopted by the Seneca people. She lived with the Seneca for the rest of her life. There is a statue of her at her gravesite at the Council Grounds.
Tips for Visiting
Exploring the Park
- Arrive Early – If you want to have the park to yourself, get there early. The crowds grow as the day goes on, so you can enjoy the park without a big crowd if you arrive as soon as it opens.
- Visit during bad weather -It might not sound appealing, but it is another way to enjoy the park at low capacity. And not for nothing, the rain makes already beautiful waterfalls even more impressive.
- This park is big, and you will probably do a lot of walking, so wear comfortable shoes. Also, the mist from the waterfalls can make areas slippery, which is another reason proper footwear is a must.
- If you want to camp at Letchworth, I highly recommend making your reservation far in advance. This is one of the most popular state parks to camp at.
- Numerous restaurants and snack bars are located throughout the park; however, they aren’t always open. It is a good idea to plan ahead by bringing along snacks or a picnic lunch.
- Be alert while driving at Letchworth. Cars continuously pull in and out of the scenic view areas, and there are pedestrians walking everywhere. Traveling the main road through the park is slow at any time of the year. However, traffic can get heavy during certain times of the year, such as fall weekends when the autumn leaves are at peak, during Balloons Over Letchworth.
There is so much to see and do at Letchworth State Park. Letchworth is the most popular state park in America because it is not only spectacular but offers visitors so much. This park is full of history, excellent hiking trails, exceptional scenic views, and waterfalls. Letchworth is full of natural wonders and it offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the beauty of New York’s Grand Canyon of the East.
Park Entrances
There are several places to enter Letchworth State Park. Mount Morris, Perry, Castile, Portageville, and the Parade Grounds.
Google Map Link
Trails
There are 66 miles of trails in Letchworth State Park. Some of the most gorgeous trails lead visitors to incredible vistas. Some of these incredible scenic overlooks are almost 600 feet above the gorge. There are trails for bike riding, horseback riding, snowmobiles, and cross-country skiing as well.
If you aren’t thrilled with the idea of hiking, have no fear. You can easily drive through the park and stop at all the scenic views and waterfalls without having to do much walking.
Waterfalls
Letchworth has over 50 waterfalls, but most people come for the big 3: Lower, Middle, and Upper Falls. While the names of the waterfalls aren’t very remarkable, the falls are. The Middle Falls are the largest of the three waterfalls at an impressive height of 107 feet. Upper Falls is 70 tall, and Lower Falls, the smallest of the three, is approximately 40 feet tall. The waterfalls can be viewed from several different viewpoints along the scenic drive in the park. After pulling off at the designated waterfall viewing areas, you will need to walk to them as they are further down into the gorge.
The falls within the park can be found when you least expect them, such as along the trails. Unfortunately, many of them tend to be seasonal. Inspiration Falls, for example, is known for being the highest waterfall in the State of New York but only flows after heavy downpours and cannot be seen completely inside the park.
Inspiration Point
This is a spot that many people overlook and they shouldn’t. This has one of the most spectacular views in the entire park. Inspiration Point is aptly named as you can see both the upper and Lower Falls from this vantage point. The view is absolutely fantastic. Inspiration Point has a small park around with a pond that makes this a nice place to stroll and enjoy not just the view of the falls, but the canyon and river below.
Scenic Overlooks and Picnic Areas
Throughout the park, there are numerous scenic overlooks. Views from these overlooks are nothing short of fantastic. Each overlook is different and they are excellent places to have a picnic. Many are positioned on trailheads where visitors can explore some of the lesser-known trails. If you can, make it a point to stop at each of these as you travel through the park. There are excellent picnic areas and playgrounds spread throughout the park. Almost anywhere you go, you will find someplace to relax and enjoy a picnic lunch in peace while the kids blow off some steam.
William Pryor Letchworth Museum
The William Pryor Letchworth Museum, named for the man who bequeaths the property to the state of New York, features Native American artifacts and the natural history of the Genesee Valley. The museum is open seasonally, between the months of May and October from 10 am-5 pm.
Humphrey Nature Center
The Humphrey Nature Center is an environmental education center that is open year-round. This center features interactive exhibits that focus on the nature and geology of the Genesee Valley. In addition to the exhibits inside the Center, visitors can view a lovely butterfly garden and a bird observatory.
Mount Morris Dam
The Mount Morris Dam is the largest dam east of the Mississippi River. The dam was constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers between 1948-1954. The dam was designed to keep the annual flooding of the Genesee River under control. The dam can be viewed at the north end of the park.
Tours of the Dam are given daily (Monday-Sunday) from April 14-October 25, including holidays.
Monday -Thursday tours are at 2 pm. Friday- Sunday 11 am & 2 pm. There is no charge for the tour and it is on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you want to tour the dam, arrive early to sign up for a tour, especially in the middle of summer. Tour groups are usually about 30-35 people maximum.
