One of my favorite ways to spend my time is by visiting state parks. State Parks provide so many opportunities to enjoy nature. And the variety of ways we can enjoy nature abounds at these state parks.

Where I live I am fortunate to be within driving distance of several state parks. While all the state parks I love offer a lot to love, sometimes there is more to love when there is simply more to love. Size does matter. And Letchworth State Park is one of the largest State Parks near me.

Letchworth State Park has all of the elements I love from my most frequently visited state parks that I am closer to except it takes it all to the next level. Love waterfalls? Letchworth takes the waterfalls and super sizes them. Three major waterfalls and other smaller falls and cascades. And the three major falls are all as big or bigger than the falls at my favorite spots.

All the natural features

Creeks and streams are beautiful and great places to relax. Letchworth State Park will see you and your creeks and streams and raise you one large river running right down through the heart of the park.

If you love just seeing nature it is hard to compete with Letchworth. Letchworth State Park is comprised of over 14,000 acres of land, most of which is woodlands. It is just a vast and beautiful space that really can make you feel like you are in a whole different world.

Most of the state parks I love and can visit regularly in my home region are renowned  for their gorges. Well, Letchworth State Park dials this one up to ten as well. Letchworth boasts a gorge known as the “Grand Canyon of the East”. It is gorgeous and an impressive geological feature. Cliff walls rise as high as 600 feet in some places.

I love relaxing and the simple pleasures of enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. However, I really like to be on the move. Getting on the move at state parks is accomplished on trails. And Letchworth State Park takes the cake in this area, boasting 66 miles of hiking trails. That provides so much adventure and exploration to be had all over in this beautiful park. None of my other favorite parks can come close to this.

And there is plenty of camping available so you can spend as much time as you would like enjoying all that nature has to offer at this state park.

Exploring all the park has to offer

Another aspect of Letchworth State Park that I enjoy is that it is a great location for events. They hold hot air balloon launches there as well as other events that I have yet to make it there to enjoy.

As is often the case what really makes something special to me is when it combines more than one of the things that I love most. Letchworth State Park takes the cake here too. One of the biggest and best trail running events is held at this park. It is one of my favorite running events. Segahunda trail marathon and relay has been something that has shaped me as a runner and my development as a runner. And I have so many good memories of friends and my trail running community from this event. And there are other events held here as well.

There are other trail running events I want to do that are held at Letchworth State Park as well.

Letchworth State Park is so impressive because while I have ben there many times there is still so much more that I have not explored. That is one reason I am excited by this new trail race this year, the Genny Lite, little sister to the Many on the Genny. This trail race looks like it will cover many of the trails and areas I still have not explored in my many trips here. And those two trail races are events I am excited to do some day so that I can see and explore more of this great park.