Explore Letchworth State Park

Letchworth State Park, a little over an hour south of Rochester, stretches along the Genesee River in Livingston and Wyoming Counties. Whenever anyone asks about my favorite places, my first response is, “Have you been to Letchworth?” Visitors can picnic beside waterfalls, hike the park’s trails, take a hot-air balloon ride, whitewater raft on the Genesee River, dine at the historic Glen Iris Inn, or simply spend the day exploring the park.

There are several entrances to the park from the north, south, and west. It takes about 30 minutes to drive the 18-mile length of Park Road between Mount Morris and Portageville. Stop at the scenic overlooks for views of the Genesee River gorge. Cell service is limited or unavailable in many areas of the park. Download trail and park maps before your trip.

Fun fact: At 14,427 acres, Letchworth State Park is roughly the same size and shape as the island of Manhattan.

Plan Your Day Trip to Letchworth

Breakfast

Brian’s USA Diner in Mount Morris and Parkside Diner in Castile serve hearty breakfasts before entering the park. Or swing into Old Souls Bakery in Perry for a breakfast sandwich and a hot beverage. For breakfast overlooking Middle Falls, make a reservation at Caroline’s at the seasonal Glen Iris Inn, William Pryor Letchworth’s former country estate.

Morning

The park’s Castile entrance is the most direct route to the south end’s major attractions.

Trail 1 is a seven-mile path that follows Park Road and the Genesee River, linking several scenic overlooks and waterfalls. It also provides access to viewpoints unreachable by car. Some sections are paved or flat, while others require navigating stone steps and tree roots. The area around Upper Falls, Middle Falls, and the Glen Iris Inn is easy to navigate, with parking areas, overlooks, and trails connecting many of the park’s most popular attractions.

Upper Falls is visible from the parking area at its base, where a set of stone steps connects to the upper lot.

A riverside trail links the two waterfalls, while Middle Falls can also be viewed from the landing at the inn.

Nearby, the free William Pryor Letchworth Museum explores Letchworth’s life and work.

Follow the stone steps behind the museum or drive up the road to the Council Grounds to learn about the Seneca people who inhabited the land before European colonization.

The Council Fire was held on October 1, 1872. After the speeches and the rededication of the Council House, the Senecas held another ceremony, adopting Letchworth as Hai-wa-ye-is-tah—the Man who always Does Right. Before they left, the Iroquois and other guests, which included former President Millard Fillmore, planted memorial trees and signed their names in a special guest register.

Glimpses of the Past People, Places, and Things in Letchworth Park History

The Council Grounds also tell the story of Mary Jemison, known as the White Woman of the Genesee. Captured as a teenager by Shawnee warriors and French soldiers, she was later adopted into a Seneca family and chose to remain with the Seneca for the rest of her life. She served as an interpreter and advocated for Seneca land rights.

After the war, the Seneca, as allies of the defeated British, were forced to give up their lands to the victorious United States. During negotiations with the Holland Land Company held at Geneseo, New York, Mary Jemison proved to be an able negotiator for the Seneca tribe. She helped win more favorable terms for surrendering their rights to the land at the Treaty of Big Tree (1797).

Wikipedia

Lunch

Pack a picnic or buy lunch at snack bars and gift shops throughout the park. You can also reserve a table at the Glen Iris Inn, which is open from May through October and offers both indoor and outdoor dining.

While the Inn closes for winter, the spring-fed fountain outside flows year-round. When winter temperatures remain below freezing for several days, an ice volcano begins to form. If it stays frigid for weeks, the sculpture becomes massive and quite the spectacle.

But don’t let the cold stop you—you can easily see the ice volcano from your car. The Castile entrance is the only one open year-round.

Afternoon

Spend time at the Humphrey Nature Center and walk along the Autism Nature Trail.

Watch the TEDxBuffalo talk on how this one-of-a-kind trail came to be, and that “when we begin with the end in mind in providing opportunities for a group of under-served individuals, everybody wins.”

Then drive to the Lower Falls parking area, which provides access to the most remote of Letchworth’s three major waterfalls. To reach the falls, descend 127 steps, follow the trail, and continue down another 30 steps to the stone footbridge spanning the Genesee River.

