Letchworth State Park, New York

Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.

- Gustave Flaubert

July 10 - July 16, 2025

During the week of July 10 to July 16, 2025, we camped in Mt. Morris, New York so that we could visit one of the places we had on our bucket list: Letchworth State Park.

The Ridge Campground

While we were in New York, we stayed at The Ridge Campground, located in Mt. Morris. It's a nice family-run private campground overlooking a valley below. It's a fairly large campground, with 152 water and 50/30/20 amp electric sites (16 are pull-through sites), 7 full hookup sites, and 16 tent sites. In addition, there are 5 cabins for rent.

We had one of the full hook up sites, which are all located along the entrance road in front of the combination office/store/cafe/recreation hall. There is only one bathhouse that was in need of updating, but there was a newer single ADA accessible bathroom with shower located next to the campground office complex. You had to pay for the showers - $.25 for 5 minutes. We didn't use the showers because we had full hookups, but we did use the toilet facilities in the bathroom next to the store and found it to be very nice.

There is a laundry room with 2 washers and 2 dryers located at the back of the office complex. The dumping station is located right at the entrance to the campground. Propane is also available for purchase.

Other amenities include four playgrounds, a very nice swimming pool, 2 pavilions, 2 fishing ponds, disk golf, basketball, a jump pad, a mining sluice, horseshoe pits, and volleyball. During our stay there was also an inflatable water slide on the weekends.

Also inside the office/store complex is the Owl’s Nest Cafe, open on Fridays and Saturdays, where campers can purchase ice cream and light meals. They also have specials. While we were there we had an excellent fish & chips dinner from the Cafe.

We enjoyed our stay at the campground. It was convenient to Letchworth State Park and the town of Mt. Morris. Although most of the campsites were for seasonal campers, we found everyone to be very friendly and welcoming to those of us who were there for short stays. We would be willing to stay at The Ridge Campground again if we returned to the area, but only if we had a full hookup site.

For our full video review of the campground, click here.

Letchworth State Park

Letchworth State Park, in western New York, east of the city of Rochester, has long been a bucket list item. We were thrilled to finally be able to explore the "Grand Canyon of the East" which is known for its breathtaking views down into a deep canyon. The Genesee River flows through the canyon on its way north toward Rochester and Lake Ontario. The river formed a deep canyon that sometimes reaches as much as 600 feet to the top of the canyon walls. There are three spectacular large waterfalls and dozens of smaller ones as the river winds its way through the park.

At 14,000 acres, Letchworth is a huge park with a lot of amenities. The Highbanks Recreation Area includes the tent & RV campground as well as an Olympic sized swimming pool and separate diving pool. The pools are open late June to Labor Day for day use patrons as well as camping and cabin renters. The recreation area also includes playing fields, a hiking trail, and 2 enclosed shelters featuring woodburning fireplaces and built in grills.

We didn't camp in the park, however the campground has 270 electric only sites in 8 loops. Pets are permitted in 4 of the loops. There are also 82 cabins for rent that can accommodate between 2 to 6 people. Most of the cabins have some form of heat such as propane, electric or wood heat. Twelve of the cabins have no heat at all. Many of the cabins have interior cold water, a toilet, and a screened front porch. Others are more rustic. There is one 6-person cottage available for rent that is fully furnished. The camping area also has a store and laundry facilities.

In addition to the Recreation Area and campground, the park features picnic areas, a Nature Center, a museum, the Glen Iris Inn and four snack bars scattered throughout the park. Visitors can hike a total of 66 miles on the park's 28 trails along the 17-mile-long Genesee River canyon. The trails range from a half mile to over 21 miles in length, with easy to moderate difficulty. Some of the trails accommodate bicycle and horseback riding. There are also opportunities for whitewater rafting and hot air ballooning through concessionaires.

There are some things visitors to the park should be aware of: there are 6 main entrances to the park and there is a $10/day fee for entry. However, if you arrive before 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m., entrance is free. Letchworth is strictly a carry-in/carry-out park. There are no trash cans, except for in the numerous restrooms spread throughout the park. Perhaps most important of all - there is no cell service in most areas of the park.

