Letchworth State Park

Go be a Nature Detective! An animal absolutely ripped this tree apart! Maybe you'll see marks like this on trees in your neighborhood... Using our nature tools, we can tell that that this is a sign of an animal that is not only harmless to us, but benefits us. ... Not only does it make homes for other animals in the woods...but sometimes it visits our buildings too. Watch for brand new Nature Detectives videos every Wednesday right here on our Facebook page. Like Nature Detectives? You’ll love our virtual field trip videos. Our five virtual field trip videos are available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4jbGXJkPOyU Teachers! We have guided virtual field trips too! An educator can meet your class virtually on the video chat platform of your choice. Email [email protected] to learn more. Looking for a guided in-person hike? Check out our list of upcoming outdoor programs here, under Upcoming Events: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/letchworth Wildlife photography by Larry Bond.

Snowmobile trails are now open! As conditions change, so does trail availability. It’s always a good idea to call our snowmobile info hotline at: (585)493-3660 ex. 668 before heading out for a snowmobile adventure in the Park.... Keep in mind that car traffic is seasonally closed between the Perry gate and Castile gate. To access the north end of the Park, use the Mount Morris and Perry gates. To access the south end of the Park, use the Castile gate. If you have never used the Castile gate before, it’s in the area of 6787 Denton Corners Road, Castile, NY. Visitor Center staff are available to answer any questions at (585)493-3660 Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm. : Spencer Davis

Go be a nature detective! This spiny-looking plant is more than it seems...it might even eat...animals! Let's use our nature tools to figure out what kind of plant it is and how it helps us every single day.... Watch for brand new Nature Detectives videos every Wednesday right here on our Facebook page. Like Nature Detectives? You’ll love our virtual field trip videos. Our five virtual field trip videos are available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4jbGXJkPOyU Teachers! We have guided virtual field trips too! An educator can meet your class virtually on the video chat platform of your choice. Email [email protected] to learn more. Looking for a guided in-person hike? Check out our list of upcoming outdoor programs here, under Upcoming Events: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/letchworth

We can use our nature tools to figure out what kind of tree this is and how it helps us every single day. Watch for brand new Nature Detectives videos every Wednesday right here on our Facebook page. Like Nature Detectives? You’ll love our virtual field trip videos. Our five virtual field trip videos are available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4jbGXJkPOyU... Teachers! We have guided virtual field trips too! An educator can meet your class virtually on the video chat platform of your choice. Email [email protected] to learn more. Looking for a guided in-person hike? Check out our list of upcoming outdoor programs here, under Upcoming Events: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/letchworth

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the tenth annual First Day Hikes! We saw 400-year-old oak trees, cedar trees hanging out over the edge of the gorge, ice waterfalls, mud dauber nests, a squirrel’s leftover acorn shells, unusual views that revealed illusions of the Mount Morris Dam, bluebirds, a peregrine falcon, three bald eagles, and over two thousand Canada geese. Photos from the easily-missed views of the Hogsback on the Highbanks Trail.... Happy New Year!! : Conrad Baker

Cloud river!! On a clear, crisp morning like today’s, invisible water vapor evaporating from the Genesee River can rise into sun-warmed air at the bottom of the gorge. The sudden warming can condense the vapor into tiny visible droplets, which build into beautiful mist. It’s a mesmerizing view. The water vapor in these ‘clouds’ are drifting north right along with the liquid water in the river.... Time lapse from Archery Field Overlook near the Castile gate. : Conrad Baker

We have good news for fans of our Winter Lecture Series! Every Saturday in January and February, our Winter Walk Series will meet in person to expand our knowledge of the natural world as it slumbers and stirs all around us. Of course, given the public health precautions that come with the pandemic, there will be some changes from lecture series of the past four years.... All walks will be outdoors. Masks are required for all attendees over age 2. Registration is required and total attendance for each walk is capped at 20. These educational walks led by Humphrey Nature Center staff will cover less than 1 1/2 miles of even trail and move at a very easy pace with frequent stops for observations. All are welcome. Please call (585)493-3682 to register. All walks are from 1pm to 2pm. Jan. 16 Life Under the Ice Walk Jan. 23 Winter Weeds and Wildflower Walk Jan. 30 Old and New Growth Woods Walk Feb. 6 Winter Bird Walk Feb. 13 Winter Tracks and Scats Walk Feb. 20 Power of Frozen Water Walk Feb. 27 Winter Bug Walk : Kelly Sikkema

Nature Detectives, it's a sad day to find a dead bird. But, it presents us with an educational opportunity. This bird is hard to identify. We can use our nature tools to figure out what kind of bird this is and how it helps us every single day. Watch for brand new Nature Detectives videos every Wednesday right here on our Facebook page.... Like Nature Detectives? You’ll love our virtual field trip videos. Our five virtual field trip videos are available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4jbGXJkPOyU Teachers! We have guided virtual field trips too! An educator can meet your class virtually on the video chat platform of your choice. Email [email protected] to learn more. Looking for a guided in-person hike? Check out our list of upcoming outdoor programs here, under Upcoming Events: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/letchworth

Hey Nature Detectives! We found some animal tracks! Let's use our nature tools to figure out what kind of animal it is and how it helps us every single day. Watch for brand new Nature Detectives videos every Wednesday right here on our Facebook page.... Like Nature Detectives? You’ll love our virtual field trip videos. Our five virtual field trip videos are available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4jbGXJkPOyU Teachers! We have guided virtual field trips too! An educator can meet your class virtually on the video chat platform of your choice. Email [email protected] to learn more. Looking for a guided in-person hike? Check out our list of upcoming outdoor programs here, under Upcoming Events: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/letchworth *** Photo at 2:14 by grendel|khan - Own work. Also available on my flickr., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1850873 Video at 3:23 by Anthony92931, CC Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported.

Nature Detectives! A disease is spreading in the trees of Western New York. Using our nature tools, we can identify this disease and use our resources as community scientists to report it in our neighborhoods. Watch for brand new Nature Detectives videos every Wednesday right here on our Facebook page.... Like Nature Detectives? You’ll love our virtual field trip videos. Our five virtual field trip videos are available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4jbGXJkPOyU Teachers! We have guided virtual field trips too! An educator can meet your class virtually on the video chat platform of your choice. Email [email protected] to learn more. Looking for a guided in-person hike? Check out our list of upcoming outdoor programs here, under Upcoming Events: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/letchworth

Gift Shop Open on Weekends! The Gift Shop at the Visitor Center is now open on weekends! The Visitor Center is just south of the Castile gate.... If you’re making plans to visit us, keep in mind that the Park Road will close for tree and leaf work tomorrow, Dec. 9, and reopen as conditions allow. The Castile Gate is just east of 6787 Denton Corners Road in Castile, NY. : Conrad Baker

First day hikes are less than a week ahead of us! Join Park educators for one of four different group hikes on Jan. 1, 2021, or follow the marked routes for a self-guided hike. Anyone can call (585) 493-3682 to register.... Registration is free. To keep group sizes safe and comfortable, registration is required for all guided hikes. Registration is not required for self-guided hikes. Masks are required for all hikers over age 2. The Friends of Letchworth will provide refreshments at the meeting spots for guided hikes. North end hikes depart the South Highbanks Shelter at 10am and 1pm. The morning hike will be faster-paced, the afternoon slower. Park in the swimming pool parking lot. South end hikes will depart the Humphrey Nature Center at 10am and 1pm. Park in the Nature Center parking lot. The morning hike will be faster-paced and the afternoon will be slower. The self-guided hike in the northern part of the Park will start at South Highbanks Shelter near the swimming pool parking lot and follow the marked route along the rim of the gorge, following the Highbanks Trail to Hogsback Overlook. The entire route is 1 miles. The self-guided hike in the southern end of the Park starts at Trailside Lodge near the parking lot for the Humphrey Nature Center and follows the marked route on some recently enhanced and expanded trails around Trout Pond. The entire route is 1 miles, or 1 mile with shortcuts. Check out even more hike details on our website under ‘Upcoming Events’: https://on.ny.gov/3neAhmW : Conrad Baker

