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Letchworth State Park, New York (View Photos):
Near the Finger Lakes in New York, the Genesee River has carved an extraordinary gorge that must be considered one of the natural wonders of the Eastern United States. Maples, oaks, and beeches grow all over the top of the gorge and in many sections this forest growth even descends along the canyon walls to the banks of the river. Seneca Indians originally inhabited the area and their rich history is documented by history panels and museum displays.
There are three large waterfalls located at various points on the river, the most notable of which is Middle Falls, a powerful 107-foot curtain of water that bears a strong resemblance to the American portion of Niagara Falls. The two other main waterfalls, Upper and Lower Falls are quite impressive in their own right. Rising above and behind Upper Falls is a tall railroad trestle that lends a somewhat rustic quality to the scenery.
Letchworth State Park preserves 14,350 acres of the Genesee River Gorge and its surrounding forest. With a high-quality paved road that connects numerous overlooks of the gorge, the park is extremely auto-accessible. Hiking trails explore various aspects of this narrow park, with the Gorge Trail being the most popular. It skirts the rim of the canyon, offering outstanding views along the way. At their highest point, the cliffs of the Genesee River Gorge stand 600 feet above the river, thus conferring the nickname of "Grand Canyon of the East" on the park.
The amenities here are anything but primitive; they include a fine dining restaurant, several lodging accommodations, lots of water fountains, and a snack shack. Outside of the more conventional pursuits of scenic driving and hiking, the park offers visitors a number of adventurous activities, including hot air balloon rides, guided horseback trail riding, kayaking, and white water rafting.
Recommended Day Hikes:
Gorge Trail
Round Trip Length: up to 7 miles one-way
Trailhead location: the trail can be accessed at any number of points, but the most convenient access point is at the main parking lot near Middle Falls
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Attractions: Although there are almost two dozen hikes in the park, this one is easily the most popular and worthwhile. It links up with all three major waterfalls within the park (Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls) and allows the hiker to experience fantastic views of the gorge from rim level.
Recommended Points of Interest (all overlooks are accessible off the main park road):
Upper Falls; Middle Falls; Lower Falls; Mount Morris Dam Overlook Area; Hogsback Overlook; Inspiration Point; Great Bend Vista; Archery Field Vista.
Helpful travel tips and observations
Weekends can get crowded so try visiting on a weekday when there are far fewer visitors. Peak fall foliage occurs from mid to late October. Fine dining and comfortable accomodations
are available right inside the park with such establishments as the Pinewood Lodge, Stone House, Caroline's Cottage, and the Glen Iris Inn.
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Photos: Page 1 > Page 2 > Page 3
Genesee River Gorge, Gorge Trail, (August 2008)
Genesee River Gorge, Gorge Trail, (August 2008)
View of Middle Falls, (August 2008)
Genesee River Gorge from Inspiration Point, (August 2008)
View of Lower Falls, (August 2008)
Steep walls of the Genesee River Gorge, Gorge Trail, (August 2008)
A wide bend of the river, Gorge Trail, (August 2008)
Approaching the Upper Falls with a large railroad trestle hovering above, (August 2008)
