Letchworth State Park is something of a hidden gem. We decided to visit Letchworth State Park on a whim and can’t believe we had barely heard about it before. It is an incredible natural beauty with staggeringly huge waterfalls.
About Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park is referred to as the Grand Canyon of the East. The state park consists of around a 17 mile portion of the Genesee River that runs through a gorge that is as deep as 550 feet in some places. There are 3 huge waterfalls within the park along the Genesee River, named Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls.
The park is named after William Pryor Letchworth who in the 1800’s purchased most of the land that makes up the current day state park. Upon his death in the early 1900’s, he donated the land to New York State to create a park and prevent the waterfalls from being destroyed.
How to Get to Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park is located in western New York. The closest city is Buffalo, New York.
Car is the best way to get to Letchworth State Park. To fully enjoy the park, you need to have some form of transportation around to get to the multiple stops. If you’re super adventurous, there is a 17 mile one-way trail that theoretically could also be another way to get around the park.
There are a few different entrances to Letchworth State Park. I recommend entering at the Portageville Entrance.
The entrance fee is $10. The New York State Empire Pass will grant you “free” entry to the park also.
New York City to Letchworth State Park: 6 hours, 320 miles
Cleveland, Ohio to Letchworth State Park: 4 hours, 220 miles
Pittsburgh, PA to Letchworth State Park: 4 hours, 240 miles
Note: You cannot really visit Letchworth State Park in one day from New York City even though it is in the same state. Visitors to New York City often don’t realize how big of a state New York is. If you are traveling to New York from afar and would like to visit Letchworth State Park, definitely add a few days to your trip.
Things to See in Letchworth State Park
There are 2 main options for visiting. You could either drive straight through the park from one end to the other or spend most of your time on the Portageville side of the park where the biggest waterfalls are.
Here I include all of the possible stops to make if driving through the entire park, but if you are limited on time, spend most of your time on the stops at the beginning of the itinerary as they are much more worth your time.
Note: this itinerary is driving from Portageville towards Mt. Morris
Stop 1: Genesee Arch Bridge Parking
On your right after entering the park, you will see a small parking area close to the bridge. If there are any available spots, park here and take the trail down the hill to get your first view of Upper Falls. Continue hiking down all of the stairs and when you finally reach the end of the stairs, you will see a fantastic, up-close view of Upper Falls.
You will be able to see Upper Falls from the next stop as well, but this is definitely the closest you can get to the falls.
Stop 2: Balloon Launch Area Parking
Turn right at the next possible right after the Genesee Arch Bridge Parking. There is a little road that goes down into a flat grassy area with a lot of parking. On your map (that you got when you entered the park), it may be noted as the “Balloon Launch Area.”
First, walk the trail up the gorge to view Upper Falls from a different angle. From this angle, you can see Upper Falls with the arch bridge above it. At various times, hot air balloons launch and go up towards the Upper Falls, creating a beautiful scene.
Next, walk the gravel trail down the gorge toward Middle Falls. Out of all of the waterfalls in Letchworth State Park, Middle Falls is my favorite. The trail goes pretty close to the falls and you can literally feel how huge this waterfall is.
Before returning to your car, you could walk to the historical Glen Iris Inn or the park museum from here.
Stop 3: Inspiration Point
The next stop you should make is Inspiration Point. At Inspiration Point, there are a few walking trails, distant views of Middle Falls, and if you visit at the right time of year, you can see Inspiration Falls.
Stop 4: State Park Visitor Center
The next possible stop is the park’s visitor center. Here you can find restrooms and a cute little gift shop.
Stop 5: Lower Falls
Lower Falls is a little more difficult to get to and, to me, the least impressive of the 3 main waterfalls in the park. To get to Lower Falls, you will need to drive down Park Road the right that goes down a hill. At the end of Park Road, you can park your car and follow the signage to Lower Falls.
There is supposed to be a trail to get a closer view of the falls, but as of 2022 the trail is closed, so you can only see the falls in the distance through some trees. It is possible that the trail could be reopened again in the future.
This stop is a good stop to decide if you want to make the drive through the rest of the park or if you want to turn around and return the way you came. Most of the stops from here on out are overlooks with views of the canyon.
Stop 6: Archery Field Overlook
If you’re continuing to drive through the park rather than turn around and head back out the way you came, this is the first of many overlooks of the canyon in Letchworth State Park.
Stop 7: Great Bend Overlook
This stop is another overlook into the canyon at an area were the river and canyon bend in a unique way.
Stop 8: Gardeau Overlook
Gardeau Overlook is another overlook into the canyon. This part of the canyon is much wider and open than other parts of the canyon you have seen so far. Here the river doesn’t even fill the canyon as it is very wide.
Stop 9: Dam Overlook Area
Last main stop is the Dam Overlook Area. Nearby are bathrooms and a small shop. Honestly the views of the dam are not great, but is perhaps worth a stop if you are into engineering (or just need to use the bathroom lol).
Tips for Visiting Letchworth State Park
Get there early
If you read any of my other blog posts, you will see that this is something I say in almost every post. Letchworth is another place in New York that is popular, which also equals crowded at times. You will have a better experience if you arrive soon after the park opens in the morning. Also, as an added bonus, you will avoid the summer heat if exploring in the morning.
Hike the trails
Many people that visit Letchworth State Park, only park their car, get out to take a picture, and get back in and drive away. I recommend that you hike some of the trails in the park. Upon entering the park, you will receive a park map with the trails that are open during the season of your visit. Hiking some of the trails in the park will let you experience the park in a way that most people don’t.
I hope this guide helps you in planning your trip to Letchworth State Park in New York! Any questions or thoughts? Let me know in the comments down below!
Thanks for reading!
-Liz
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