Park Road update! The Park Road will close between the Perry and Castile gates on Dec. 9 for tree and leaf work. Traffic will reopen as conditions allow.... To access the falls area, please use the Castile gate. You can take Rte. 39 in Castile to East Park Road, which becomes Glen Iris Road, then turn east to the gate. If you’re using GPS, the Castile gate is east of 6787 Denton Corners Road in Castile, NY. : Conrad Baker

The big 50!! Thank you for solving 50 of our fun little nature mysteries!! Join us in the pine stand for a mysterious tree with a tricky lookalike. A few different pines have been popular holiday trees for thousands of years, first to celebrate the winter solstice and then Christmas.... Look for these evergreen trees in your neighborhood! Watch for brand new Nature Detectives videos every Wednesday right here on our Facebook page. Like Nature Detectives? You’ll love our virtual field trip videos. Our five virtual field trip videos are available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4jbGXJkPOyU Teachers! We have guided virtual field trips too! An educator can meet your class virtually on the video chat platform of your choice. Email [email protected] to learn more. Looking for a guided in-person hike? Check out our list of upcoming outdoor programs here, under Upcoming Events: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/letchworth

This critter is more lobster than beetle! We need your nature tools to figure out what it is and how it helps us every single day. These charming creatures hold their eggs under their bellies in a special 'marsupium.'... They do important nature jobs that help our gardens and farms. There's more to them than meets the eye! Watch for brand new Nature Detectives videos every Wednesday right here on our Facebook page. Like Nature Detectives? You’ll love our virtual field trip videos. Our five virtual field trip videos are available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4jbGXJkPOyU Teachers! We have guided virtual field trips too! An educator can meet your class virtually on the video chat platform of your choice. Email [email protected] to learn more. Looking for a guided in-person hike? Check out our list of upcoming outdoor programs here, under Upcoming Events: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/letchworth

2020 is hard. But, we are grateful for the support of our hardworking, welcoming community and passionate visitors. Thank you Wyoming County Chamber and Tourism, Democrat and Chronicle, and Daily Messenger for presenting us with these awards.... Thank you Letchworth State Park team, who adapted and persevered through difficult, changing circumstances. Thank you visitors, who voted in these contests and support us every day by enjoying this beautiful land and river with us. Warmest wishes and fondest thanks to all!

If you’re into the Park’s more obscure trails, join an outdoor educator for a guided hike! Our schedule of outdoor programs is available through December on our website under ‘Upcoming Events’: https://on.ny.gov/3otuomS... Please call (585)493-3680 to register. Registration is required. Attendance is limited. Masks are required for all programs. * * * The view southeast from Archery Field Overlook, within sight of the Castile gate. : Conrad Baker

’The Ant Experience’ silent auction is one of your opportunities to help The Autism Nature Trail at Letchworth State Park build and maintain permanent nature play stations near the Humphrey Nature Center. Consider browsing their 40+ auction items, including autism-friendly experiences, art, and a piece of the old iron trestle bridge. Their post text is below! Feel free to share!... * * * The Autism Nature Trail at Letchworth State Park: When we thought about a fundraising auction for The Autism Nature Trail at Letchworth State Park, we wanted some of the donated items to be geared toward families living with autism. Our generous supporters did not disappoint! Here are some of the 40+ amazing experiences up for bid: * A 3-hour virtual consultation with Drs. Amy Laurent and Jacquelyn Fede from Autism LevelUP! in Rhode Island, which can be used in a number of ways: by an autistic individual with questions they want to discuss, by a family seeking information about their loved one, or by a team looking for professional mentoring! (Item #115) * An exclusive experience (for a family of up to 4 individuals) to go backstage to meet the actors and puppets from the Trusty Sidekick Theater Company at the 2021 New York State Puppet Festival during their performances of "Campfire" (a sensory-friendly introduction to the great outdoors) at Letchworth State Park. The winning bidder will have the opportunity to ask questions about the show, see what makes it special and how it all comes together! (Item #120) * A party that will be historic - or, rather, PREHISTORIC! The winning bidder will receive a sensory-friendly party package at Prehistoric World, Western New York's latest family attraction, located in Perry. This package is for 10 people (ideally, 5 adults and 5 children) and includes a presentation, interaction with the animals, photo opportunities, a display of fossils and dinosaur memorabilia, and more! This party will be customized to meet the needs of the children in attendance. (Item #160) * A sensory-friendly manicure and pedicure package for a sensory-sensitive young lady and her mom (or other significant adult) at The Spa at Artemis in Batavia, NY. This very special experience is designed to be an initial exposure to a true spa environment and will be scheduled and planned well in advance to ensure an enjoyable visit. (Item #165) * A ‘Julia’ package from Sesame Street of 3 autographed books, 3 special stickers and a Gund plush from author and creator Leslie Kimmelman of New York City. Two of the books currently are not available to the public in print! (Item #410) Also available is a Book Pull where, for $25, the first 25 individuals will be guaranteed to win SOMETHING from the Book Pull list (titles are listed under Item #50). ALL BOOKS ARE AUTOGRAPHED BY THE AUTHORS! Authors include: Elana Arnold, Temple Grandin, Barry Prizant and Steve Silberman.

The Genesee River is flowing strong, the air has a healthy fall chill, and we saw a young eagle cruising the canyon at Middle Falls this afternoon! It’s a beautiful day to #OptOutside! : Conrad Baker

Looking for holiday gifts? Our gift shop in the Visitor Center is only open for the season until Sunday, Dec. 20! After this weekend, the Humphrey Nature Center just south of the Visitor Center will be your one-stop shop for Ray Minnick's book of photos, our beautiful drone video of the gorge, and our maple syrup, made in the Nature Center's sugar shack. The Visitor Center Gift Shop is open today and tomorrow from 9am to 4:30pm.... The Nature Center is open Thursdays to Mondays, 10am to 5pm. Share the delicious beauty of America’s #1 state park!

The awesome fourth graders at Mount Morris Central School invited us to join them for our first ever guided virtual field trip! On Tuesday, Oct. 20, our educators made three separate live video chat presentations to three classrooms of fourth graders. Some students participated from the classroom and some participated from home.... The teachers requested our Mammalogy field trip. We began each field trip session by joining the video meeting that each teacher hosted at their scheduled time. After introducing our educator, we screen-shared our Mammalogy virtual field trip video with the classroom. Our five virtual field trip videos are available for anyone to watch on YouTube. For these guided field trip sessions, we paused at scene transitions in the video to add some bonus scientific material that builds on what these young scientists had already worked on in class. We saved some time at the end to answer students’ impressive questions about the video and mammals found in Letchworth State Park and Mount Morris. Mount Morris fourth graders made us feel very welcome. Teachers, if you’d like us to join your class for a guided virtual field trip, email [email protected] to get on the schedule. To familiarize yourself with our five virtual field trip videos, you can watch them anytime on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist *** Conrad Baker led the field trip sessions. : Elijah Kruger

The past few days of rain awakened the falls! The United States Geological Survey operates a river gauge in Portageville, near the historic heart of the park. The gauge reads that before the rain on Oct. 19, about 450 cubic feet of water went over the falls every second. Three days later, on Oct. 22, the falls carried 1,610 cubic feet of water per second. That’s like 100 refrigerators full of water going over the falls every second!... Over those three days, the river increased its flow by 1,160 cubic feet per second. The Genesee drains the watershed from the town of Gold, Pennsylvania, to Lake Ontario. : Conrad Baker

Happy Thanksgiving, Nature Detectives! Give thanks to this mysterious blob that might be growing out of a birch tree in your neighborhood. These living things benefit pest-controlling chickadees in the winter and warblers in the summer, plus we’ve used these to move our campfires for thousands of years!... Watch for brand new Nature Detectives videos every Wednesday right here on our Facebook page. Like Nature Detectives? You’ll love our virtual field trip videos. Our five virtual field trip videos are available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4jbGXJkPOyU Teachers! We have guided virtual field trips too! An educator can meet your class virtually on the video chat platform of your choice. Email [email protected] to learn more. Looking for a guided in-person hike? Check out our list of upcoming outdoor programs here, under Upcoming Events: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/letchworth

