I visited here recently and even though the main waterfall was closed due to falling rocks, it was still 100% worth the trip. We were able to see the medium and smaller waterfalls and I was blown away by how beautiful it was. There are incredible views everywhere you turn with tons of photo spots and scenic overlooks. The trails are really well maintained and were a good easy hike. I also love how much there is to do here beyond just hiking. There are biking trails, horseback riding, and even skiing in the winter. It feels like a park you could come back to in every season and have a completely different experience. There is also a welcome center with a small gift shop and a nature center. You could easily spend a whole day here. I loved it! read more

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If you haven't been to Letchworth State, fix that. It feels like it's out in the middle of nowhere, but it is worth the drive no matter where you are coming from. This park is great in every season, and we are lucky to have it here. Most people show up for the waterfalls and the views of the gorge. They deserve the hype. The scenery alone is worth the price of admission and a solid chunk of your day. If you stop there, you are missing out. Dig deeper. Come in the winter and see the ice volcano. It feels like something too cool for WNY. Stop by during the hot air balloon festival in the summer and watch the sky fill with color over the gorge. Get off the rim trail and explore the trails that go through the woods. Make time for the less populated side of the park. Fewer people, more natural trails, and no admission fee. It has a completely different vibe and is perfect if you want something a little more peaceful. read more

A trip to Letchworth in the autumn is an annual tradition for us. We came in on a Monday afternoon with our youngest grandsons, and found the crowds to be very manageable. We inquired at the Glenn Iris inn for a late lunch, but the exquisite menu choices were not suited to our young lads. So we retreated to the snack shack at the Upper Falls for fried chicken sandwiches and ice cream. read more

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Incredible Worthy of National Park Status. Scenery. Restaurants. Waterfalls. Camping. Quiet. New playgrounds. New facilities. Great campgrounds. Not crowded. Affordable everything! Camping. Beers at the Inn. Homemade pies made by a local person for sale at the campground store. What!?!? Fresh vegetables and milk available at the campground store. Seriously!? Awesome. First time. Not the last time. : ) read more

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My wife, two teenage sons, miniature poodle, and I enjoyed a visit to Letchworth State Park in July 2025. It's a stunning array of waterfalls and a deep gorge that you would not expect to see in western NY. We entered the park using the South Gate (Portageville, NY) which was a bit confusing as the initial parking area was near the start of Trail #1). After a confusing drive where we initially thought the Glen Iris Inn was the Visitor's Center, we turned around and made the sharp turnoff to go downhill and reach the MIddle/Upper Falls parking area. It's not well-marked with signs. At the bottom area, you can park near in the center lot and ice cream stand. Restrooms are a short walk up the hill in the picnic area, but the signage is not clear. Lots of dogs out today! If you're time constrained, I would recommend visiting the Upper Falls / Middle Falls area (just a short 10-minute walk between them). We did not have enough time to see the Lower Falls or view the other turnoffs, but hope to return next year. If you do decide to use the two-lane Park Drive for the full length of the park, it's about 30 minutes from the south entrance (Portageville) to the north entrance (past the dam). read more

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Amazing views of the Falls. The lower falls, middle falls and upper falls were all so easy to get accessed to. There were parking lots near each viewpoint of the falls for people who did not have much time to hike through the trails, however, hikers could hike all the way from lower falls to upper falls. The trails were well maintained and clearly marked for hikers. For people who drove to each viewpoint, there were large parking lots nearby each point. You would be able to see the falls after a short walk. The trails were relatively shady, so it was not that bad even during a hot summer day. We enjoyed our trip to Letchmont State Park! read more

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The walking paths along the river are great. Be prepared for steps. The views are amazing with noteworthy waterfalls, an impressive canyon and beautiful grounds. A late lunch at the Iris Glen was good. I really like the turkey club. There were places to pull off the road with good views. There were so much more. read more

