Explore Letchworth State Park, the Grand Canyon of the East

Three Waterfalls, a 600-Foot Gorge, and Hot Air Balloon Rides in Western New York

In the rolling farm country of western New York, the Genesee River has spent two million years carving a gorge that travelers from across the country have quietly been discovering and rediscovering for over a century. Letchworth State Park, widely known as the “Grand Canyon of the East,” encompasses 14,350 acres along 17 miles of the Genesee River gorge in Wyoming and Livingston counties, where canyon walls rise up to 600 feet above the water and three major waterfalls thunder through the gorge in a landscape of lush forest, dramatic overlooks, and genuine spectacle. The park has twice been named the best state park in the United States by national readers’ polls, in 2015 and 2020.

The gorge is the experience, and the 66 miles of hiking trails that wind along its rim and descend to the river’s edge deliver that experience at every ability level. The Gorge Trail follows the canyon rim from near the park’s Castile entrance to the Upper Falls area, connecting the park’s three major waterfalls along a route that most hikers divide into sections across multiple visits. The Middle Falls, at 107 feet the tallest of the three, is visible from the terrace of the Glen Iris Inn, the beautifully restored former residence of William Pryor Letchworth, who bequeathed the core of the park to New York State in 1906. The Upper Falls has a dramatic active railroad bridge spanning the gorge immediately above it. Wolf Creek Falls and dozens of smaller tributary cascades add texture to the gorge throughout its length. Beyond the hiking trails, Letchworth offers hot air balloon flights over the gorge that produce aerial views available nowhere else, whitewater rafting and kayaking in the Genesee River, two large outdoor swimming pools, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in winter, and snow tubing operated seasonally.

Letchworth is genuinely suited for multi-generational groups. The paved scenic overlooks along the gorge rim road make the park’s most dramatic views accessible to everyone regardless of mobility. The seven-mile Gorge Trail provides serious exercise for those who want it, while shorter overlook walks give less mobile family members an equally impressive perspective on the landscape. Families with children find the combination of the waterfalls, the swimming pools, and the Humphrey Nature Center comprehensive enough for a full multi-day visit. The park’s new Autism Nature Trail, a one-mile sensory loop with eight marked stations, reflects the park’s commitment to accessible outdoor experiences.

The Wyoming and Livingston county communities surrounding the park offer cozy vacation rental options within a short drive of the gorge. Multi-bedroom vacation homes with full kitchens, fire pits, and BBQ grills allow groups to cook together and relax at the end of full days in the park. The Finger Lakes wine region, less than an hour east, pairs naturally with a Letchworth base for groups interested in both outdoor recreation and regional food and drink culture. Properties near Geneseo, Mount Morris, and Castile give guests proximity to multiple park entrances. Book your accommodations near Letchworth State Park through Lake.com.