This looks so satisfying! Ohsistah is a 4 and a half year old snake born under the care of our animal caretaker educator, Steph Spittal. His small head, dark color, long length, and arched or ‘domed’ back are clues that he is a black rat snake.... Normally, black rat snakes hide and hibernate in cold weather. Ohsistah has lived inside his whole life, so has never had to hibernate. Ohsistah is a permanent animal ambassador at the Humphrey Nature Center. His tank is one of our most popular exhibits. This time lapse compresses about 5 minutes of video into about 12 seconds. : Conrad Baker

The Autism Nature Trail‘s virtual silent auction is an opportunity to bid on pieces of park history to ensure a bright future for the coming inclusive nature trail. A thundering wave of community support already gave $3 million to the Autism Nature Trail at Letchworth State Park (The ANT) to build nature stations for families to play and learn in nature at their own pace, without crowds. ANT Co-Chair Loren Penman says that their next fundraising goal is $700,000 to ‘ensure pr...ogramming into the future that equals the excellence of the Trail itself.’ This pandemic has demonstrated the very human need for outdoor recreation, and The ANT provides that opportunity for everyone, said Penman. I sincerely hope you will join me in the auction to support the project. The silent auction, called ‘The ANT Experience,’ runs from 12pm on Friday, Oct. 23 through 11:59pm on Thursday, Oct. 29. To register for the auction, click here: https://bit.ly/35lqKCM The ANT says that registering does not commit anyone to bidding or buying. Over 40 items are available, including artisan creations, collectibles, unique experiences and getaways. There is a 3-foot piece of the famous iron trestle bridge that spanned the Genesee River at Letchworth for almost 150 years, from 1875 to 2016. If you loved the TV show ‘Criminal Minds,’ you will love the autographed collectible items from The ANT's honorary chair, actor Joe Mantegna. There is a virtual songwriting lesson with music royalty Natalia Zukerman, and a three-night stay in a private, never before offered, two-bedroom guest cottage on Silver Lake in western New York State. Every dollar raised goes directly to the Trail. Wegmans generously covered expenses related to operating the auction. If you are unable to participate but would like to show your support, you can donate here: https://bit.ly/3jjB1Ev

Traffic alert! The traffic pattern will be changed from one way traffic to two way traffic on Middle/Upper Falls Road beginning Monday, Nov. 30, 2020 until further notice due to road and drainage construction. No traffic will be allowed out of the area north of the Middle Falls comfort station.... Video shows the part of Middle/Upper Falls Road that will have two way traffic starting Nov. 30. : Conrad Baker

Nature Detectives! This thorny shrub is taking over the forest floor!! It’s a home for birds, mice, and ticks! We can use our nature tools to figure out what kind of shrub this is and how it affects us every single day. Help WNY PRISM slow the spread of invasive species by identifying and reporting invasives in your neighborhood. Check out their Field Observation Form here: https://bit.ly/2IULV7w... You can learn about more invasive species from WNY PRISM at wnyprism.org and from Finger Lakes PRISM at fingerlakesinvasives.org. Watch for brand new Nature Detectives videos every Wednesday right here on our Facebook page. Like Nature Detectives? You’ll love our virtual field trip videos. Our five virtual field trip videos are available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4jbGXJkPOyU Teachers! We have guided virtual field trips too! An educator can meet your class virtually on the video chat platform of your choice. Email [email protected] to learn more. Looking for a guided in-person hike? Check out our list of upcoming outdoor programs here, under Upcoming Events: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/letchworth *** Video at 3:52 by Larry Bond. Photo at 4:07 by Peterwchen CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=96920850

Nature Detectives! We need your nature tools! Let’s figure out what kind of truly strange mushroom is sprouting near some rotting logs and how they help us every single day. Help us explore again next week! We post brand new Nature Detectives videos every Wednesday right here on our Facebook page.... Like Nature Detectives? You’ll love our virtual field trip videos. Check out the full playlist of five YouTube videos, including ‘Life of the Monarch,’ a scientific look at our popular monarch butterfly tagging program: https://bit.ly/31rSXa4 Looking for in-person educational programs? Check the constantly updated schedule here: https://on.ny.gov/3dN3IbL

Join our outdoor educators for guided programs! Our free, limited-capacity, masked programs take you through the underrated trails, changing scenery, and deep history of the park we know and love. You can see all upcoming public programs here: https://on.ny.gov/31jZWBB... Call 585-493-3682 to register. We’ll see you on the trail! *** Photos are from a guided program by longtime park educator Doug Bassett. An October spring peeper frog (notice the ‘X’ on the back!), fall colors on hay-scented fern, and explosive tree colors as seen from the trail. : Courtesy of Doug Bassett

It's almost time for First Day Hikes! Join Park educators for one of four different group hikes on Jan. 1, 2021, or follow the marked routes for a self-guided hike. To keep group sizes safe and comfortable, registration is required for all guided hikes. ... Anyone can call (585) 493-3682 to register. Registration is free. Registration is not required for self-guided hikes. Masks are required for all hikers over age 2. The Friends of Letchworth will provide refreshments at the meeting spots for guided hikes. North end hikes depart the South Highbanks Shelter at 10am and 1pm. The morning hike will be faster-paced, the afternoon slower. Park in the swimming pool parking lot. South end hikes will depart the Humphrey Nature Center at 10am and 1pm. Park in the Nature Center parking lot. The morning hike will be faster-paced and the afternoon will be slower. The self-guided hike in the northern part of the Park will start at South Highbanks Shelter near the swimming pool parking lot and follow the marked route along the rim of the gorge, following the Highbanks Trail to Hogsback Overlook. The entire route is 1 miles. The self-guided hike in the southern end of the Park starts at Trailside Lodge near the parking lot for the Humphrey Nature Center and follows the marked route on some recently enhanced and expanded trails around Trout Pond. The entire route is 1 miles, or 1 mile with shortcuts. Check out even more hike details on our website: https://on.ny.gov/3neAhmW : NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Please use our visitation tips below to plan your trip for the fall foliage season! We expect temporary gate closures and traffic delays during peak visitation hours, 12pm to 4pm throughout fall foliage season, especially on weekends. We look forward to sharing the Park with so many visitors and apologize for the inconvenience.... * * * Visitation Tips for Letchworth State Park: 1) Unfortunately, the Letchworth Arts and Crafts Show and Sale has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2) The open hours of the park are 6am through 11pm daily. Park attendance is highest from 12pm through 4pm. Please plan on visiting outside these hours or plan your visit on a weekday. 3) The Upper/Middle Falls and Glen Iris Area is the most popular site in the park. Due to this, patron densities fill most rapidly there. To reduce patron densities, the area will close to new visitors periodically throughout the day. Patrons will be detoured to other areas of the park. Once densities are reduced, new visitors will be allowed back in. 4) Information for photographers: Operating drones are not allowed in the park without a permit. Permits must be applied for at least 10 days in advance to your visit date. No same-day permits will be issued. FAA certifications and insurance requirements are mandatory. A permit fee of $50.00 applies. Contact the Park Office for more information at (585)493-3600. 5) For your safety and the safety of all, please DO NOT STAND ON OR CROSS ANY OF THE STONE WALLS WITHIN THE PARK OR ENTER ANY AREAS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. Following these tips will help you to plan and make the most out of your trip! * * * The view east on the morning of Oct. 18 from Trail 1 at Archery Field. : Conrad Baker

Sweeten your holiday with our syrup, areial film, and book of photos! : is a book of brilliant photos by Ray Minnick. is the view of the gorge and falls from a drone soaring above the Genesee River. This is the popular footage and music that plays on the big screen at the Humphrey Nature Center.... Letchworth Canyon Maple syrup is made from the Park's maple tree sap at the Humphrey Nature Center's evaporator. Syrup is only available at the Nature Center by cash or check. There are two bottle sizes: 3.4 fl oz ($5) and 8 fl oz ($10). ($25) and ($20) are available at the Visitor Center south of the Castile gate and the Humphrey Nature Center just north of Inspiration Point. The Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4:30pm. The Humphrey Nature Center is open Thursday through Monday from 10am to 5pm. Come visit us!

