Letchworth State Park - The Grand Canyon of the East -Waterfall and Camping Guide
written by Nancy Carter, Making My Own Lane
Letchworth State Park - The Grand Canyon of the East
Letchworth is the number one state park in the USA and the number one attraction in New York, and a place on my bucket list for many years.
The park itself is 14,350 with 66 miles of trails, located about 5 miles south of Rochester.
The three main waterfalls, Upper Falls, Middle Falls and Lower Falls, and the 600-foot deep Genesee River Gorge are awe-inspiring. Like Watkins Glen, I could have stayed all day at the falls just taking in the beauty and the majesty of the water and the rock formations.
Letchwork State Park
This is a big park. About 17 miles from end to end. It took me about 28 minutes to drive from the campground to the Genesee Arch Bridge near the Upper Falls.
How long does it take to hike Letchworth?
However, don’t let the size of the park discourage you. You can certainly hike the park and see the three main waterfalls in one day.
Day 1 - I entered the park at the Mt. Morris, the northernmost entrance. After checking in at Highbanks camping area, I found my campsite, took the dogs for a walk, set up, and then set off in my car to drive the park from one end to the other.
There are a lot of stop-off sites with amazing scenic views of the gorge. My favorite one was at Big Bend, where I felt I could see the entire park. It was breathtaking.
Letchwork State Park Big Bend Overlook
The day was overcast and misty, creating beautiful, low clouds in the gorge.
I also stopped at the Visitor Center for a map and advice. They were so helpful there, and mapped out for me a route to get around the park and see everything, and lessen some of the seven-mile one-way hiking (14 miles total!) between the railroad trestle and the Upper Falls to the Lower Falls.
I also got directions on how to get to the nearest gas station from the Visitor Center. Left, right, left … which led me to another beautiful scenic country drive, and a gas station about 20 minutes away from the Portageville Entrance, the southernmost park entrance.
Tip - be sure to fill up your tanks before you get to the park. You will be doing a lot of driving and hopping in and out of your car to get to the trails for the falls.
While I would have liked to experience Letchworth on a sunny day, both days I was there were overcast and rainy. The tree cover kept me pretty dry, and a lot cooler than an average hot day in July.
Bring the proper gear for your hike
You don’t need a lot, but I would recommend a few things to make your hike more enjoyable.
1. Proper hiking shoes. The trails will be wet in spots, and rocky. So it is important to wear shoes with non-slip soles that you will be comfortable in if your feet get wet.
My favorite hiking shoe is a hiking sandal. They are the most comfortable hiking shoes I have ever worn. Non-slip, my feet can breathe and expand (as my feet often do as the day goes on), and if my shoes get wet, I don’t have to worry about blisters or wet socks.
If you would like to know more about my favorite hiking shoes, message me here.
2. Water. I also bring a bottle of water with me, especially on a hot day, although there are plenty of places to buy food and water on the trail.
3. A light snack. Another thing I like to carry with me is an Uncrustable, a frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwich that will thaw while you hike, just in case.
4. There are plenty of places to use the restroom and grab a bite to eat in the park along the hiking trails.
5. Stop at the Visitor Center and grab a map. The ranger highlighted the best route, and it saved me tons of walking, and you might find something else on the map that you want to see.
Are pets allowed on the hiking trails?
Pets are allowed on the hiking trails, but they need to be kept on a leash no longer than six feet long.
I did not bring my dogs on the trails, as I felt a five-to-seven mile hike would not be the best for them. And it was raining, which meant muddy trails, and dogs.
There are some areas with flatter walks where I could have taken them back for a walk. But I felt they got enough walking in the campground loops.
Is there an entrance fee for Letchwork State Park?
There is an entrance fee of $10 per vehicle, unless you are camping in the park. Then your camping pass also serves as your parking pass.
In fact, with your camping or parking pass, you can park for “free” at any New York State Park for the duration of your pass!
Where should I begin my hike?
Day 2 - I drove about a half hour from the campground to the Railroad Trestle/Upper Falls parking area, the beginning of the 7-mile Gorge Trail, which is considered to be the most scenic trail in the park. The Gorge Trail goes through all three main waterfalls, plus some of the other falls that are easier to see in the spring, or after a heavy rainfall.
If you are just coming for the day, the Portageville Entrance is the one closest to the beginning of the trail.
It’s an easy place to pass by, and circle back to. When you see a turn near the Railroad Trestle, that’s the parking area.
From here, I walked down the 237 stairs to where I could see the top of the Upper Waterfall.
Then I continued down the #1 Gorge trail, clearly marked in pink, where I was able to view the Upper Falls and the Railroad Trestle Bridge (still functioning), from the bottom.
The Upper Falls is about 70 feet high and 300 feet wide.
