Letchworth State Park

Ricky and I LOVE to take the children on hikes and explore different parts of the great states we've lived in.  It's probably in large part of both of us growing up so close to the Smokey Mountains.  You can't grow up so close to that majestic state park and not develop a love of parks, hiking and camping.  Although for me, camping did not come until I was in HS and beyond since we really didn't "camp" as a family.  We did stay in a pretty awesome cabin every summer for a week, and it was "roughin" it.  ;)

With this being said, Ricky and I have decided we have found the most beautiful park so far.  We have never been out west to witness those majestic sights, but Letchworth State Park is sometimes referred to as the Grand Canyon of the East.  It was incredible.  We decided it completely trumped Niagara Falls.  Niagara Falls were beautiful, but incredibly too touristy.  This was amazing.  It was almost too much to see in one day.  You can bet we'll be heading back here and doing some camping in the very near future.  Enjoy the sights!

The Upper Falls in Letchworth State Park.  Yes, the train bridge is still used several times a day.  Didn't get to capture one crossing though.  I tried!  We hiked all the way to the train bridge. (built for the second time in 1875).

This was at the beginning of the climb up to the Upper Falls.  Too bad my camera wasn't recording the voices.  They were complaining already and we had hardly started.  My little hikers were out of shape!

Heading up to the Upper Falls.  Pictures do not do it justice at all...

All you who are afraid of heights.  This one is looking OVER the falls.  Awesome.  I loved it...

Almost there....We're even with the falls right now...

 

Ahhh... the top...

Looking over the Middle Falls.  The Rainbow went completely across from one end to the next.  Very cool...

A shot looking down from the Middle Falls.  The "Canyon" is like this all over.  Amazing...

Mary loved being carried in the backpack.  Daddy was very tired when it was all said and done!

The Lower Falls.  These were actually farther down the Canyon and we had to drive a few miles down to get to the hike.

A view up to the Lower Falls.  That is a bridge literally built into the mountain side.  Again, AMAZING...

This was at the Lower Falls.  We crossed the bridge and climbed up another little hike to see the view from the other side.  As you can see, it was a little muddy... but they had a BALL... it was so much fun.

These were just a few of the dozen or so deer we saw in the middle of the afternoon.  It was crazy!

A view from on top of the Canyon.  You can't see them very well, but there are kayaks down there. (we're below the Lower Falls now).  We will be doing some rafting here, too!!!

I love the zoom lens.  Now you can see what you couldn't in the above picture. 

Another view from atop of the Canyon.  Simply amazing. I promise, the view from the camera is no where near the beauty in person.  Words can not describe this amazing place.  You just have to see it for yourself... (hint, hint)

This was just after viewing the Middle Falls, but I thought it was a great ending pic for the incredibly long but absolutely one of the most fun trips we've taken.  Mary was exhausted, and she didn't even "hike!"