Letchworth State Park, NY: Grand Canyon of the East

By Kumar Gaurav / Aug 12,2022

 

 

“Damn! Where Am I!” Is all we could think when my wife and I stumbled on this crazy beautiful State Park of NY.  In the height of the pandemic in 2020, road trips were the way to go if you were itching to escape your home.  We took advantage of this time to finally be tourists in our own backyard.  After spending a week in Adirondacks, we headed west to check out the Niagara Falls.  To get a more rural feel, we opted to spend 3 nights in a tiny town about 40 miles East of Buffalo.  After day-tripping to Niagara and being couch-potatoes the next day, we were starting to regret our decision to stay a 3rd night as there really wasn’t much to do.  

 

After a chance encounter at a grocery store, one of the locals mentioned Letchworth was only a few miles away… And the rest was history as they say!

 

Holy crap did we get lucky (some people twice) making the decision to check out Letchworth State Park.  For what felt like never-ending cornfield country, this park came out of nowhere.  Literally until the moment you actually see the Canyon do you have any idea it’s actually there. But when you get there, it’s like BAM! Where am I!  Upon entering the park, you are immediately treated to a view of the dramatic 600 foot canyon below.  With over 60 miles of easily accessible and well-marked trails, gorgeous spots to chill out and enjoy a beer/snack, spending an 8 hour day in this park flew by!

 

About the Park

Known as the Grand Canyon of the East, Letchworth State Park is located in Upstate New York in the town of Castile.  Named the best state park in the Nation in 2015 and for good reason.  Letchworth features a 17 mile Canyon carved by the Genesee River with 3 major waterfalls and cliffs up to 600 feet.  

 

Activities

• Hiking - There are over 60 miles of hiking trails all along the gorge.  We were able to do the Gorge Trail.  It was well marked, easy to follow and had plenty of great spots to catch a great view and take a break.  It was the most crowded so I’d suggest taking a look at the full map to see if there are other trails you could sneak in.  
• Camping - There are over 250 campsites within the park with rates going from $27-30/night!.  If you’re in the mood for glamping there are some gorgeous cabins that range from $130-500/night.  
• Biking/swimming
• White water rafting – Enjoy Class II-III rapids on a guided tour.  Fees are $35 per person.
• Autism Nature Trail (A.N.T) – Features a safe and inclusive area for people with autism or related disabilities.  The trail hosts 8 different sensory stations for all to enjoy!
• Hot air balloons

Logistics

• Park is open from 6am-11pm, 7 days a week
• Admission cost is $10 
• Dog-Friendly
• Cell service was good for us
• Amenities such as bathrooms, food, and water founts are plentiful throughout the park

 

Helpful Links

• Letchworth State Park Homepage