Letchworth State Park Upper Falls and Railroad Trestle
Tip - Because the trains still run over the Railroad Trestle Bridge, you may be lucky enough to see a train as it crosses over the 675-foot long bridge 234 feet above the Genesee River.
I decided to continue on the Gorge trail, headed towards the Middle Falls.
You really get a great view of the Gorge and the rock formations from the Middle Falls. Middle Falls is 107-feet high and about 285-feet wide.
Letchwork State Park Middle Falls
Next I walked back to the top of the #1 Gorge Trail, and back up the 237 steps to my car.
This portion of the hike took me about an hour, even though the total hike is only about a mile. I took my time and spent a lot of time appreciating the beauty of both falls.
After eating my favorite hiking snack, an Uncrustables, in my car, I drove a few miles down the road to Lower Falls and Rafting Rec area, where you could catch a bus for a white-water rafting excursion.
Hopping back on the #1 Gorge Trails, I walked about 10 minutes and another 127 steps down to the Lower Falls, which I think were my favorite falls.
Lower Falls is approximately 55-feet high and 150-feet wide.
Letchworth State Park Lower Falls
From here, you could also walk across the footbridge to the other side of the Gorge, to experience more spectacular gorge views and to see the Sugarloaf rock formation.
Letchworth State Park Sugar Loaf or Cathedral Rock
To reach the footbridge, I had to cross a very muddy area. In one place my whole foot sunk in. The foot bridge itself was also very wet. On a good note, I was able to find a small stream on my way back up to my car, where I took my shoe off and washed it out, and got the mud off my foot.
Now you can see why I like my hiking sandals.
It took me about another hour, with 127 steps downs and back, to complete this part of the hike.
Click here to watch a short video about my day at Letchworth State Park.
What else can I do at Letchworth State Park?
As I mentioned before, you can also do a white-water rafting excursion, and, weather permitting, a hot air balloon excursion. Sadly, there were no balloons on the days I was there.
I decided to go and check out the Mt. Morris Dam, near the Mt. Morris entrance not far from the Highbanks CampGround.
The Mt. Morris Dam is a 230-foot high, 1,000 foot plus structure made of concrete and steel, with more than a mile's worth of tunnels in the structure, designed to prevent devastating floods and protect residents and property along the Genesee River. 1
When I was here, the river bed was dry. However, at times the water can rise almost to the top of the dam, and create a 200-foot deep lake, backing up as far as 17-miles.
Mt. Morris Dam
Is there any wildlife on the Gorge Trail?
I didn’t see anything other than turkey vultures; however, people have reported seeing deer, chipmunks, and even bears.
Check out the reports at the Visitor Center, where they have a book where people can log their wildlife sightings.
Where can you stay in Letchworth State Park?
I stayed at the campground located right in Letchworth, Highbanks Campground.
Highbanks Campground at Letchworth State Park
There are eight loops to choose from, but not all of them are pet-friendly. Some loops are more rustic than others, no electricity, so be sure to read the fine print about your site before making your reservation.
Book your campsite as far in advance as possible. They allow up to nine months in advance. I had no trouble finding a site four months in advance, but there was no additional availability during my stay.
There was a 2-night minimum in all of the New York State Parks that I stayed in.
If you have dogs, be sure to bring copies of their recent rabies certificates, with the expiration date (not the metal tags).
The site I was on had electric, but no water or sewer. There was a dump station and a place to fill your tanks with potable water.
The sites were large and fairly spread out, and I had plenty of room to unhook and store my tow dolly. They have a great camp store where you can get firewood and other camping related items, as well as a big laundry room.
The roads in each of the loops were gravel from what I could see, but I did not explore every loop.
There is also a large pool, the Harvey Pool near the Mt. Morris Dam and Recreation Area, near the Mt. Morris entrance to the park, which is open to anyone with a parking pass.
I haven’t seen many state parks with pools, but it’s a thing at some New York State parks!
Is Letchworth State Park worth going to?
YES! The hike is so beautiful and enjoyable, and the Gorge is awe-inspiring.
The parking is semi RV-friendly, including the parking at the Visitor Center. However, for ease of getting around the park and exploring, I would recommend having a car with you, as the roads are a bit twisty.
If you have any comments, suggestions or questions about Letchworth State Park, or if you would like to know when I publish a new article, you can message me here.
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Hi there! I'm Nancy.
In 2023, I ditched my heels for hiking boots, sold my house, and decided to travel the US full time in my 2005 Lazy Daze Class C RV.
I love to share the places I travel to and what it's like to live in an RV full-time.
If you have ever thought about hitting the road and traveling in an RV, either in your free time or full time, you are in the right place!
Follow along for weekly blog posts about my adventures as I travel the US with my two dogs, Rufus and Willie, and my cat, Katie.