Explore Letchworth State Park

Award-winning Letchworth State Park, a little over one hour south of Rochester, covers more than 14,000 acres along the Genesee River in Livingston and Wyoming Counties.

Rochester author Arch Merrill captures my feelings about Letchworth so beautifully in his 1943 book entitled A River Ramble: Saga of the Genesee Valley, that through Letchworth, “nature touches the river with a magic wand and like Cinderella, it throws off its drab, workaday garb and dons robes of splendor. The commonplace stream becomes spectacular, magnificent.”

Whenever anyone asks about my favorite places, Letchworth is always my first response. Letchworth State Park offers a variety of activities, including hiking on any of the park’s twenty-nine trails, hot-air balloon rides, whitewater rafting on the Genesee River, dining at the historic Glen Iris Inn, picnicking beside a waterfall, and taking a scenic drive through the park. Whatever your interests may be, Letchworth has something for you to enjoy.

There are several entrances to the park from the north, south, and west, and it takes about thirty minutes to drive the length of Park Road, which stretches for 18 miles between Mount Morris and Portageville. And what a lovely drive it is! Take a moment at the scenic overlooks along the way for breathtaking views of the park. Cell service within the park may be limited. You can download trail and park maps from the park website before your trip.

Fun fact: Letchworth State Park is about the same size and shape as the island of Manhattan, but while 1.63 million people live on the island’s 14,478 acres, only 870,000 people visited the park’s 14,427 acres throughout 2022. The Genesee River is our Broadway. No neon lights or celebrities here! Only the Milky Way with one hundred thousand million stars.

Plan Your Day Trip to Letchworth

Breakfast

Brian’s USA Diner in Mount Morris is a great place to stop for breakfast before visiting the park. If you’re looking for something light, you can kickstart your adventure with a coffee and pastry from Butter Meat Co. in Perry. With everything from brisket and BLTs to soft serve and steamers, it’s also a fantastic stop on the way to or from Letchworth. Another option is to make reservations at the seasonal Glen Iris Inn, William Pryor Letchworth’s country estate.

Morning

Use the park’s Castile entrance as the most direct route to the south end’s major attractions.

Trail 1 is a seven-mile pathway that follows Park Road and the Genesee River, connecting multiple scenic overlooks and waterfalls. You can begin at any point to enjoy views that are only observable on foot. Some sections are paved or flat, while others require navigating stone steps and tree roots. There are sixty-six miles of trails through Letchworth.

Upper Falls can be easily seen from the bottom parking lot by walking on a short, paved trail or from your car. There is also a parking lot near the train bridge above the falls. A set of stone steps connects the upper and lower lots.

Middle Falls is viewable from the landing at the Glen Iris Inn. You can also walk or drive to the lower lots to walk alongside the Genesee River.

If the water flow level is just right, you’ll be able to see the Elder of Genesee Falls. When the flow is light, a profile of a face appears. To see it, walk along the pathway and stand near the end, right about here, for the best perspective.

Across from the Glen Iris, visit the William Pryor Letchworth Museum to learn about the man who helped preserve this land. 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

Here, you can also learn about Mary Jemison, the White Woman of the Genesee, who was kidnapped as a teenager by the Seneca and chose to stay with them, serving as an interpreter and advocating for their rights to the land.

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

One option is to pack a picnic and enjoy it anywhere in the park. Another is to make reservations at the historic Glen Iris Inn, William Pryor Letchworth’s country estate. The inn is open from mid-April to October.

While the Inn closes for winter, the spring-fed fountain outside flows year-round. An ice volcano begins to form when winter’s temperatures stay below freezing for a few days. The sculpture becomes massive and quite the spectacle if it remains frigid for weeks.

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

Afternoon

Spend some time at the Humphrey Nature Center and walk along the Autism Nature Trail. The center is the hub of year-round activities, including guided hikes, maple sugaring, and stargazing.

The ANT’s one-mile flat, stone dust pathway, lined with carefully designed activity stations and alone zones, is an excellent way to experience the calming effects of connecting with nature.

Designed specifically for those with ASD, all visitors are welcome to enjoy a leisurely walk along the ANT.

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, the most difficult to reach of Letchworth’s three major waterfalls. To see them up close, walk down 127 steps. Then, walk down 30 more steps to find the stone footbridge spanning the Genesee River. After viewing the falls, retrace your steps back to the parking lot.

Continue driving north on Park Road to find Wolf Creek as it plunges into the gorge. Although it may be difficult to see the waterfall in the relaxing area, you will hear it.

While you’ve most assuredly stopped at every overlook you’ve come across, make time to appreciate Tea Table Overlook. Every scenic view into the Genesee River gorge is unique.

Continue driving toward the Mount Morris exit to enjoy a refreshing swim in Letchworth State Park’s Harvey Pool and the Mount Morris Dam Overlook view.

Alternatively, exit the park in Castile after visiting Wolf Creek and head to Perry.

To find the Mount Morris Dam Visitor Center, leave the park and drive through the village of Mount Morris. You can learn about the dam’s history and take a ranger-led walking tour there. Keep in mind that the road leading to the top of the dam is steep and descends one hundred feet into the gorge.

Dinner

Find a tasty meal in Mount Morris at High Banks Tavern or Questa Lasagna, followed by hand-crafted ice cream at Zeppo’s Creekside Creamery. In Perry, spend time at the Charcoal Corral playing arcade games and miniature golf, eating pizza and ice cream, and enjoying a double feature at the Silver Lake Twin Drive-In movie theater. Alternatively, you can sit down to delicious homestyle cooking at John & Sarah’s.

Letchworth in Wintertime

The Castile entrance to Letchworth State Park is usually open all year but may be closed in extreme weather. You should check the park’s website before you go. North of Castile, the park is ideal for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. The Humphrey Nature Center is open year-round and has a restroom, Wi-Fi, and warmth. Though the Glen Iris Inn is closed, you can still check out the ice volcano that forms in the fountain after several days of freezing temperatures.

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

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

Hot Air Balloon Flights

Balloons Over Letchworth, operated by Liberty Balloon Company, offers hot-air balloon rides throughout the Memorial Day weekend. Approximately 20 to 30 balloon pilots from around the country come to the event to launch their balloons over the gorge. Stop by to witness one of five launches scheduled for 2023 on Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday, and Sunday at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

A Note About Balloon Launches: Balloons over Letchworth typically offer morning and evening flights from late May to mid-November. However, they may cancel flights if wind speeds exceed eight miles per hour. 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 the launch. Cell service within the park may be limited, so you may need to drive to the Upper Falls field to check the launch status. Even if you don’t plan to ride in a balloon, it is lovely to see them launch just before sunrise and sunset. The exact launch times may vary slightly depending on the season.

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.

Google Map of Locations

View the map separately here.

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?

Your insights and experiences are valuable. Please share them in the comments.