We usually entered the park's north entrance, just outside of the town of Mt. Morris. From there it's an approximately 18 mile drive to the other end of the park, but there is a lot to see and do on the way. There are several overlooks located just off the road, and some smaller waterfalls located along the Gorge Trail. We spent our first evening at the park checking out a couple of overlooks, some of which we would see again the next day.

At the Hogsback Overlook we had great views of the Genesee River as it makes a sharp turn around a steep, narrow piece of land called Hogsback Ridge.

Hogsback Ridge

The next morning we chose to get up early to drive to the St. Helena Picnic Area and hike the 7.5 mile-long (one way) Gorge Trail, which is designated Trail #1 and shown in magenta on the park map. The Gorge Trail is the most popular trail in the park and passes by nearly all of the main park features. The trail is marked well, mostly shaded and passes by many areas with restrooms and other amenities. It's also easily accessible from most of the overlooks and Park Drive, the main driving route through the park.

Although the trail is rated moderate, it has some steep slopes and a lot of stairs to climb. At times it follows right along the edge of the gorge providing amazing views down to the river and waterfalls below. At other times it follows Park Drive through the park.

As a result of the trail's popularity, you can expect to encounter a lot of people at the most popular areas along the route. Outside of those areas we usually had the trail to ourselves. We recommend an early start so you can avoid the large crowds that gather at the waterfalls and some of the overlooks.

Wolf Creek Area - There is a large, easily accessible overlook area above Wolf Creek Falls. The falls is made up of 4 waterfalls cascading 225 feet down into the gorge. You can see 3 of the waterfalls from the upper trail, but you can only see the largest fall from the river.

Wolf Creek

Wolf Creek Falls

Further along the trail we came to another small overlook that brought us closer to the rocky ledges. While enjoying the view we heard a young bird crying out and spotted it perched on one of the ledges. We were able to get a shot of it with our long lens while it was enjoying a meal.

A young eagle enjoying a meal

Great Bend Overlook - This area is also known as the Great Bend. It has cliffs towering 600 feet above the Genesee, making it the highest point in the park as the river makes a dramatic turn in the canyon below. We watched soaring eagles, hawks and mostly turkey vultures catch the thermal currents coming from below.

Great Bend Overlook - looking north

Great Bend Overlook - looking south

The Great Bend in the Genesee River

A vulture gliding on the wind currents

Humphrey's Overlook is another popular spot to view the bend in the Genesee River. We stopped here on our hike and twice during drives through the park. There's only a small pull-off area for parking, but having less crowds gave us a peaceful view of the canyon below.

Humphrey's Overlook

The Humphrey Nature Center offers year-round hands-on education about the flora, fauna and ecology of the area. A large reconstruction of the gorge wall is on display inside the building. The nature center also features an outdoor classroom, a butterfly garden, bird observation station, observation beehives, and hiking trails. We spent most of our time on the grounds outside the nature center in the butterfly garden and the bird observation station.

Lower Falls Overlook - Although there is a viewing area from above, we chose to take the 127 steps down to the Lower Falls for an eye-level view of the falls. We also found the trail leading to the footbridge across the Genesee at the narrowest spot in the park. The bridge was built by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) in 1935.

Stone bridge below Lower Falls   Lower falls viewed from lower overlook

Lower Falls view from the bridge

Inspiration Point is the only overlook in the park where you can see both Upper Falls and Middle Falls at the same time. Inspiration Point also has a parking area, and a bathroom open year-round.

Middle Falls in the foreground with Upper Falls just visible under the bridge in the distance

The Middle Falls are the largest waterfalls in the park. The falls plummet 107 ft into the river below. If you come early enough in the morning you can watch or ride hot air balloons above the falls. We managed to catch glimpses of them floating in the distance on our drive to the trailhead in the morning before we started our hike, but were too far away to take photos.