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Just a quick tip! From Denton corners rd entrance, After you pass the big stone house which is the gift shop you park next to this small stone house which is a very short walk to the Inspiration point where you get to see all three falls(lower fall , middle fall, upper fall) and the wooden bridge! read more

Letchworth State Park - Small stone house next to the parking lot of Inspiration point! - Parks Near Me - Castile, New York

Beautiful falls. Trails are easy to follow, trail 1 has numbers and colors on the trees to help guide people on their hike. Very picturesque. The benches with memorials are a nice touch, and the people along the way were very friendly. Only $10 per car for parking. read more

Letchworth State Park - Parks Near Me - Castile, New York

This is really one of my favorite places to go. I grew up so close to it and we would go all the time. Since moving to Buffalo, it really is a day-trip out there but it's worth it every time. "The Grand Canyon of the East" has a lot of special memories and so many great things to do. We have done everything from hiking trails, picnics, family parties, and even the rafting classes. But more importantly, the views. With all of the trails and walkways, it's so easy to find those great picturesque views. The waterfalls and the train bridge are always my favorite things to see but I don't always remember to take pictures here. It is sometimes more important for me to unplug here and not be on my phone so much. This is a great place to check out if you're in WNY. One of my favorite places to be with nature for sure. read more

Letchworth State Park - Parks Near Me - Castile, New York

"And you're always there to lend a hand In everything I do That's the wonder The wonder of you" (Elvis Presley) Yes, there are wonders everywhere in Letchworth State Park. It sure earns its nickname as the "Grand Canyon of the East". Within its 22 square miles are a ton of wonders - a 17-mile stretch of the Genesee River crashes through the center of the park through 600-foot-high rock gorges and cliffs, plus three spectacular waterfalls. Letchworth is so large that it has six main entrances! We explored the trails to the Upper and Middle Falls on Thursday, and the Lower Falls and scenic overlooks on Friday. The Lower Falls is the one that takes the most effort to see, you'll have a 30-minute hike that includes stone staircases and inclines to get a good view. The photo opportunities of the river, falls, forests, cliffs, and gorges are everywhere. It's safe to say that Letchworth is a photographer's dream. Numerous travel magazines and websites rightly include Letchworth on their lists of the "10 Best State Parks" in the country. They have lots of campsites, cabins, the Glen Iris Inn B&B, grills, playgrounds, a museum, and a general store for the campers and visitors. They also have hot air balloons and kayaking (which we saw today). read more

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This park is simply stunning. From the moment you enter the park (we went in the Castile entrance) you see magnificent vistas with cliffs, turkey vultures, waterfalls and more. We spent the day exploring the three main falls areas (upper, middle and lower). You can walk between them all or driving to them is an option as well since there is ample parking. The park is a carry in carry out park which means there are no garbage cans. Despite this, it was immaculate. No garbage to be seen anywhere. Grass was nicely tended to, the paths were free of debris and easy to walk on and all three falls areas are just beautiful. You will get misty when getting close to them due to the amount of water going over, but since it was hot when we were there, we didn't mind one bit. The stairs down to the lower falls require a base level of fitness to get down and back up, but again it's well worth the effort. 100% recommend. read more

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Beautiful, incredibly well-kept park with tons of scenic views of the canyon and the river. We drove along Park Rd. through the South End, stopping at the lots for the Lower Falls, Upper-Middle Falls, and many of the overlooks. Each location is well-thought-out, with vegetation pruned back just enough to provide beautiful views and pictures. The park is largely drivable if you're interested in just hitting the highlights (it took us about 2 hours to do half a dozen overlooks and the walking trails to each of the three falls), and though I haven't hiked them the trails seem to be of a similar caliber to the rest of the park. I'll definitely be back to see the fall foliage and hike some of the real trails! read more

