Sunday, July 26, 2015

July 26 – Upper and Middle Falls

It was another very hot day. We headed down to the very south end of the park to hike the start of the Gorge Trail. This is not a gorge trail like the ones in the other parks that follows the river at the bottom of the gorge. It follows the north/west rim. The entire trail is 7 miles one way. We only did 1 mile to get us to the Middle Falls before we turned around.

The trail starts near the top of the Highbridge railroad trestle.

IMG_1022501

It is very tall and spindly. We did see a train go over it later in the day but we were far down river by then.

 IMG_1022508

The Upper Falls are just below the bridge. This meant we had a steep set of switch-backed stairs to get down.

IMG_2586

IMG_1022518

IMG_1022515

We were looking at this blasted out rock when we noticed the sign on the rocks. We are pretty sure we didn’t touch the poison ivy.

IMG_1022519

At the bottom of the stairs was a pretty bridge over a small stream.

IMG_1022524

From the first viewpoint we were too close to see much of the falls.

IMG_1022539

IMG_2633

Here is a distorted 180 degree panorama looking up and down stream.

p2546

Farther down we got a more face on view.

IMG_1022560

IMG_1022564

When my dad read that we were in Letchworth he dug through his old photos. Apparently when we lived in Welland, Ontario we had come here for a look in 1958 shortly after I was born. So even though I don’t remember, I guess this is my second visit to the park.

Here is the viewpoint where he took one of his pictures.

IMG_1022569

His picture.

58.2 Letchworth Upper Falls_1

And mine cropped to approximately the same view. Not much has changed in almost 60 years.

IMG_1022569_1

From here we walked the almost flat path down to the top of the Middle Falls. Of course there is a huge parking lot between the two falls. If we had known and wanted to skip the stairs we should have parked there.

IMG_1022579

p2586

Next to the waterfall was a bay where the spray gave us a nice double rainbow.

IMG_1022584

p2590

IMG_1022643

A shot of Jennie on the trail around the end of the bay. She is about 1/3 in from the middle left.

IMG_1022598

IMG_1022599

And back at me.

IMG_2656

IMG_2660

Father along to a more face on view. Amazingly they actually trim the overgrowth here so that we had an unimpeded view.

IMG_1022616

p2613

On the hill overlooking the falls there is an old inn that is now a restaurant.

IMG_1022626

We looked at the menu and it didn’t look that expensive but today we had brought our lunch.

IMG_1022630

We found a shady spot on the overlook.

IMG_1022625

IMG_1022635

Jennie is getting more confident, hanging over the edge.

IMG_1022637

We watched the train go over the trestle.

IMG_1022632

IMG_1022633

We had planned to a go farther but the trail started to steeply climb to a viewpoint that we knew we could drive to. With the heat and the thought of those stairs at the end, we turned around.

Walking by the a parking lot, we saw this couple out for a cruise.

IMG_1022651

Up we go.

IMG_1022669

We drove the short (by car) distance to Inspiration Point. From here you can see a the Middle Falls, a bit of the Upper Falls and the Highbridge.

IMG_1022676

IMG_1022678

IMG_1022679

My dad also sent a shot from here. His version.

58.1 Letchworth State Park_1

And as close as I could get.

IMG_1022680

And then back to the RV.

1 comment: