Within a 2-3 hour drive from Chautauqua County area is the beautiful Letchworth State Park. Considered to be the "Grand Canyon of the Eart " the park is roughly 17 miles long, covering 14,350 acres of land along the Genesee River. Within the park there are three large waterfalls on the river and perhaps as many as fifty waterfalls found on tributaries that flow into it; the gorge formed by the river, with rock walls rising up to 550 feet in places and which narrow to 400 feet across above the middle of the three falls, prompted the area's reputation as the "Grand Canyon of the East".
The park is named after William Pryor Letchworth, who bequeathed the 1,000-acre estate that forms the heart of the park to New York State in 1906. There are entrances to the park near the named places Mount Morris, Perry, Castile and Portageville. A modern and well-maintained two- or three-lane road follows the west side of the gorge, allowing many scenic viewpoints for the the geologic features.
The three major waterfalls — called the Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls — are located in Portage Canyon, the southern section of the park. The Seneca called the land around this canyon "Seh-ga-hun-da", the "Vale of the three falls"; the Middle Falls ("Ska-ga-dee") was believed to be so wondrous it made the sun stop at midday.
The only trail bridging the Genesee River across the Portage Canyon crosses a stone bridge just below the Lower Falls. The Middle Falls is the highest, and the Upper Falls has an active railroad trestle crossing immediately above it, providing an even higher vantage immediately above the falls.
The highest waterfall in New York State is located in the park. It is a spectacular ribbon waterfall that is located on a tributary creek a short distance east of the Inspiration Point Overlook, 0.4 mile west of the park visitor center. Known as Inspiration Falls, it has a total drop of 350 feet. While impressive in its height, it is seasonal and often appears as only a water stain on the cliff. The falls faces to the south-southwest and has a crest that is only one foot wide. Taughannock Falls is generally recognized as the highest waterfall in the state as well as in the northeast.
In 2007, Letchworth was named one of the top 100 campgrounds in the nation It is definitely a spectacular place to spend a day or a weekend. Whether it be walking or driving through, the park offers some breathtaking sites. Gift shops, restaurants, snack bars and picnic areas are located throughout the park. Make sure to bring a camera to take some wonderful photos.
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Letchworth, state park, waterfalls, western new york, grand canyon |