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What a hidden gem! There are 3 sets of waterfalls - upper, lower, and middle. You could hike to all 3 of them as a 6ish mile loop, or you can drive to each of them and hike a shorter distance. We opted for parking at Inspiration Point and hiking to the upper and middle falls (about 3 miles round trip), and then driving to the lower falls parking lot and hiking about 1 mile round trip to the lower falls. My 5 and 7 year old were able to do both hikes, and I would consider them quite easy for an adult, but for the kids, there was complaining by the time we got to the lower falls... Also, keep in mind that there is no Internet reception inside most of the park, so plan ahead if you intend to meet up with folks in the park. (There is WiFi at the Visitor Center and Nature Center though.) I noticed that there's an option to spend the night in a cabins or rustic housing - I wish I had done that since it seemed like a lovely place to spend your evening. read more

Just Beautiful! A True Hidden Gem I came here and stated with our mom and families a cabin many years since last being here as children. read more

First time visiting this park with my family. The view of the bridge is absolutely gorgeous, very refreshing. It has three waterfalls Upper Fall, Middle Fall and Lower Fall. They have trails, It's definitely nice for hiking and just exploring nature. Highly recommend coming here. read more

Letchworth State Park - Parks Near Me - Castile, New York

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We camped and explored a couple trails in the park. It is a beautiful area, with decent trails (be prepared for a lot of stairs!). Would have given 4 stars but the campground is so large and crowded, with little privacy between sites. The Gorge trail is worth exploring; I would recommend making a loop and connecting into other less popular trails. We took Gorge to Hemlock and really enjoyed the experience read more

Letchworth State Park - Middle falls - Parks Near Me - Castile, New York

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Great big park, beautiful, always enjoy going to see the three Falls when I visit. It's the Grand canyon of the East, they say. I highly recommend visiting in the Fall! It's just gorgeous. read more

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Unfortunately it rained on the day we set aside to visit this park. The drive along Park Road traces the path of the Genesee River with many overlooks including those offering amazing views of a dam and the lower and upper middle falls. read more

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Incredible park and waterfalls. This park is about a 4.5 hour drive from Pittsburgh so I drove and stayed overnight in Hornell to have an under hour drive there the next morning. I entered the Portageville entrance at just after 8 am. Note that there is a charge of $10 per car at the entrance. However, it is time dependent. As of this post, their website states from 5/11 to 10/20 9am til 5pm the charge is $10. When I got there a little after 8am there was a sign indicating no charge. Lucky me! Also lucky that my goal was to park in the first parking lot as it is closest to The Falls Trail (marked #1 on map and with pink blazes) and I was the only car in the lot upon arrival. The trail starts from this lot and I parked right next to the sign for the trailhead. The map will indicated this is a 7 mile one-way trail. True, but to see the main star attractions of Upper Falls, Middle Falls, and Lower Falls, it takes far less mileage. I ended up hiking from 8:20 til noon round-trip, saw the thee falls and Inspiration Point, took lots of photos, ate my packed lunch and had icecream at the concession building on my way back near the beginning. There are at least 2 restrooms with flushing toilets and running water, just not in the parking lot but within a 10 minute walk along the way. Look over to your left in the grassy portions of the park. Note that, at least with the first restroom, the water fountain was not operable. The walk is mostly shaded. There are many steps and one major hill walking back up from seeing a waterfall. All doable but definitely need mobility. You most certainly want to time the Middle Waterfall with sunshine in order to take full advantage of the Rainbow caused by the light off the mist of its water. I captured a beautiful photo early in the morning but on the way back puffy clouds obscured the sun, and, alas, no rainbow. I went on a Friday morning and there were not many people. Perfect. read more

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Letchworth State Park is amazing - and huge, as it includes a large gorge. Consequently, it takes a good 30ish minutes to get from side to the other. We had entered through the Mount Morris side, near the dam, where we enjoyed some great views of the gorge, before heading over to this Castile side to see the magnificent falls! Letchworth's old estate, now the Glen Iris Inn, is also located on this side. The Upper and Middle Falls are located not too far from the parking lot here, and there is a great picnic area located such that you can enjoy the stunning view of the Upper Falls while you picnic. The Lower Falls requires taking stairs down and has a narrower view, though it's still quite pretty. Also notable in this area is a 1930s CCC built stone bridge that connects the two sides of the gorge. Back up at the top of the Lower Falls area is a very nice playground space that was very popular with the kids. The Humphrey Nature Center is also located within the park, and it provides some great exhibits and footage of the gorge and animals. Outside of the nature center is an Autism Nature Trail available. Staff here are very friendly and helpful. There is a parking area located nearby here, as well. read more