Council Grounds and Wolf Creek
The Council Grounds has the grave and statue of Mary Jamison as well as her cabin and the Seneca Nation Council House. Although you can’t enter either of the buildings, they are open enough for visitors to look inside. There is a short trail here that leads to the William Pryor Letchworth Museum down the hill.
Wolf Creek is another area that is just beautiful. It is actually one of my personal favorite spots in Letchworth. This spot is a great place to take photos and is a popular spot for wedding photos.
Balloons Over Letchworth
Soar high over Letchworth State Park in a hot air balloon. Can you imagine a more romantic way to see the park? Balloons Over Letchworth by Liberty Balloon Company gives visitors a unique and breathtaking view of the Grand Canyon of the East.
Red, White, and Blue Balloon Festival
Letchworth State Park hosts a giant balloon rally annually. This is not only a great opportunity to see the breathtaking sight of a multitude of balloons floating over the park, but also gives people a chance to take a tethered ride in a hot air balloon.
Wintertime in Letchworth
If you visit the Glen Iris Inn during the winter, you might have the opportunity to see the Letchworth Ice Volcano. This volcano is formed from the fountain in front of the Glen Iris and grows quite large depending on how cold the winter is. It is quite a sight to see.
Letchworth is one of those parks that regardless of when you visit, it’s breathtaking. We have found a new fondness for visiting places in the wintertime. The ice and snow create a stunning backdrop to already stunning scenery. We are particularly fond of waterfalls, which look amazing with the ice formations around them.
Although in the winter, some of the park is closed to visitors, most of the popular destinations are still open. The road down to the Lower Falls is closed. However, if you are willing to hike, you can still reach this area. I love doing this because we always have the park to ourselves, and it is so peaceful. The ice covering everything is stunning, like a winter wonderland.
If you plan on exploring the park in the Wintertime, I would recommend wearing boots with ice microspikes or yaktrax over them.
Ice Cleats Traction Snow Grips for Hiking and Walking
Don’t let the ice and snow stop you from enjoying the breathtaking beauty of winter. These traction grips help outdoor adventurers explore icy terrain safely.
Autumn at Letchworth
There are several places in New York where the autumn colors are nothing short of spectacular and Letchworth is one of them. Even if you don’t feel like hiking, just taking a drive through the park, is worth the visit.
Out and About With Nova
Nova loved Letchworth! She didn’t think much of the stunning sights, but she did love all the trails in the woods and walking along the wall. (She jumped up on the wall at one point, acting like she owned it. Silly girl!) There were lots of other people walking their dogs, but they all had their dogs leashed and made sure to keep their dogs at a distance from each other. Best of all, this State Park has lots of room to spread out. If you avoid the popular spots, like the waterfalls, you can almost have the place to yourself. This is a nice place to hike, with lots of trails to choose from.
Nova wants me to remind you to always clean up after your dog and deposit the waste bags in the trash. It makes all dog owners look bad when people find dog poop or dog pooped-filled bags on the trail. Please have consideration for everyone else who loves enjoying the outdoors, just like you.
Wildlife in Letchworth
Letchworth State Park is a natural paradise that has an abundance of wildlife. Visitors can see or find evidence of all sorts of animals, such as grouse, turkey, black squirrel, grey squirrels, red foxes, coyotes, beavers, woodchucks, white-tail deer, rabbits, barred owls, and hawks. Bears have been known to wander in the park. Raccoons are definitely present, as we discovered, and they are bold.
When we were camping in the park, we had a pair of raccoons wander up to our campsite and start taking food right off our picnic table while we were sitting in front of our fire. When we caught them, my husband tried to stop them from taking off with our bag of marshmallows. One of the raccoons causally swiped it off the table and took off with it. It turned and growled at my husband as he pursued it, trying to get it back; at this point, he decided that the marshmallow now belonged to the raccoon. Lesson learned: don’t leave food out at all, even if you are standing right there. These critters can be extremely bold.
Accommodations
Glen Iris
The Historic Glen Iris Inn was the home of William Pryor Letchworth. Today it is a restaurant and Inn. The Glen Iris offers several places for visitors to stay, including the Pinewood Lodge, Caroline Cottage, The Stone House, and the Chalet.
The Glen Iris serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as a picnic lunch that visitors can take into the park.
Camping
There are 257 campsites available at the Highbanks Campground and 81 rustic cabins spread around the park. These sites are all pretty good. Most are wooded but not completely shaded and laid out in such a way as to provide a fair amount of privacy. All the sites have electricity on them.
We were able to view the campsite on a great website I found called Campadk.com. This website is so helpful because you can get an idea of what the campground looks like, especially as you pretty much have to make advanced reservations to get a campsite at the better parks these days. Not every New York State Park is covered, but most of them are.
The Reserve America website (http://www.reserveamerica.com) is the reservation site for all the New York State campgrounds.
Do you love Letchworth as much as we do? When is your favorite time of year to visit? What is your favorite part of the park? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment and tell us all about your Letchworth experiences.