Letchworth State Park staff reunited a lost cat with a hiker! When a leashed cat took off during a visit to Letchworth State Park, her owner was horrified. Kayla Battaglia said that she was hiking in the area of the Perry gate on Oct. 12 when her 1-year-old cat, Luna, darted from her hands at about 4pm.... I cannot believe I am having to type this but my sweet baby Luna has gone missing today, posted Battaglia to Facebook. We searched for 4 hours and will be returning back first thing in the morning to continue looking. NYS Parks Police Officer Deliane Lessard saw Battaglia searching by the side of the road and stopped to ask if everything was alright. Officer Lessard, Officer James Marzec, and Officer Kristina Ludwig helped with the search for an hour through the woods. As it got darker, everyone decided to pick up the search the next day. At 11:45am on Oct. 13, Park Maintenance Supervisor Tom Kwiecien, Gate Attendant Carolyn McGinnis, and her son TJ McGinnis had good news. TJ spotted Luna in a tree and ran home to get a ladder. NYS Parks Officers climbed up, retrieved Luna, and brought her back to Parks Police Headquarters at the north end of the Park. Battaglia arrived there to find Luna ‘in perfect shape, just a little dirty.’ I cannot begin to express how thankful we are that so many people were out and willing to help us find her, posted Battaglia, but especially thanks to all the staff at Letchworth park for getting deep into the woods with us to try to find her[.] Because NYS Parks employees cannot accept personal tips or donations, Battaglia made a generous donation to the Autism Nature Trail project, which will begin construction in 2021. My faith in humanity has definitely been heightened by this situation with everyone’s love and gratitude, posted Battaglia. Much love to everyone and stay safe : Kayla Battaglia.

All park gates are now open. At about 11:20 on Saturday, Oct. 17, all parking spaces in the southern end of the Park filled. The southernmost entrance to the Park, the Portageville gate, was temporarily closed to vehicles. A detour led vehicles to the Castile, Perry, and Mount Morris gates. Please use our visitation tips below to plan your trip for the fall foliage season.... We expect temporary gate closures and traffic delays during peak visitation hours, 12pm to 4pm throughout fall foliage season, especially on weekends. We look forward to sharing the Park with so many visitors and apologize for the inconvenience. * * * Visitation Tips for Letchworth State Park: 1) Unfortunately, the Letchworth Arts and Crafts Show and Sale has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2) The open hours of the park are 6am through 11pm daily. Park attendance is highest from 12pm through 4pm. Please plan on visiting outside these hours or plan your visit on a weekday. 3) The Upper/Middle Falls and Glen Iris Area is the most popular site in the park. Due to this, patron densities fill most rapidly there. To reduce patron densities, the area will close to new visitors periodically throughout the day. Patrons will be detoured to other areas of the park. Once densities are reduced, new visitors will be allowed back in. 4) Information for photographers: Operating drones are not allowed in the park without a permit. Permits must be applied for at least 10 days in advance to your visit date. No same-day permits will be issued. FAA certifications and insurance requirements are mandatory. A permit fee of $50.00 applies. Contact the Park Office for more information at (585)493-3600. 5) For your safety and the safety of all, please DO NOT STAND ON OR CROSS ANY OF THE STONE WALLS WITHIN THE PARK OR ENTER ANY AREAS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. Following these tips will help you to plan and make the most out of your trip! * * * The view east on the morning of Oct. 17 from Trail 1 between Archery Field and Great Bend. : Conrad Baker

Hey Nature Detectives! We found a woodpecker hole! We can use our nature tools to figure out what kind of woodpecker made this hole and how they help us every single day. This woodpecker is easy to spot around our neighborhoods and helps a lot by eating farm pests.... Watch for brand new Nature Detectives videos every Wednesday right here on our Facebook page. Like Nature Detectives? You’ll love our virtual field trip videos. Our five virtual field trip videos are available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4jbGXJkPOyU Teachers! We have guided virtual field trips too! An educator can meet your class virtually on the video chat platform of your choice. Email [email protected] to learn more. Looking for a guided in-person hike? Check out our list of upcoming outdoor programs here, under Upcoming Events: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/letchworth * * * Video at 1:42 by Rhododendrites under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode Photo at 2:10 by Ken Thomas under https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1663200 Photo at 3:31 by Bj.schoenmakers under https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34594557 Photo at 3:25 by Keith Weller under https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1876649

Beautiful weather is on the way! Please use our visitation tips to plan your trip for the fall foliage season. We expect temporary gate closures and guiding traffic during peak visitation hours, 12pm to 4pm, especially on weekends. We look forward to sharing the Park with so many visitors and apologize for any inconvenience.... * * * Visitation Tips for Letchworth State Park: 1) Unfortunately, the Letchworth Arts and Crafts Show and Sale has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2) The open hours of the park are 6am through 11pm daily. Park attendance is highest from 12pm through 4pm. Please plan on visiting outside these hours or plan your visit on a weekday. 3) The Upper/Middle Falls and Glen Iris Area is the most popular site in the park. Due to this, patron densities fill most rapidly there. To reduce patron densities, the area will close to new visitors periodically throughout the day. Patrons will be detoured to other areas of the park. Once densities are reduced, new visitors will be allowed back in. 4) Information for photographers: Operating drones are not allowed in the park without a permit. Permits must be applied for at least 10 days in advance to your visit date. No same-day permits will be issued. FAA certifications and insurance requirements are mandatory. A permit fee of $50.00 applies. Contact the Park Office for more information at (585)493-3600. 5) For your safety and the safety of all, please DO NOT STAND ON OR CROSS ANY OF THE STONE WALLS WITHIN THE PARK OR ENTER ANY AREAS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. Following these tips will help you to plan and make the most out of your trip! : Conrad Baker

Traffic Alert: Letchworth State Park is experiencing temporary closures in the Upper/Middle Falls and Glen Iris Areas due to reaching attendance capacity. Please be patient and visit places North of the Castile Entrance to begin your visit. Areas will be opened when traffic subsides. Thank you, Park Management

Watch out! Those aren’t grapes! Use your nature tools to help us figure out what this plant is and how it helps us and the ecosystem every single day. If you’re going to look up craft ideas with this plant, be sure to use gloves or sticks to avoid skin contact with the berry juice.... Like Nature Detectives? You’ll love our Virtual Field Trip videos. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for our latest Field Trip video, The Life of the Monarch!

Give a gift made in the heart of Letchworth State Park! : , brings the color and splendor of the Park's waterfalls, wildflowers, gorge, and wildlife to you with the masterful photographs of Ray Minnick. is a bird's-eye view of the gorge in all its seasons set to a gentle, meditative soundtrack.... The sap that drips from the Park's maple trees is forged into Letchworth Canyon Maple syrup right in the Humphrey Nature Center's evaporator. Only available at the Nature Center by cash or check. There are two bottle sizes: 3.4 fl oz ($5) and 8 fl oz ($10). ($25) and ($20) are available at the Visitor Center south of the Castile gate and the Humphrey Nature Center just north of Inspiration Point. The Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4:30pm. The Humphrey Nature Center is open Thursday through Monday from 10am to 5pm. We are so excited to offer these beautiful gifts to brighten your holiday. Come visit us!