This is an absolutely amazing state park, and the $10 per car entrance fee is a great deal. As others have noted if you enter from Mt. Morris, it is about a 30 minute drive to the middle and upper falls areas. The roads are in great shape though, and it's a nice drive with lots of scenic overlooks. We actually opted to stop at those on our way back though so that they'd be easy in and out on the right side of the road. We had a lovely picnic with a view of the upper falls and walked around there a bit. If anyone in your group has challenges with hiking, they can likely still see these falls as they are a short, flat, distance from the parking lot. The middle falls are a short walk on the gorge trail, and can also be seen from a parking area. Both the upper and middle falls were spectacular, and we were even treated to a rainbow in the mist of the middle falls. After the middle falls the gorge trail heads up some old steps; that was not going to work for one member of our group, so we headed back to get the car and did a few short, easier walks from some of the viewpoints. We also tried to find the lower falls, but couldn't find any signs from the lower falls parking area. We knew this was one that involved a bit of a walk, but weren't sure which direction. Others were confused too as we heard lots of people asking others where the trail was and which direction, and people seemed to give several different answers...Anyway, we walked around a bit without luck and declared that 2 out of 3 wasn't bad. We stopped at a few more viewpoints wrapping up with a stop at the dam. There were a large number of vultures flying around and per the sign, this is a regular thing! Definitely don't miss this park! read more

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Beautiful state park that anyone in the area or visiting should stop and enjoy. $10 to get into the park, veterans with valid id get in for free. Different adventures and activities to do. I will say one downside is that there are no garbage receptacles throughout the park and unfortunately there were several places where people didn't pick-up after their animals- even in highly trafficked areas. read more

It was a bit of a drive coming from Niagara, NY but it was worth it. The park is very beautiful and peaceful. It's nice to see the waterfalls. There is also a little museum worth checking out. Plenty of parking spaces when you want to move from one spot to another. read more

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I'm kicking myself for waiting this long to go to Letchworth, but it won't be so long before my next visit. The park is absolutely beautiful. You can walk for as long or as little as you want without missing out on the beautiful sights. The forecast was bad this past weekend, but we took our chances. One minute we're driving through torrential rain. The next we're pulling into the lot of the upper falls as the clouds part and the sun shines, creating a double rainbow effect in the mist from the falls. What a sight! So many great vantage points for beautiful pictures. There's several other places to stop, including the middle and lower falls, and miles of hiking. The park also includes a hotel and lofts to rent, a fine dining restaurant, a casual restaurant, gift shop, and playground, but there's plenty of places to immerse yourself in nature, too. A must-visit! read more

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This is a beautiful park!! The waterfalls are worth seeing! My best friend and I went on a hot air balloon ride and it was amazing! Highly recommend balloons over letchworth!! read more

Letchworth State Park - Parks Near Me - Castile, New York

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Soooo gorgeous!! We drove over from Rochester, took around ~1 hr to arrive at the bottom entrance of the park. Entrance was $10 in cash/credit. We ended up following the road from the entrance. If you follow that road, it'll take you the the visitor center. Just a little past that and you'll be at the beautiful Upper Falls. You can park at the top and hike down or you can drive down to the bottom where there is a big parking lot. The area has picnic tables and a small food. Upper falls is the location with the bridge, it's so beautiful!! We ended up driving down the main road stopping at different lookout points. We did that until we got around Wolfs Creek (lots of grilling areas with picnic tables too) then turned around and exited. It's a beautiful park and I highly recommend stopping by. There are a bunch of trails you can look up and they provide a trail map (honestly it's a little confusing...) or you can look up places before coming. read more

