Essential Park Information
🚗 Vehicle Entrance Fee
Cost: $10.00 per vehicle
Details: Collected daily from May through October. Entry is typically free during the late autumn and winter seasons.
🗺️ Best Entry Gate
Location: Castile Entrance
Details: Provides the fastest, most direct route to the Upper and Middle Falls. Use the Mount Morris Entrance if arriving from the North or Rochester.
🐾 Pet Policy
Rules: Leashed Pets Welcome
Details: Dogs are permitted on trails but must be kept on a leash (6ft maximum) and owners must carry physical proof of rabies vaccination.
🌊 The Big Three: Iconic Waterfall Cards
The Upper Falls
Accessibility: Paved, Easy Walk
Highlights: Framed by the soaring Portage Viaduct railroad bridge directly overhead.
A stunning horseshoe-shaped crest located just steps from the parking lot. If a freight train passes over the active bridge while you're standing below, it creates the definitive Letchworth postcard image.
The Middle Falls
Accessibility: Paved, Fully Accessible
Highlights: The largest, most thunderous waterfall drop in the park (107 feet).
Located right next to the historic Glen Iris Inn. The fully paved pathways feature safety barriers and are beautifully illuminated at night during peak seasons. Stand at the lower wall to feel the spray!
The Lower Falls
Accessibility: Moderate (127 Stone Steps)
Highlights: Secluded flume tucked into a dense, forested canyon loop.
The most rugged and natural-feeling of the big drops. Navigating this section requires walking down the famous "Step Trail," making it less ideal for strollers or those with limited mobility.
📸 Panoramic Canyon Overlooks
Inspiration Point
The definitive wide-angle viewpoint. From this single elevated platform, you can see both the Upper and Middle Falls snaking through the 600-foot canyon walls in one frame. Excellent parking access.
Archery Field Overlook
Located further north along the park drive. This provides a completely unobstructed view of the Genesee River twisting in a massive loop through dense forest—making it your prime autumn foliage photo spot.
Wolf Creek
A beautiful spot where a fast-moving tributary stream crashes down a rocky flume straight into the main gorge channel. Features a wonderful, shaded picnic area to break up your drive.
🍦 Fuel Your Hike: Wine, Dine & Local Flavors
The Glen Iris Inn
Type: Historic Dining (Inside the Park)
Vibe: Elegant, overlook dining rows.
The former country estate of William Letchworth sits directly above the Middle Falls. It offers fantastic sit-down historic meals, casual lunches, and a welcoming porch for a midday drink.
Website: The Glen Iris Inn
Charcoal Corral & Silver Lake Drive-In
Type: Roadside Classics (Castile)
Vibe: High-energy family fun.
A legendary roadside outpost located just minutes outside the Castile gate. Features a big burger ranch, real pizzeria, huge ice cream stand, mini-golf, and a working twin drive-in theater.
Website: Charcoal Corral & Silver Lake Drive-In
Historic Mount Morris Main Street
Type: Village Bistros & Coffee Shops
Vibe: Walkable small-town charm.
If you exit through the northern gate, take a cruise down Main Street in Mount Morris. It's packed with independent coffee shops, local diners, and antique storefronts to explore after a long hike.