Letchworth State Park

   

     Yesterday we left Doubleday Campground near Cooperstown, NY, and took a leisurely drive west on SR 20 all the way to our destination in Le Roy, NY.  There are a couple of things you should know about SR 20.  It is a well maintained, sometimes 4 lane, sometimes 2 lane, highway that cuts across the top of the Finger Lakes of NY.  There are lots of little towns to pass through, and each seems to have a few traffic lights waiting for you to approach before turning yellow/red.  But that's part of the wonderful experience of Seeing America at your own pace.  Some of the towns reach back in history to the 1700's for their names.  They include Cazenovia, established in 1793 and named after Theophilus Cazenov, an agent of the Holland Land Company.  It is also home to Cazenovia College which was founded in 1824.
     A wonderful town also located along this route was Skaneateles. It was settled along the shore of Skaneateles Lake, and was formed in 1830.  Some Skaneateles men volunteered for the Patriot War in 1848, to liberate Canada, and were ultimately imprisoned by the British in Tasmania.  The Quakers of Skaneateles were involved in the abolitionist movement, and there are numerous documented Underground Railroad sites in town.  The waterfront area of the town looked extremely inviting, and we look forward to returning.
     The second issue with SR 20 is the numerous hills and valleys which worked the transmission and "jake brake"  of our Tiffin.  But Big Red performed flawlessly, as we worked our way up and down some extremely challenging hills.  We arrived at our destination in Le Roy, NY at The Ridge Campground, which used to be a ski area.  The stanchions of retired ski lifts dot the compound.  Check-in was easy, and we were escorted to a level pull-thru site with 50 amp service.
     Today we experienced temperatures in the 60's which we really enjoyed as we headed a short distance south to Letchworth State Park.

     Letchworth is also described as the "Grand Canyon of the East", and after entering the park and hearing the the roar of the Genesee River, you soon understand why.  The park was established after 1000 acres was donated by William Pryor Letchworth in 1907.  Today it has grown to over 14,000 acres or nearly 17 miles, along the Genesee River.
     Along the numerous pathways which meander along, 600 feet above the river along a cliff, we were able to experience 3 magnificent waterfalls, one of which is over 107 feet.  Millions of years of history are evident in the rock formations exposed by erosion.  The upper falls are horseshoe shaped and the Genesee River falls 70 feet before continuing on its journey.

Continuing along the trail, and after climbing numerous stone stairs, we approached the Portage Bridge which was erected in 1875.  The metal bridge replaced the world's longest timber bridge which was built in 1852.    The middle falls are 285 feet across and the water falls 107 feet.

The heritage of the Seneca Indians is evident throughout the park because of the generosity of William Letchworth. In 1872, a Seneca Council House was purchased and moved to the park. Seneca and State Officials were invited to the dedication ceremony.   The other cabin was built by Mary Jemison, also known as the "White Woman of the Genesee".  Mary Jemison was born aboard a ship in the Atlantic enroute to the U.S. from Ireland.  She was captured during the French and Indian War and adopted by the Senecas.  Over the course of her lifetime, she was married twice and raised 6 children.  She spent most of her life where the park is now located.  In 1874, William Letchworth had her remains returned and buried near the Seneca Council House.

     The park is very well maintained, and it is unfortunate that we arrived past the peak of the Fall colors.  The views were outstanding and the pictures really don't do it justice.  I would urge anyone in the area to take the time to visit the park.  The trails are mostly flat and access to view the falls in available to hikers of all ages.  There are several campgrounds with cabins in the park, along with at least 2 restaurants.  The Glen Iris Inn is located near the middle falls, and although closed at this time of year, appeared to be a wonderful place to dine.