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My husband and I took a drive to Letchworth this past weekend to get some fresh air and exercise. I haven't been to the park in many years but it all came back to me as soon as I saw the railroad bridge and upper falls area. When entering the park, you will receive a very detailed map outlining the trails, rest stops, snack bars, bathrooms, camping grounds, etc. It's easy to read and tells you how long the trails are and their difficulty level. We walked around the upper and lower falls but it was a very warm day so we stopped there! The sights were beautiful and we took a few great pictures. read more

Letchworth State Park - Parks Near Me - Castile, New York

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Due to winter a lot of the trails that get you closer to the falls are closed. Despite this the views are beautiful. You would need to walk further to get to the lower falls since the road was closed. In total we did 5.5 miles exploring this state park. I would recommend ending your hike with a picnic at the upper falls. Tons of close parking to this fall and picnic tables to eat at comfortably with such a fantastic view. This state park was recommended to us by a family member and we will now be recommending it to others ! read more

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Make sure to fill up your gas tank if you are coming in from the Mt. Morris entrance. The cabin visitor center is several miles away, which is almost close to the other entrance. There is a fee to enter the state park grounds though it's totally worth it. There are so many nooks and crannies to check out the mountain range, view of the sky and rivers as you are driving up. Lucky for us, one barbeque area had a huge shelter which we stayed and waited until the rain storm passed. It was safer to take shelter than risk driving. The rain storm was falling very heavily afterwards the heat generated from the rain hitting the ground created a heavy fog. There are numerous waterfalls which you can see if you walk the trails. We saw the 3 waterfall (the lower, middle, and upper). The lower fall trail requires you to walk the trail about a mile or so and go down the stairs (several flights). There is a bridge that is great for picture taking though the fall isn't very high. The middle fall is by the main restaurant. You can walk to this fall and this is the only fall that has lights at night. The upper fall can be viewed from the parking lot and you can walk down the stairs for a better view. There are fast food stands by the fall. There is a full service restaurant named Caroline's at the middle falls, which isn't too bad. Enjoy the views. read more

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The park is known as the 'Grand Canyon of the East'. It may be a bit of a stretch but this park is gorgeous. We entered the southernmost part of the park via the Castile Entrance. This entrance is closest to the upper, middle and lower falls. The Glen Iris Inn, a museum, a nature center are all nearby. The drive from the southern end to the northern end of the park is well worth the time. There are various overlooks where you can park the car and enjoy the views. It was voted as America's #1 state park and I agree that it has to be among the best of state parks. When visiting the Finger Lakes region, this park certainly deserves to be added to the list. read more

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Friday August 14 2020 Overlook area in Letchworth State Park in New York near Wolf Creek Park. This was included in the $10 entry fee per car into the park area. The picnic tables are made of River rocks stacked to form base then huge slab of Rock placed on top to make table surface... gorgeous handy work from 1930s. If your in the park definitely have to stop here, parking, restrooms, playground and tables with grills not to mention the gorgeous views of the gorge below Friday August 14 2020 with Tony Vanoy we stopped at the Wolf Creek Park inside Letchworth State Park in New York near Castile and enjoyed this section. There are hiking trails to gorge below and mountains above with about 4 smaller waterfalls. There are picnic tables, grills and bathrooms no playground Saturday August 15 2020, Tony Vanoy and I went to see the falls at Letchworth State Park near Castile, New York to celebrate his birthday First we went to the Upper Fall. It was extremely gorgeous. The visitors center was closed. The cost for the entire park is $10 per car. I would definitely go back again and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. read more

