If You Live In Buffalo, Letchworth State Park Belongs On Your Bucket List

Did you know the Grand Canyon is only a quick car ride away from downtown Buffalo? Letchworth State Park, nicknamed "The Grand Canyon of the East," is a 14,427-acre state park in Wyoming County, just over an hour from the city. Whether you want to pack a picnic lunch or pack your bags for an overnight stay, Letchworth State Park is a true local gem. Let's explore:

Letchworth was recently voted Best State Park in the USA...

...and we can see why! Letchworth State Park is located in Castile, NY, and was named the best state park in the nation in 2015. The park is home to three giant waterfalls reaching as high as 600 feet, lush forests, miles of hiking trails, a campground, and several activities to enjoy year-round.

The nature center at Letchworth State Park hosts educational and training retreats and consists of a lodge room and rooms with showers and kitchens.

The center can be rented for a day or for overnight use and is widely popular for business retreats and group education purposes.

You'll find some of the most stunning scenery in the Eastern U.S. at this park.

Bring your cameras along for your trip to Letchworth and snap photos of waterfalls, gorges, and the fabulous scenery on and off the hiking trails. The views will leave you breathless and feeling inspired as you take in the handiwork of Mother Nature!

Letchwork is a true hiker's paradise.

The park boasts over 66 miles of hiking trails with varying difficulties. You can choose to walk the paved pathways for a scenic stroll or head deeper into the woods to get the most of your surroundings. Letchworth also hosts guided walks for those looking to learn as they go!

You can even enjoy the park year-round!

While the busy season at Letchworth is during the summer and fall, the park is open year-round and truly turns into a winter wonderland under a blanket of snow. Enjoy snow tubing and sledding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling on the park's trails – then warm up over a hot meal at the newly restored Glen Iris Inn, located on park grounds.

There's plenty of land to explore – and even more to see!

Letchworth State Park is popular amongst bird watchers, nature lovers, and photographers – and for good reason! Several species of flora and fauna call the 14,427-acres of the park home.

There are endless reasons to put Letchworth on your Buffalo Bucket List.

Horseback riding, biking, summer lecture series, whitewater rafting, kayaking, hot air ballooning... you name it, it's probably on the list of activities available at Letchworth State Park! Once you explore all that the park has to offer, you'll probably have a hard time heading home – so don't! Book a stay at Letchworth's campground with hundreds of available sites.

Have you played or stayed at Letchworth State Park? Share your photos or your favorite experiences of the park with us in the comment section below!