Letchworth State Park

Having earned the title of the "Grand Canyon of the East," Letchworth State Park is known nationwide as one of the most beautiful landscapes contained within the United States. 600-foot cliffs jut out from dense, forested hillsides providing many sightseeing opportunities throughout your stay. Whether it be hiking, swimming, or cycling, Letchworth State Park has something to offer everyone. In 2015, Letchworth State Park won USA Today's coveted Reader's Choice Award for the Best Park in the United States, beating out over 5000 other U.S. State Parks. 

If hiking is what you're looking for, there are 66 miles of trails here that offer everything from 1-hour sightseeing trips to multi-day backpacking adventures requiring a fair amount of mountain climbing ability. The Letchworth Commons Trail is the most commonly suggested for inexperienced hikers. It offers a 2.5-mile loop that provides views of several notable attractions inside of Letchworth State Park while also being ADA accessible. 

Letchworth State Park officials suggest that any guests looking to plan overnight hiking trips should first familiarize themselves with the New York State Hiking Guide, free copies of which can be found at the park's central office, as well as in several other New York state parks. Canines are allowed to accompany guests on hiking trails as long as they're on a leash during their visit. While no dog stations exist, several garbage cans are placed on these trails, so make sure you pick up anything your canine might leave behind. 

The Humphry Nature Center was built in 2010 and offers environmental education classes throughout the year as well as a museum outlining the geological processes that created the myriad rock and water formations found here. Costs vary depending on the groups involved and courses offered but generally speaking these courses are free to the public. For more info on these events, make sure to visit the New York State Park's official website.