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Absolutely breathtaking. My boyfriend found this place and wow the fall foliage here is unreal. Maybe it's because I'm from California but we do not see this where I am from. $10 entrance fee and the drive here is through the countryside which scares me a bit but it was also beautiful. Data and phone service here is not so good except at the Glen Iris Inn where you can stay the night and also eat. Plenty of signs and so we didn't get lost. We loved this place so much we went here twice because the weather wasn't so good the first time. There's 3 waterfalls here: Upper Falls, Middle Falls, & Lower Falls. Lower falls is a bit of a hike and not as spectacular as the other two falls. Middle Falls is the largest and my favorite waterfall and on rainy days there's a ton of mud and puddles so I'd recommend rain boots. Upper Falls is the famous shot with the bridge. It's funny I'm from the West Coast and still haven't seen the Grand Canyon but yet I saw the Grand Canyon of the East first! Also check your weather forecast! We left the park at around 5/6 and we got stuck in fog for about 20 miles. Absolutely terrifying. read more

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It is simply beautiful. Breathtaking views that will having you saying, "Oh look!" over and over...and over. We had no idea what we were doing and still saw so much beauty it truly made our NY trip unforgettable. read more

Letchworth State Park - Parks Near Me - Castile, New York

Letchworth State Park is absolutely breathtaking! There are different areas to stop at and check out. We wanted to explore the upper, middle and lower falls. It costs $10 to enter. Be aware that they will close off certain sections of the park if it gets too crowded. This happened when I visited. I had to park my car near Inspiration Point and walk to the waterfalls. Our original plan was to drive to each location. We were only able to make it to the upper and middle falls. The whole experience was amazing and the pictures don't do it justice! read more

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If you love nature and waterfalls, this place is well worth the visit! My trip here consisted mostly of driving through, with a few brief stops along the way to take in various sights and waterfalls, as well as a stop in the Humphrey Nature Center and lunch at the Glen Iris Inn. I would have loved the opportunity to hike a few of the trails, and really hope I get the opportunity to return one day and do just that. This park and its views truly are magnificent. read more

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Letchworth is great all seasons of the year! Beautiful views of waterfalls. It's a cool treat in the winter so see the falls partially frozen. SO many wonderful opportunities here in the summer. Usually around a $10 entry fee. Free in the winter, but the middle of the park and many entrances are closed in the winter season. I don't snowmobile but there were many people riding snowmobiles when I visited in Feb 2021. Great place for snowshoeing in the winter and hiking during any season. I'm not an intense hiker but there are some neat and flat options if you're like me. :-) There's weak cell service in some spots here, so if you're planning to meet a friend, you should plan which entrance and when before your adventure begins. They have many maps and more info on the state park website. I also recommend stopping by Brian's USA Diner on your way out -- they have takeout so if you call as you're leaving the park, it'll be perfect timing. read more

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Been here a few times since arriving in WNY and it's a grand place to be! Tranquility at its best, with so much to see. Unlike Watkins Glen SP which is mainly walking, this is mainly driving from one fabulous lookout point to the next! I am always seeing bicyclists [and actually pedaling] and we are always thinking one day we will bring our 16" folding ebikes to enjoy a nice ride also. Fantastic images and memories are easy to get here! read more

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This is a popular park to camp at, and for pretty good reason. The place is absolutely huge with lots of trail to walk, lots of scenic points, 3 different waterfalls to see and soft served iced cream! The gorge also makes for some great views. It's called the "Grand Canyon of the East," but that may be a term used facetiously because I can't imagine it is anywhere near as impressive. The overlook sites are numerous but also repetitive, as are the trails. The camp sites are decent but small with people crammed on top of each other. Thankfully we had a very nice neighbor who let us help ourselves to his firewood, until he decided I helped myself a little too much lol! The part I enjoyed most about camping here was actually not in the park itself but rather nearby, where there is a creek hike up to a waterfall. I won't give more detail than that, but the brochure they give you at the park describes how to get there. read more

What a beautiful place. Huge. As a Rochestarian, I'm lucky to have such a great place nearby. For a mere $10, it's a huge place to explore with so many amazing views, and trails to wander along. This is a place everyone from anywhere should see at least one time in their life! read more

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