Tracey A.
Yelp
When I received a proposed itinerary from the person I was flying cross country to visit the entry that excited me most was a visit to what she described as the "Grand Canyon of the East". I almost didn't care what else we did.
The "Grand Canyon of the East" is Letchworth State Park, a 1.5 mile wide, 17 mile long park comprising 14,350 acres. There's so much here to be explored and I explored so little of it that I feel almost guilty in assigning 5 stars. What if the stuff I didn't see was utter crap?
For much of my 7 mile hike past Upper (70 feet), Middle (107 feet), and Lower Falls (70 feet) I carried a water bottle with me, consumed in the course of hiking, and finally had to ask "don't they have any garbage cans in this park?"
I hadn't seen a single can and later learned that Letchworth is a carry in-carry out park. That is, there's not a garbage can to be found anywhere and I don't know how they accomplish this but the park is immaculate. I saw not a single speck of trash during my visit. Just nature, cabins, waterfalls, and adequate parking spaces.
Driving through any one of the park's entrances will cost you $10 but dining at the park's Glen Iris Inn and flashing that receipt will get that $10 refunded. By all means, go have a meal or a drink; you basically have a $10 credit.
Upon park entrance you're handed a high quality, informative map which is easy to follow. It lays out the park's 29 hiking trails identifying their length, difficulty (all are "easy" or"moderate"), and whether they're also fit for biking, horseback riding, skiing, and/or snowmobiling. Yosemite could learn a thing or two from the maps provided at Letchworth.
Leashed dogs are also welcome.
I left very impressed with this park, impressed enough that I'd be interested in renting a cabin, campsite, or cottage if I lived where my friend does (near Rochester).
Experiencing this immaculate park, which USA Today named "Best New York State Attraction" (2017), should be high on your list if you find yourself anywhere near the area.