Lower Falls (Letchworth) Hike
Waterfall | New York
3 mi round trip
Lower Falls (Letchworth) Hike at a Glance
The Lower Falls (Letchworth) hike via the Gorge Trail is 3 mi round trip.
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 870 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | Gorge Trail |
| Distance | 3 mi round trip |
Your time: about 1 h of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 1 h 15 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 570 kcal. No elevation gain is published for this route, so climbing time isn’t included.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 3 mi distance for this hike is verified (parks.ny.gov), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Lower Falls (Letchworth)
Lower Falls (Letchworth) is a waterfall in New York, on land managed by Letchworth State Park (NYS Parks).
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Gorge Trail: 3 miles round trip, from Inspiration Point. Distance from parks.ny.gov.
Before You Go
- The vehicle fee is $10 per vehicle. (parks.ny.gov)
- About 127 stairs lead down to the Lower Falls area. (parks.ny.gov)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Letchworth State Park (NYS Parks) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Lower Falls (Letchworth)?
The Gorge Trail to Lower Falls (Letchworth) is 3 miles round trip.
Where does the Lower Falls (Letchworth) hike start?
It starts from Inspiration Point.
Is there a fee to hike to Lower Falls (Letchworth)?
The vehicle fee is $10 per vehicle.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Lower Falls (Letchworth) Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- parks.ny.gov
- Distance
- parks.ny.gov
- Falls location
- en.wikipedia.org
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.