Stairs leading down to Middle Falls Middle Falls with Evening Primrose flowers

Middle Falls View from the top of Middle Falls

The Glen Iris Inn was the home of the park's benefactor, William Pryor Letchworth. The home offers 4 suites and 10 additional guest rooms. In addition, anyone visiting the park can enjoy fine dining while overlooking Middle Falls. It's a favorite location for weddings.

Glen Iris Inn

Fountain & garden on the Inn grounds

The William Pryor Letchworth Museum is located in the Middle Falls Area, behind the Glen Iris Inn. 

The park was named after Letchworth, who first bought land here in 1859 as a retreat from his business world in Buffalo. He built the Glen Iris Inn and later accumulated 1,000 acres. In 1906 he left his estate to New York State for a park. After his death the area was expanded and became a cornerstone of the New York State Park system.

Mastodon skull in the museum

In addition to information about the history of the park, the museum features displays about early regional settlement, as well as artifacts of the Seneca Nation and information about Mary Jemison. Mary Jemison was known as the “White Woman of the Genesee”. She lived in the area after she was kidnapped at age 12 by the Senecas and then chose to live her life with them, marrying and bearing seven children.

On a ridge behind the museum and the Glen Iris Inn is a restored Seneca Indian Council House, the grave of Mary Jemison, and the cabin of Nancy Jemison, her daughter, all of which were preserved by Mr. Letchworth. We followed a steep trail from behind the museum up to the Council Grounds, although there is a road to a parking lot closer to it.

Jemison Cabin Mary Jemison Statue

Council Grounds

After going past the Inn, the museum and the Council House, the trail goes to the Upper Falls. The Upper Falls flow northward and drop 70 feet. The CCC built stone walls and stairs leading from the Upper Falls to a train trestle spanning the chasm 235 feet above the Genesee River. The arched trestle is 963 feet long and provides a great photo op when trains pass over it above the waterfall below. As we followed the winding trail on our way to the Upper Falls, we could hear a train crossing the trestle. But sadly we arrived too late to see it.

Upper Falls below the train trestle

Upper Falls & the train trestle

View of the trestle from the top of Upper Falls

There are a few sets of steep stairs leading from the topmost Upper Falls viewing area up to a parking area underneath the train trestle. Along the way we passed another waterfall and yet another viewing area of the falls.

Waterfall on the way to the trestle bridge The top of Upper Falls The train trestle with the river below it

The rest of the same waterfall viewed from the other side of the stone arch bridge The train trestle

We treated ourselves to some ice cream at one of the park's concession stands before heading back the way we had come on the trail. We arrived back at the St. Helena Picnic Area exhausted and extremely happy to see our truck! We'd added a couple of extra detours on the way back, arriving nearly 8 hours after we started out, and covering 16.75 miles - a new hiking record for us! We did record some video during our hike and you can view it by clicking here. Just a warning: it's about 24 minutes long, but it shows a lot more of the park than just the photos on this page.

We saw a lot of wildflowers and wildlife on our hike. If you watch our YouTube video of our hike, you'll have to look carefully for the deer and the chipmunk that crossed our path. Below is a slideshow of the wildflowers.

Just for the record, we didn't explore everything in the park in one day. The hike itself was enough for the first day! We visited the museum, visitor center and nature center on another day with our family. We also spent some time visiting other sites in the area, which will be described in a separate blog entry.

We highly recommend a visit to Letchworth State Park. There is a lot to see and do in the park and the surrounding area, and you're also close to the Finger Lakes. If you'd like to see a virtual tour of the park, click on this link: Letchworth State Park Virtual Tour. And for an online guide with some great tips for visiting the park, click on this link:  The Complete Guide to Letchworth State Park. There are many other waterfalls within the state park. Many of them are seasonal. You can read about them and see some photos by clicking on the following link: Waterfalls You Can Visit in Letchworth State Park.

* All photos and videos are the property of the blog owners unless otherwise noted. *