Be sure to check the holiday weekend visitation tips below to plan your visit! As with any holiday weekend, temporary gate closures are possible if parking lots fill during peak visitation hours, 12pm to 5pm. On Sunday, Oct. 11, parking lots in the Middle and Upper Falls area filled by 10:30am and the Portageville gate was closed for peak visitation hours.... Our outstanding staff directed traffic and communicated parking availability to park managers to coordinate a steady traffic flow all day Sunday. Due to this coordinated effort, the Castile, Perry, and Mount Morris gates remained open during this entire peak visitation period on Sunday. On Saturday, Oct. 10, all parking lots in the park filled during peak visitation. All four gates were temporarily closed during peak visitation. All gates reopened at 4:30pm. We are excited that everyone wants to join us. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please check the holiday weekend visitation tips we released Friday and included below. Thank you! * * * Holiday Weekend Visitation Tips for Letchworth State Park: 1) Unfortunately, the Letchworth Arts and Crafts Show and Sale has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2) The open hours of the park are 6am through 11pm daily. Park attendance is highest from 12pm through 4pm. Please plan on visiting outside these hours or plan your visit on a weekday. 3) The Upper/Middle Falls and Glen Iris Area is the most popular site in the park. Due to this, patron densities fill most rapidly there. To reduce patron densities, the area will close to new visitors periodically throughout the day. Patrons will be detoured to other areas of the park. Once densities are reduced, new visitors will be allowed back in. 4) Information for photographers: Operating drones are not allowed in the park without a permit. Permits must be applied for at least 10 days in advance to your visit date. No same-day permits will be issued. FAA certifications and insurance requirements are mandatory. A permit fee of $50.00 applies. Contact the Park Office for more information at (585)493-3600. 5) For your safety and the safety of all, please DO NOT STAND ON OR CROSS ANY OF THE STONE WALLS WITHIN THE PARK OR ENTER ANY AREAS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. Following these tips will help you to plan and make the most out of your trip! : Conrad Baker

The view of Middle Falls from the Glen Iris Inn’s patio. If you look closely, you can see a friendly visitor waving to the camera from the trail right next to the falls!

Under these leaves slumbers a whole world of pollinators, decomposers, and pest controllers. Here at the Humphrey Nature Center’s pollinator garden, we use leaves as convenient mulch. The leaf cover keeps some unwanted plants from getting a toehold and shelters an entire generation of beneficial garden arthropods, like tiger moth caterpillars, millipedes, and fireflies.... You might even have sleeping toads, wood frogs, or salamanders in there! It’s ok to leave the leaves in a thin garden layer for the winter and mulch in the spring!

Hey nature detectives!! We found beautiful wildflowers blooming in the snow!! We can use our nature tools to figure out what kind of plant this is and how it helps us every single day. Watch for brand new Nature Detectives videos every Wednesday right here on our Facebook page.... Like Nature Detectives? You’ll love our virtual field trip videos. Our five virtual field trip videos are available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4jbGXJkPOyU Teachers! We have guided virtual field trips too! An educator can meet your class virtually on the video chat platform of your choice. Looking for a guided in-person hike? Check out our list of upcoming outdoor programs here, under Upcoming Events: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/letchworth

A beautiful snow is drifting in at a gorge overlook just south of Wolf Creek. We even have just a little bit of snow accumulation! Happy late fall!... : Conrad Baker

Thanks NY State Parks & Historic Sites for a shoutout on their statewide blog! The Student Conservation Association’s NYS Parks Corps member Conrad Baker and NYS Parks Environmental Educator Elijah Kruger narrated these videos with the help and advice of NYS Parks interpretive team members Stephanie Spittal, Mike Landowski, Doug Bassett, Karen Russell, Sandy Wallace, and Historic Site Manager Brian Scriven. The team especially thanks Letchworth State Park Manager Doug Kelly and General Parks Manager Arthur Briley for trusting them with these unusual projects.

Community scientists, Project Feeder Watch begins tomorrow! Anyone can join the outdoor educators at the Humphrey Nature Center every Saturday and Sunday until April to practice identifying the birds at the feeders. Your observations will go to Cornell University as part of a nationwide community scientific record of bird populations and seasonal movements.... The Humphrey Nature Center is south of the Visitor Center and North of Inspiration Point. Doors open at 10am and close at 5pm. Come join us! : Chris Chow

Nature Detectives! We found a mysterious vine growing way up into the tops of the trees. Let’s use those nature tools to figure out what it is and how it helps us every single day. We can look for the fruits of this vine next year. Now, they’re gone for the season.... Watch for brand new Nature Detectives videos every Wednesday right here on our Facebook page. Like Nature Detectives? You’ll love our virtual field trip videos. Our five virtual field trip videos are available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4jbGXJkPOyU Teachers! We have guided virtual field trips too! An educator can meet your class virtually on the video chat platform of your choice. Looking for a guided in-person hike? Check out our list of upcoming outdoor programs here, under Upcoming Events: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/letchworth

The face in the falls is out again! Look closely at the rocks in Middle Falls for the profile of a person’s face. Is it Iris, the Greek goddess of rainbows, making her rainbows in the basin below? William Pryor Letchworth, after whom the Park is named, loved Greek mythology.... This face can only be seen when the Genesee River discharge around Middle Falls is less than about 220 cubic feet of water per second, which is typical for this time of year. Today, the River discharge around Middle Falls is about 212 cubic feet of water per second. That’s like 12 refrigerators full of water going over the falls every second! Any curious scientists out there can go to the United States Geological Survey’s website to see what the River’s discharge is right now, and see graphs of the river level rising and dropping with the rain: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=04223000 The sunlight on the mist droplets on this 74-degree day looks kind of like snow! : Conrad Baker

Hey Nature Detectives! We found an animal sign right in the middle of a busy nature trail! We can use our nature tools to figure out what kind of animal left this sign and how it helps us every single day. Look for brand new Nature Detectives videos every Wednesday here on our Facebook page!... Like Nature Detectives? You'll love our virtual field trip videos. The YouTube playlist is available here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist Teachers, we lead guided virtual field trips too! Email [email protected] to learn more. The schedule of upcoming in-person field trips is available under 'Upcoming Events' here: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/letchworth

The biting frost this Halloween will chill us to the bone... cave ceilings have flocks of creatures huddled in the cold... ... a warmer night, the bats will dance upon their windy throne! Watch around street lights on warmer nights for what look like slow, fluttering birds. They’re bats! The bottom line dollar value of bats in the United States is that they eat farm pest insects that would cost us billions of dollars per year to kill with pesticides. Many scientists have tried to put a dollar amount on the total yearly savings. Justin Boyles, Paul Cryan, Gary McCracken, and Thomas Kunz said in their 2011 article for ‘Science’ magazine that depending on many factors, the savings are somewhere between $3.7 billion and $53 billion per year. And while no bats in New York State will suck your blood...some other creatures might...mosquitoes! Bats catch and eat mosquitoes along with those crop pest insects. Elsewhere in North America, like Mexico, nectar-eating bats pollinate some of our most popular crops. Grownups...the tequila in your margarita came from an agave plant...a plant that’s mostly pollinated by nectar-eating bats! This Halloween, thank a bat by staying away from natural caves that are restricted to the public. By disturbing caves in fall and winter, we force bats to partially come out of hibernation to avoid us, which makes it much harder for them to stay warm and survive. By exploring hidden caves, we might even make bats fatally sick by spreading White Nose Syndrome, a fungus that humans have spread across North America to millions of declining bat swarms. You can find out more about white nose syndrome and what you can do to help at whitenosesyndrome.org Happy Halloween!! Bat in Hand : SMBishop, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported. White Nose Syndrome : United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Public Domain.

Nature Detectives, this blob will hatch into hundreds of living things that have a huge impact on us! Let's notice some nature clues that will tell us what this is! Like Nature Detectives? Check for brand new videos every Wednesday right here on our Facebook page!... If you like Nature Detectives, you'll love our virtual field trips, all five of which are available on YouTube here: https://bit.ly/37QyDDk Teachers, we offer guided virtual field trips for schools! Email [email protected] to learn more. Looking for a guided hike? Our in-person program schedule is continually updated under 'Upcoming Events' on our website here: https://on.ny.gov/37Qg02a * * * Caterpillar Shots: By Didier Descouens - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27011413 Pupa: By entomartIn case of publication or commercial use, Entomart wishes then to be warned (http://www.entomart.be/contact.html), but this without obligation. Thank you., Attribution, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15599975 Female Moth: By Opuntia - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2580261 Male Moth: By entomartIn case of publication or commercial use, Entomart wishes then to be warned (http://www.entomart.be/contact.html), but this without obligation. Thank you., Attribution, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=842905 Yellow-Billed Cuckoo: By No machine-readable author provided. Factumquintus assumed (based on copyright claims). - No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=393033 Black-Billed Cuckoo: By Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren - Black-billed Cuckoo - eating tent caterpillars, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37125486 Black Billed Cuckoo: By Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren - Black-billed Cuckoo, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37125485

If you’re into the Park’s more obscure trails, join an outdoor educator for a guided hike! Our schedule of outdoor programs is available through December on our website under ‘Upcoming Events’: https://on.ny.gov/3otuomS... Please call (585)493-3680 to register. Registration is required. Attendance is limited. Masks are required for all programs. * * * The view southeast from Archery Field Overlook, within sight of the Castile gate. : Conrad Baker

Enjoy the full, free virtual field trip video on YouTube here: https://bit.ly/37ryTsd Our ‘Life of the Monarch' virtual field trip arrives to YouTube just as New York State's tagged monarch butterflies are fluttering down to the oyamel fir trees of central Mexico! It is our pleasure to share these animals' beautiful story and relevant science as we watch them grow from caterpillars to chrysalises to butterflies in magnified detail. ... See our butterfly wing tagging system up close and wish our butterflies good luck as they take off to help grow the food we enjoy every day! Teachers! Our virtual field trips are especially here for you. A full list of our five virtual field trip videos is available here: https://bit.ly/2T6Bzmm Please reach out to Environmental Educator Elijah Kruger at [email protected] with ideas for making your class even happier, or to schedule a guided virtual field trip video lesson with an educator on the video chat platform of your choice.