Drive north on Park Road to find Wolf Creek as it plunges into the gorge.

After viewing the falls, retrace your steps to the parking lot. Drive north on Park Road to see Wolf Creek plunging into the gorge.

From here, you can continue through the park toward Mount Morris, stopping at the Mount Morris Dam Overlook and Harvey Pool along the way.

To learn more about the dam’s history, exit the park via Mount Morris and drive through the village toward the Mount Morris Dam Visitor Center, where seasonal ranger-led walking tours are offered. Please note that the access road descends approximately 100 feet into the gorge.

Dinner

Find a meal in Mount Morris at High Banks Tavern or Questa Lasagna, followed by handcrafted ice cream at Zeppo’s Creekside Creamery. In Perry, the Charcoal Corral and Silver Lake Twin Drive-In combine casual dining, arcade games, miniature golf, and a drive-in movie theater. John & Sarah’s serves home-style cooking.

Wintertime in Letchworth

The Castile entrance to Letchworth State Park is usually open year-round for access to Middle and Upper Falls, but it may close during extreme weather; check the park’s website before you go. North of Castile, the park offers trails for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. The Humphrey Nature Center is open year-round and offers exhibits, restrooms, and a warm place to take a break between outdoor activities. Though the Glen Iris Inn is closed in winter, you can still check out the ice volcano that forms in the fountain outside the inn after several days of freezing temperatures.

Plan a First Day walk at Letchworth on New Year’s Day.

Signature Events

Red, White, and Blue Balloon Festival on Memorial Day weekend brings balloon pilots from across the country to launch from the Archery Field Overlook. During the festival, Balloons Over Letchworth, operated by Liberty Balloon Company, offers hot-air balloon rides throughout the weekend.

A Note About Hot Air Balloon Launches

Balloons Over Letchworth offers sunrise and sunset flights from the Upper Falls field from late May to mid-November. Flights may be canceled because of wind or other weather conditions. You can confirm a launch by calling their hotline at (585) 493-3340. Pilots typically make a go/no-go decision two to three hours before launch.

More Information for Your Letchworth Day Trip

Borrow an Empire Pass from a Monroe County Library before you leave Rochester for free entry into the park.

• Trail Map North (pdf)
• Trail Map South (pdf)
• Letchworth – New York State Parks
• Explore Genesee Valley
• My Livingston Life
• Wyoming County

This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Contact Information

Brian’s USA Diner 5524 Mt. Morris Road, Mount Morris, (585) 658-9380 briansusadiner.com

Balloons Over Letchworth 6635 Middle Falls Road, Castile, (585) 493-3340, balloonsoverletchworth.com

Charcoal Corral 7037 Chapman Ave., Perry, (585) 237-5270, charcoalcorral.com

Glen Iris Inn 7 Letchworth State Park, Castile, (585) 493-2622, glenirisinn.com

High Banks Tavern 36 Main St., Mount Morris, (585) 658-1083, highbankstavern.com

John & Sarah’s 127 N. Center St., Perry, (585) 237-2545

Letchworth State Park 1 Letchworth State Park, Castile, (585) 493-3600, parks.ny.gov

Mount Morris Dam Visitor Center 6103 Visitor Center Road, Mount Morris, (585) 658-4790, recreation.gov

Old Souls Bakery 5 N. Main St., Perry, (585) 969-4401, oldsoulsbakery.com

Parkside Diner 6240 Route 19A, Castile, (585) 493-4058, parksidecastile.com

Questa Lasagna 55 Main St., Mount Morris, (585) 658-1121, questalasagna.com

Zeppo’s Creekside Creamery 93 Main St., Mount Morris, zepposcreeksidecreamery.com

Contrary to popular belief, the Genesee River is not one of the few rivers flowing north globally. At least five rivers in New York State alone flow north: Genesee, Niagara, Black, and Oswego, which drain into Lake Ontario and La Chute, connecting Lake George to Lake Champlain, ultimately draining into the St Lawrence.

What do you enjoy most about a day trip to Letchworth?

I’d love to hear from you—please reach out and share your thoughts and experiences.