Letchworth State Park Day Trip: Three Waterfalls and a Gorge
The Genesee River has cut a gorge 17 miles long with walls up to 550 feet, which is why New Yorkers call it the Grand Canyon of the East. Three waterfalls, Upper, Middle and Lower, sit within a mile of each other at the southern end, and the Middle Falls is the big one at about 107 feet. Come in from Portageville at the south entrance, see the three falls first, then walk the Gorge Trail north as far as your legs allow. An hour from Rochester, an hour and a quarter from Buffalo, and the second and third weeks of October are the best of the year.
Getting there and where to start
Rochester is 35 miles and about an hour. Buffalo is 60 miles and an hour and 15 minutes. There are four entrances, and which one you use changes the day.
- Portageville, at the south end. Use this one. It puts you within a few minutes of all three waterfalls and the Genesee Arch Bridge.
- Castile, also southern, near Middle Falls and the Glen Iris Inn.
- Perry, mid park, closest to the swimming pool and the Highbanks area.
- Mount Morris, at the north end, near the dam and the Hogsback overlooks, and the right choice only if the dam and the northern viewpoints are your priority.
A vehicle use fee applies seasonally, generally from spring through autumn and at weekends outside that. The park road runs the length of the gorge, so you can drive between viewpoints and walk short sections, which makes this an unusually flexible day.
The three waterfalls
- Upper Falls, with the Genesee Arch Bridge above it. Trains crossed the old wooden trestle here for over a century, and the current steel arch replaced it in 2017.
- Middle Falls, the headline, roughly 107 feet and best in spring when the river is high. It is floodlit on some summer evenings.
- Lower Falls, reached by a stone stairway down toward the river and the stone bridge in the gorge. The most atmospheric of the three, and the walk down and back is the effort of the day.
Walking the Gorge Trail
Trail 1, the Gorge Trail, runs about seven miles from the southern falls north to St. Helena, along the rim with overlooks the whole way. It is the best walk in the park and you do not have to do all of it. Three good options:
- Two miles: Upper Falls to Lower Falls and back, taking in all three waterfalls.
- Four to five miles: continue north to the Big Bend overlook and Wolf Creek, then return.
- Seven miles one way to St. Helena, with a second car or a long walk back.
Beyond the Gorge Trail there are 66 miles of trail in the park, including the quieter east side, which sees a fraction of the traffic and looks across at the cliffs rather than standing on them.
The other things to do
- Hot air balloon flights launch over the gorge in season, and this is one of the few places in the country where you can fly below a canyon rim.
- Whitewater rafting and kayaking run on the Genesee in spring and early summer, class I to III depending on water level.
- The Humphrey Nature Center, a good stop with children.
- The Mount Morris Dam, at the north end, with free tours in season.
- Swimming pools at Highbanks in summer, which matters more than it sounds on a July day.
When to go
- Mid October: peak foliage, roughly the second and third weeks, and the busiest weekends of the year. Arrive before 9am.
- April and May: the falls at their loudest on snowmelt, and the fewest visitors of the warm half of the year.
- July and August: warm, green and busy, with the pools open.
- Winter: most of the park road closes and the gorge becomes cross country ski and snowshoe country, with the falls partly frozen. Access is from Perry and Mount Morris.
Staying over
The Glen Iris Inn sits directly above Middle Falls and was the house of William Pryor Letchworth, who gave the land to the state. It books out for autumn weekends a year ahead. There are also cabins and a large campground, all reserved through the New York state parks system. A night here gets you the falls at dawn with nobody on the overlooks.
Have us plan the day
Tell us your date and where you are coming from and we will pick the entrance and the trail length that fit. Planning is free, and we earn only if you book through us.
Letchworth State Park Day Trip: Three Waterfalls and a Gorge FAQs
About 35 miles and an hour to the southern entrances. Buffalo is 60 miles and about an hour and 15 minutes. Use the Portageville entrance, which puts you closest to all three waterfalls.
Upper Falls beneath the Genesee Arch Bridge, Middle Falls at roughly 107 feet, and Lower Falls, reached by a stone stairway toward the river. All three sit within about a mile at the south end of the park.
About seven miles one way from the southern falls to St. Helena. A two mile out and back covers all three waterfalls, and four to five miles gets you to the Big Bend overlook and Wolf Creek.
The second and third weeks of October in most years. Those are also the busiest weekends of the year, so arrive before 9am or come on a weekday.
A vehicle use fee applies seasonally, generally spring through autumn and at weekends outside that window. New York state park passes cover it.
Yes, though most of the park road closes. Access is from the Perry and Mount Morris ends, the trails become cross country ski and snowshoe routes, and the waterfalls partly freeze.