Traffic Alert: Letchworth State Park is experiencing temporary closures in the Upper/Middle Falls and Glen Iris Areas due to reaching attendance capacity. Please be patient and visit places North of the Castile Entrance to begin your visit. Areas will be opened when traffic subsides. Thank you, Park Management

Watch out! Those aren’t grapes! Use your nature tools to help us figure out what this plant is and how it helps us and the ecosystem every single day. If you’re going to look up craft ideas with this plant, be sure to use gloves or sticks to avoid skin contact with the berry juice.... Like Nature Detectives? You’ll love our Virtual Field Trip videos. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for our latest Field Trip video, The Life of the Monarch!

Update: As of 4:30pm on Oct. 11, we have resumed normal operations. At 10:30am on Oct. 11, parking was full in the Middle and Upper Falls area. We closed the Portageville gate and redirected traffic to the Castile, Perry, and Mount Morris gates during peak visitation hours. Our outstanding staff directed traffic and communicated parking availability to park managers to coordinate a steady traffic flow all day.... Due to this coordinated effort, the Castile, Perry, and Mount Morris gates remained open during this entire peak visitation period on Oct. 11. We expect delays and gate closures this weekend, especially during peak visitation hours, 12pm to 5pm. We are excited that everyone wants to join us and apologize for the inconvenience. Please check the holiday weekend visitation tips we released Friday and included below. Thank you! * * * Holiday Weekend Visitation Tips for Letchworth State Park: 1) Unfortunately, the Letchworth Arts and Crafts Show and Sale has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2) The open hours of the park are 6am through 11pm daily. Park attendance is highest from 12pm through 4pm. Please plan on visiting outside these hours or plan your visit on a weekday. 3) The Upper/Middle Falls and Glen Iris Area is the most popular site in the park. Due to this, patron densities fill most rapidly there. To reduce patron densities, the area will close to new visitors periodically throughout the day. Patrons will be detoured to other areas of the park. Once densities are reduced, new visitors will be allowed back in. 4) Information for photographers: Operating drones are not allowed in the park without a permit. Permits must be applied for at least 10 days in advance to your visit date. No same-day permits will be issued. FAA certifications and insurance requirements are mandatory. A permit fee of $50.00 applies. Contact the Park Office for more information at (585)493-3600. 5) For your safety and the safety of all, please DO NOT STAND ON OR CROSS ANY OF THE STONE WALLS WITHIN THE PARK OR ENTER ANY AREAS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. Following these tips will help you to plan and make the most out of your trip! : Conrad Baker

Good morning! As of 10:30am today, Oct. 11, parking lots south of the Castile gate are already full. The Portageville gate is temporarily closed. We expect delays and gate closures this weekend, especially during peak visitation hours, 12pm to 5pm. As with all busy holiday weekends, our staff are going above and beyond in the field answering visitor questions and keeping an eye on parking conditions. When there are temporary closures, gates will be reopened as soon as there... are enough parking spaces for more vehicles. We are excited that everyone wants to join us and apologize for the inconvenience. Please check the holiday weekend visitation tips we released Friday and included below. Thank you! * * * Holiday Weekend Visitation Tips for Letchworth State Park: 1) Unfortunately, the Letchworth Arts and Crafts Show and Sale has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2) The open hours of the park are 6am through 11pm daily. Park attendance is highest from 12pm through 4pm. Please plan on visiting outside these hours or plan your visit on a weekday. 3) The Upper/Middle Falls and Glen Iris Area is the most popular site in the park. Due to this, patron densities fill most rapidly there. To reduce patron densities, the area will close to new visitors periodically throughout the day. Patrons will be detoured to other areas of the park. Once densities are reduced, new visitors will be allowed back in. 4) Information for photographers: Operating drones are not allowed in the park without a permit. Permits must be applied for at least 10 days in advance to your visit date. No same-day permits will be issued. FAA certifications and insurance requirements are mandatory. A permit fee of $50.00 applies. Contact the Park Office for more information at (585)493-3600. 5) For your safety and the safety of all, please DO NOT STAND ON OR CROSS ANY OF THE STONE WALLS WITHIN THE PARK OR ENTER ANY AREAS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. Following these tips will help you to plan and make the most out of your trip! : Conrad Baker

We are glad to say that we have resumed normal operations. Incoming vehicle traffic exceeded parking capacity during peak hours today, Oct. 10. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please check the holiday weekend visitation tips we released Friday and included below.... Thank you! * * * Our tips to help you navigate the holiday weekend at Letchworth State Park: 1) Unfortunately, the Letchworth Arts and Crafts Show and Sale has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2) The open hours of the park are 6am through 11pm daily. Park attendance is highest from 12pm through 4pm. Please plan on visiting outside these hours or plan your visit on a weekday. 3) The Upper/Middle Falls and Glen Iris Area is the most popular site in the park. Due to this, patron densities fill most rapidly there. To reduce patron densities, the area will close to new visitors periodically throughout the day. Patrons will be detoured to other areas of the park. Once densities are reduced, new visitors will be allowed back in. 4) Information for photographers: Operating drones are not allowed in the park without a permit. Permits must be applied for at least 10 days in advance to your visit date. No same-day permits will be issued. FAA certifications and insurance requirements are mandatory. A permit fee of $50.00 applies. Contact the Park Office for more information at (585)493-3600. 5) For your safety and the safety of all, please DO NOT STAND ON OR CROSS ANY OF THE STONE WALLS WITHIN THE PARK OR ENTER ANY AREAS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. Following these tips will help you to plan and make the most out of your trip! : Conrad Baker

Update: We have resumed normal operations. Today’s temporary closure was during peak visitation hours, when incoming traffic exceeded parking capacity. We expect more busy days for the rest of this weekend. Please check the visitation tips below to plan your visit. Thank you!... * * * Original post: Notice: As of 12:30 pm, Letchworth State Park is closed to incoming traffic due to high visitor density. If planning to visit the park, please make alternative plans. Thank you, Park Management * * * Here are some tips to help you navigate the holiday weekend at Letchworth State Park: 1) Unfortunately, the Letchworth Arts and Crafts Show and Sale has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2) The open hours of the park are 6am through 11pm daily. Park attendance is highest from 12pm through 4pm. Please plan on visiting outside these hours or plan your visit on a weekday. 3) The Upper/Middle Falls and Glen Iris Area is the most popular site in the park. Due to this, patron densities fill most rapidly there. To reduce patron densities, the area will close to new visitors periodically throughout the day. Patrons will be detoured to other areas of the park. Once densities are reduced, new visitors will be allowed back in. 4) Information for photographers: Operating drones are not allowed in the park without a permit. Permits must be applied for at least 10 days in advance to your visit date. No same-day permits will be issued. FAA certifications and insurance requirements are mandatory. A permit fee of $50.00 applies. Contact the Park Office for more information at (585)493-3600. 5) For your safety and the safety of all, please DO NOT STAND ON OR CROSS ANY OF THE STONE WALLS WITHIN THE PARK OR ENTER ANY AREAS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. Following these tips will help you to plan and make the most out of your trip!

