Getaways & Day Trips Guide › Getaways: The Great Outdoors

Letchworth State Park

1 Letchworth State Park (along Genesee River), Castile, N.Y.; south park entrance at Rte. 436 and Rte. 19A, Portageville • View on map »
585-493-3600 • 800-456-2267

Known as the Grand Canyon of the East, New York’s Letchworth State Park has no shortage of dramatic scenery: 183-metre cliffs, vertiginous waterfalls and a jaw-dropping road overlooking a gaping chasm. The south gate makes for a grand entrance: it leads to a steep, spectacular road that soars above the Genesee River. Once you’re outside the car, the attractions read like a guide to the great outdoors: a 100-kilometre network of hiking trails, picnic sites with gorge views, rapids for whitewater rafting, and smooth waters for kayaking. For a bit of history with your nature, the park’s museum tells the tale of the Seneca tribe and European settlers. To get a flavour of the good old days, rent a cabin or campsite in the lush forest. The Victorian-era Glen Iris Inn offers a taste of luxury; other accommodations on the property include the Pinewood Lodge, Caroline’s Cottage and the Stone House.

Driving Time:: four hours.
When:: cabins year-round, camping May to Oct.
How Much:: $6 per car; campsites $19–$21 per night; cabins $37.50–$98.75 per night (one-week min. in high season), $115–$325 per week; Glen Iris Inn $85–$185 per night; Pinewood Lodge $90 per night; Caroline’s Cottage $195 per night; Stone House $310 per night; all