New York’s Letchworth State Park Voted Best in Nation

ByMike Wendland
New York's Letchworth State Park Voted Best in Nation 1

Last month, I was a judge in a contest run by USA Today charged with making a list of the top state parks in America. With my four fellow judges, we came up with a list of the Top 20. Then it was up to readers of USA Today to pick the best.

The results are in: New York's Letchworth State Park was voted America's Top State Park.

Number two was Porcupine Mountains State State Park Wilderness area in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. I'll post a review of that tomorrow.

But today in honor of Letchworth's top spot, here's our review from a visit last summer:

One of the nicest state parks we've found anywhere in the country is the 14,000 acre Letchworth State Park, 35 miles southwest of Rochester and about 60 miles south of Buffalo. Often dubbed as “the Grand Canyon of the East,” Letchworth offers easily accessible and spectacular views of a deep, 600-foot gorge carved out of the limestone and sandstone shale by the Genesee River.

Middle Falls at Letchworth State Park in NY
Middle Falls at Letchworth State Park in NY

Suggested to us as we were making our way from Michigan to Cape Cod by Roadtreking regular W. Dan Hulchanski, Jennifer and I overnighted there and spent the evening and the morning of the next day hiking and photographing the amazing scenery during a picture postcard perfect June weekend.

Besides the gorge, the park boasts a series of spectacular waterfalls, the three major ones called the Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls, located in Portage Canyon, the southern section of the park, about 10 miles from the 350-site campground.

Roads are canopied and take you right next to the gorge. That's our Roadtrek Etrek going over a stone bridge
Roads are canopied and take you right next to the gorge. That's our Roadtrek Etrek going over a stone bridge

Millions of years of geological history can be observed in the rock formations exposed by erosion.

Many marine fossils can be found here, as the rock was laid down in an ancient inland sea. – See more at: http://nysparks.com/parks/79/nature-up-close.aspx#sthash.ThPBzS7r.dpuf
Many marine fossils can be found here, as the rock was laid down in an ancient inland sea. – See more at: http://nysparks.com/parks/79/nature-up-close.aspx#sthash.ThPBzS7r.dpuf
Many marine fossils can be found here, as the rock was laid down in an ancient inland sea. – See more at: http://nysparks.com/parks/79/nature-up-close.aspx#sthash.ThPBzS7r.dpuf
Many marine fossils can be found here, as the rock was laid down in an ancient inland sea. – See more at: http://nysparks.com/parks/79/nature-up-close.aspx#sthash.ThPBzS7r.dpuf
Many marine fossils can be found here, as the rock was laid down in an ancient inland sea. – See more at: http://nysparks.com/parks/79/nature-up-close.aspx#sthash.ThPBzS7r.dpuf

The region's rich heritage of the Seneca Indians is well-documented in the park with displays, a restored Seneca Council House and the grave of Mary Jemison, an American frontierswoman who was captured by the Seneca Indians while a teenager but later chose to remain a Seneca.

This is Inspiration Point, which offers a great view of the Upper Falls (at top of photo) and the Middle Falls
This is Inspiration Point, which offers a great view of the Upper Falls (at top of photo) and the Middle Falls

Swimming pools, fishing areas, hiking trails, hot air ballooning, whitewater rafting and canoeing by permit are just some of the additional attractions at Letchworth. The trails are well maintained and parallel the gorge and take you right up close enough to the waterfalls that you are cooled by the fine mist.

The biggest is the Middle Falls, which is 250 feet across and drops 107 feet

Well maintained paths and trails get you right up close to the falls
Well maintained paths and trails get you right up close to the falls

A full schedule of events is offered each year within the park. They range from festivals to lectures and guided walks, to the noted Fall Arts and Crafts Sale.

Tai enjoying the clean night air outside our Etrek at Letchworth State Park's campground
Tai enjoying the clean night air outside our Etrek at Letchworth State Park's campground

Pets are welcome at the park, but are restricted to three loops of the campground. If you do bring a pet, make sure you have a copy of their rabies inoculation, as you won't be allowed to register without. All sites have 30 amp hookups. Some have 50 amp for bigger RVs. The overnight rate for non-New York residents is $32.50, including park admission.

Come back to the blog tomorrow and we'll profile the number two state park, the Porcupine Mountains State Park Wilderness area in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

 

 

Mike Wendland

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.