Here are some tips to help you navigate the holiday weekend experience at Letchworth State Park: 1) Unfortunately, the Letchworth Arts and Crafts Show and Sale has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2) The open hours of the park are 6am through 11pm daily. Park attendance is highest from 12pm through 4pm. Please plan on visiting outside these hours or plan your visit on a weekday.... 3) The Upper/Middle Falls and Glen Iris Area is the most popular site in the park. Due to this, patron densities fill most rapidly there. To reduce patron densities, the area will close to new visitors periodically throughout the day. Patrons will be detoured to other areas of the park. Once densities are reduced, new visitors will be allowed back in. 4) Information for photographers: Operating drones are not allowed in the park without a permit. Permits must be applied for at least 10 days in advance to your visit date. No same-day permits will be issued. FAA certifications and insurance requirements are mandatory. A permit fee of $50.00 applies. Contact the Park Office for more information at (585)493-3600. 5) For your safety and the safety of all, please DO NOT STAND OR CROSS ANY OF THE STONE WALLS WITHIN THE PARK OR ENTER ANY AREAS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. Following these tips will help you to plan and make the most out of your trip! Thank you in advance for visiting Letchworth State Park!!!! * * * ‘Cloud rivers’ form in the gorge when a warm dawn breaks a cold night. The mist hangs in the low, shaded canyon just a little longer than the open sky. This is a time-lapse of one at Great Bend Overlook, just north of the Castile gate, over about 35 minutes on the morning of Oct. 9. :Conrad Baker

Hey there Nature Detectives! There’s more to this mysterious hole than meets the eye! We can use our nature tools to figure out what kind of animal made it and how it helps us every single day. Like Nature Detectives? You'll love our virtual field trips, available now on YouTube here: https://bit.ly/3npgbqx... Looking for in-person programs? Check the schedule of upcoming programs in the comments section below. Image at 2:33 by Ryan Hodnett is shared under an Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. https://bit.ly/2GNKTbT

Good rainy morning from Archery Field Overlook! A couple updates to keep in mind if you’re planning a fall foliage trip with us: Today, we’re expecting high winds to blow many turned leaves from the trees.... The Wyoming County Arts Council announced in July that their annual Arts and Crafts Show will not be an in-person event this year. This means that there will be no vendors set up in the park this weekend, but you can find arts and crafts treasures from over 90 of their vendors online here: https://bit.ly/2SwuQCd. As with other busy holiday weekends, we expect temporary vehicle traffic closures south of Inspiration Point when parking fills near Middle and Upper Falls. The Upper, Middle and Lower Falls are awesome, but don’t forget to check out the color show up north! For example, the deepest drop in the entire park, about 550 feet, is Great Bend Overlook, just north of the Castile gate. North of that, St. Helena, the ‘Ghost Town of the Genesee’ is the small town that was buried under 20 feet of clay by Hurricane Agnes and the floodwaters just barely held back by the Mount Morris Dam in 1972. While standing at the riverbank, look for the feet of the St. Helena bridge. North of that, Gardeau Overlook is a sublime view of the very valley where Mary Jemison and her Seneca Native American family farmed and grew for over 50 years. North of that, Hogsback Overlook is a view of the steepest bend the Genesee River takes. It almost points due south on its way around a long, narrow razor of forest that looks like the raised hair on a hog’s back. Mount Morris Dam Overlook at the north end is a view of the flood control dam built in 1948 and put to the test by Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Take a short drive to the next overlook to the south, which gives you a better angle to see the river flowing right at the base of the overlook cliff. Health and safety guidelines are that everyone practices social distancing and wear masks when social distancing is not possible. We so appreciate your patience. We’ll continue regularly posting foliage updates in the coming weeks. : Conrad Baker

Parker’s Hideaway is a hidden gem built 85 years ago by the Civilian Conservation Corps that you can reserve for the summer starting right now. Young men employed by the CCC built the cabin in 1935 and 1936 under the supervision of project superintendent Don Kessler and park officials Charles Van Arsdale and Wolcott Humphrey. The cabin is north of the Perry gate and south of Hogsback Overlook.... PRICE: *subject to change without notice. Peak Season (end of June through end of August): 1000/5-day week, 5-night minimum, Friday to Wednesday Non-Peak (start of September to end of June): $1000/5-day week Friday to Wednesday; $300/night, 2-night minimum. Holidays: 3-day minimum. For reservations call (585) 493-3600 or write to: PARKER HIDEAWAY RESERVATIONS One Letchworth State Park Castile, New York 14427 A few critical details: reservations are accepted from 5 days to 11 months in advance. FULL PAYMENT is required at time of reservation. Access Passes are not valid for this facility. Cancellations more than 2 weeks prior to arrival will be charged a $25 process fee. Cancellations less than 2 weeks prior to arrival will be charged a $25 process fee plus the fee for one night’s stay. Cancellations must be in writing and all original paperwork must be included. Access passes are not valid for this facility. Accepted payment methods are MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express, check, or money order. Key deposit is $20 by cash or check. Security deposit is $100 by check, returnable within 1 to 3 weeks after check-out, provided the property is free of damages and inventory is complete. Check in is at 3pm and check out is at 11 a.m. Parker’s Hideaway sleeps 6 people (including infants and children). Permit will be issued to persons 21 years of age or older only. Permit holder is responsible for all persons registered under 21 years of age.

We’re getting even closer! The Upper, Middle and Lower Falls are awesome, but don’t forget to check out the color show up north! For example, this view is the deepest drop in the entire park, about 550 feet. This is Great Bend Overlook, just north of the Castile gate.... North of that, St. Helena, the ‘Ghost Town of the Genesee’ is the small town that was buried under 20 feet of clay by Hurricane Agnes and the floodwaters just barely held back by the Mount Morris Dam in 1972. While standing at the riverbank, look for the feet of the St. Helena bridge. North of that, Gardeau Overlook is a sublime view of the very valley where Mary Jemison and her Seneca Native American family farmed and grew for over 50 years. North of that, Hogsback Overlook is a view of the steepest bend the Genesee River takes. It almost points due south on its way around a long, narrow razor of forest that looks like the raised hair on a hog’s back. Mount Morris Dam Overlook at the north end is a view of the flood control dam built in 1948 and put to the test by Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Take a short drive to the next overlook to the south, which gives you a better angle to see the river flowing right at the base of the overlook cliff. Health and safety guidelines are that everyone practices social distancing and wear masks when social distancing is not possible. We so appreciate your patience. We’ll continue regularly posting foliage updates in the coming weeks. : Conrad Baker

Plan ahead for the color show today! On this beautiful Saturday, we expect the south end (Inspiration Point and south) to be temporarily closed to vehicles if parking fills during peak visitation hours. You can always park at the Humphrey Nature Center and hike into the south end, and there is plenty more to see up north! For example, this view is the deepest drop in the entire park, about 550 feet. This is Great Bend Overlook, just north of the Castile gate.... North of that, St. Helena, the ‘Ghost Town of the Genesee’ is the small town that was buried under 20 feet of clay by Hurricane Agnes and the floodwaters just barely held back by the Mount Morris Dam in 1972. While standing at the riverbank, look for the feet of the St. Helena bridge. North of that, Gardeau Overlook is a sublime view of the very valley where Mary Jemison and her Seneca Native American family farmed and grew for over 50 years. North of that, Hogsback Overlook is a view of the steepest bend the Genesee River takes. It almost points due south on its way around a long, narrow razor of forest that looks like the raised hair on a hog’s back. Mount Morris Dam Overlook at the north end is a view of the flood control dam built in 1948 and put to the test by Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Take a short drive to the next overlook to the south, which gives you a better angle to see the river flowing right at the base of the overlook cliff. Health and safety guidelines are that everyone practices social distancing and wear masks when social distancing is not possible. We so appreciate your patience. We’ll continue regularly posting foliage updates in the coming weeks. : Conrad Baker

Don’t forget the underrated canyon overlooks this weekend! After all, Letchworth State Park is 17 miles long. The south end might be temporarily closed when parking fills during peak visitation hours, but there is plenty more to see. Gardeau Overlook is a sublime view of the very valley where Mary Jemison and her Seneca Native American family farmed and grew for over 50 years.... The Hogsback Overlook is a view of the steepest bend the Genesee River takes. It almost points due south on its way around a long, narrow razor of forest that looks like the raised hair on a hog’s back. Mount Morris Dam Overlook at the north end is a view of the flood control dam built in 1948 and put to the test by Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Take a short drive to the next overlook to the south, which gives you a better angle to see the river flowing right at the base of the overlook cliff. St. Helena, the ‘Ghost Town of the Genesee’ is the small town that was buried under 20 feet of clay by Hurricane Agnes and the floodwaters just barely held back by the Mount Morris Dam. While standing at the riverbank, look for the feet of the St. Helena bridge. As a reminder, health and safety guidelines are that everyone practices social distancing and wear masks when social distancing is not possible. We so appreciate your patience. We’ll continue regularly posting foliage updates in the coming weeks. : Conrad Baker

Wyoming County Tourism has some Park gear for prizes in their October photo contest! To enter, just tag Wyoming County NY Tourism and mention the LSP Fall Contest, or email your photo to [email protected].

Plan for the breathtaking tree show this weekend! It’s going to be busy for us. We are expecting temporary closures of high-density areas of the park during peak visitation, most likely in the early afternoon.... As a reminder, health and safety guidelines are that everyone practices social distancing and wear masks when social distancing is not possible. We so appreciate your patience. We’ll continue regularly posting foliage updates in the coming weeks. Don’t forget to visit underrated trails and overlooks like Archery Field, the Hogsback Overlook, the Highbanks Trail, and the Mount Morris Dam. : Conrad Baker

Alright, Nature Detectives... It's time to put those skills to the test finding four different kinds of maple leaves in your neighborhood. Look for these trees around where you live. We humans benefit in all kinds of ways from them! ... If you like Nature Detectives, you'll love our virtual field trip videos. All four of our virtual field trip videos are on the NYS Parks YouTube channel in the 'Virtual Field Trips' playlist: https://bit.ly/35Kgwhf. Stay tuned for more! Homeschoolers! In-person Home Ecologists programs are back! Check the program calendar pinned to the top of this page for the program calendar and registration details.

Trees are looking especially good at the north end! This is an overlook just south of the Mount Morris Dam. It’s looking like the north end of the park will peak early, so planning a leaf-peeping trip before mid-October will be ideal this year.... To get to this spot, look for a parking loop south of the Mount Morris gate at the very northern tip of the park. : Conrad Baker

We’re getting there! Brilliant colors are leaping out toward the northern end of the park, like Mount Morris Dam Overlook near the northern tip of the park. Looking east toward Great Bend from Humphrey’s Overlook, a lot of trees are absolutely exploding with color. There are still plenty of trees to go!... If you’re planning to visit us to see the fall foliage, it’s looking like it would be better to come before mid-October. To get to this spot, head north from the Castile gate or south from the Perry gate. There will be a gravel pulloff on the east side of the road next to a low wooden fence. Look for five boulders lined up near the edge of the gorge, by a wooden bench. That’s why this spot is sometimes called ‘The Five Rocks.’ : Conrad Baker

Good morning from still somehow underrated Archery Field Overlook! Hot fall mornings make the gorge nice and misty. The trees are thinking about fall colors, but not quite there yet. Come see us in the first couple weeks of October.... To get to this spot, look just south of the Castile gate or just north of the Visitor Center. The parking loops can get busy, so watch for parking in the small pulloff spots within sight.

Good morning from the gorge! For now, fall colors are just peeking, not peaking. Keep an eye on us over the next couple weeks, though...... This is the view looking east from the Gorge Trail, Trail 1, near the New York Dragoons monument. This spot is locally referred to as ‘Eagle Hill.’ : Conrad Baker

If you have a student homeschooling with you, our 'Home Ecologists' programs are for you! We scheduled Home Ecologists programs through December. Take a look and register by calling 585) 493-3682. Registration is required. All programs are free and designed primarily for kids 6 to 12. Each month has a different theme.... Masks and social distancing are required for all participants over age 2. Join us for an educational adventure! * * * October Theme: Nature Detectives Tuesday, 10/6, 10:30am to 12pm Tuesday, 10/6, 1:30pm to 3pm Thursday, 10/15, 10:30am to 12pm Thursday, 10/15, 1:30pm to 3pm Wednesday, 10/21, 10:30am to 12pm Wednesday, 10/21, 1:30pm to 3pm November Theme: Orienteering (off trail, rough terrain, strollers not recommended) Tuesday, 11/10, 10:30am to 12pm Tuesday, 11/10, 1:30pm to 3pm Thursday, 11/12, 10:30am to 12pm Thursday, 11/12, 1:30pm to 3pm Wednesday, 11/18, 10:30am to 12pm Wednesday, 11/18, 1:30pm to 3pm December Theme: Animal Signs Tuesday, 12/1, 10:30am to 12pm Tuesday, 12/1, 1:30pm to 3pm Wednesday, 12/9, 10:30am to 12pm Wednesday, 12/9, 1:30pm to 3pm Thursday, 12/17, 10:30am to 12pm Thursday, 12/17, 1:30pm to 3pm

Hey there, Nature Detectives! These trees have a lot in common. We can use our nature tools to tell them apart and predict what color their leaves will turn in the next couple weeks. Happy fall!... Watch for brand new Nature Detectives videos every Wednesday right here on our Facebook page! Like Nature Detectives? You'll love our in-person programming. Check out the season's program schedule pinned to the top of this page.

Happy Autumnal Equinox! The trees are starting to think about fall colors... At 9:30 this morning, the earth will be perfectly positioned for the sun’s incoming light and heat to directly strike the equator.... Until Dec. 21, the southern hemisphere will receive more and more direct sunlight and heat than the northern hemisphere. After that, the earth’s revolution will start to tilt the northern hemisphere closer and closer to direct sunlight. That means that it will be fall for Letchworth State Park until Dec. 21! This is a time-lapsed view of the trees of Park Road headed south between Wolf Creek and Archery Field. : Conrad Baker via hands-free phone bracket. Drive safe!

Join us for our Forest Ecology virtual field trip! You can now have a scientific adventure through the woods from the comfort of your chair: https://bit.ly/32HTGF6. Environmental Educator Elijah Kruger will guide you to forest residents who depend on each other to survive. We'll give you key scientific concepts and vocabulary for understanding and describing these creatures' key strategies for staying interconnected.... Like virtual field trips? We have more! All of our virtual field trips are on the NYS Parks YouTube channel in the 'Virtual Field Trips' playlist: https://bit.ly/35Kgwhf. For the first time ever, schools can call in to the Humphrey Nature Center using the virtual meeting platform of their choice and have one of our educators join their class as they watch the Park's virtual field trip videos, free of charge. Email [email protected] to book a video chat! Teachers and students, we especially want your feedback! We're here to serve you. Drop a comment on this post to let us know what you liked, and what would make you even happier. Nothing is too big or too small to mention. Feel free to share thoughts by emailing [email protected]. More coming soon. Follow us! #NatureNearby #RecreateLocal

Check out just a few of the tiny flowers and animals visitors got to see up close on a Dawn Walk! If you'd like a free guided hike through some of the Park's more obscure trails, call (585)493-3682 to register. : Matt Nusstein

Take to your neighborhood gardens, Nature Detectives! This popular garden plant is super important for wild animals that we depend on in a big way. We can use just one nature tool, our sense of touch, to figure out what this plant is and how it helps us every single day. Watch for brand new Nature Detectives videos every Wednesday right here on our Facebook page!... Like Nature Detectives? You'll love our in-person programming. Check out the season's program schedule pinned to the top of this page.

As we watch a hazy-looking sunrise this morning here in Letchworth State Park our thoughts are with those affected by the wildfires out west. The smoke from these fires, according the National Weather Service, has traveled over 2,000 miles to obscure the sun over our park. While it may be difficult for us living here in the east to understand the severity of situation, this serves as a reminder that we are indeed all connected. The total area burned to date could now cover L...etchworth State Park over 320 times. Photo: Elijah Kruger