Robert H Treman State Park, Finger Lakes, New York

May 22, 2016

Any visit to the Finger Lakes area of New York must comprise the following three state parks: Watkins Glen State Park, Letchworth State Park and Robert Treman State Park. These parks offer the most spectacular scenery including canyons, eroded gorges and numerous waterfalls.

Robert H Treman is located in Ithaca and is relatively close to Watkins Glen. The main feature of this park is the 100ft plus waterfall called Lucifer Falls. The best way to see the park is by hiking the 4.5 mile loop trail that follows the Enfield Creek. You can start the trail either at the Upper or Lower Entrance. I followed the Gorge Trail starting at the Lower Entrance to the Upper Gorge Trail.Although there are some steep sections, do not skip the Upper Gorge Trail since it is the most spectacular section of the hike. Once completing the Upper Gorge I circled back using the Rim Trail. The Rim Trail is not as scenic as the Gorge Trail but it does offer some nice overlook areas along the way.

View of Lucifer Falls from the Rim Trail

Nice view from the Cliff Staircase on the Rim Trail

Watkins Glen State Park, New York

August 2011

Watkins Glen State Park is the jewel and the most famous of all Finger Lakes State Parks. It is magnificent and if you are only to visit one park then this is the one. It leaves visitors spellbound as the Glen Creek descends 400 feet past 200 foot cliffs generating a series of 19 spectacular waterfalls, 2 of the waterfalls you can actually walk behind. There are several trails that span the park but the ultimate trail to experience Watkins Glen is from the Gorge Trail. The hike along the 1.5 mile Gorge Trail will take roughly 2-3 hours. It is composed of paved walkways, steep staircases, chiseled tunnels, mortared bridges, and numerous waterfalls including cascades, dripping curtains, punchbowls, plunges and chutes.

This place is magnificent especially in the afternoon when the sun shines through casting light on the walls of the gorge. It is a magical place often looking at times like something out of the Lord of the Rings movie. While not very big in size, the park attracts many visitors who come to marvel at its beauty. It is said to be one of the most visited parks in New York State and it is easy to understand why.

You start at the bottom of the park in the parking lot and make your way up along The Gorge Trail to the top. There are over 800 steps that you must climb. You begin your journey into the Glen by walking through the Entrance Tunnel which was hand cut into the rock in the early 1900�s. You continue along the paved path with exceptional views at every corner. One of the most breathtaking views is the Cavern Cascade. This is one of the 2 waterfalls where you actually walk behind the curtain of the fall. From Cavern Cascade, the views looking down into the gorge are quite impressive. Once past Cavern Cascade, you eventually make your way through a Spiral Tunnel and under a Suspension Bridge which is 85 feet above the creek and then into a section of the gorge called The Narrows. The Narrows has its own micro-climate which is very similar to a rainforest, shady and very moist. Next stop of interest is Central Cascade and Glen of Pools.

Cavern Cascade

Central Cascade and Glen of Pools is considered one of the highlights of the walk. Central Cascade is the highest waterfall in the park plunging more than 60 feet. The trail continues crossing the creek on a scenic bridge to Rainbow Falls. Rainbow Falls is the other waterfall that you can walk behind. In the late afternoon when the sun is out, you can see rainbows reflected off the falls. After Rainbow Falls, you enter a dark and narrow passage with dripping springs and another waterfall with a thin veil called Pluto Falls. The path continues further to Mile Point Bridge. After Mile Point Bridge, there really is not much more to see beyond that point. This is a good place to turn back and walk the gorge in reverse.

Watkins Glen SP is located in the village of Watkins Glen on Seneca Lake. The park entrance fee is $8 per car. Other areas of interest worth exploring around Watkins Glen are Montour Falls, Seneca Lake and Corning Museum of Glass.

Another beautiful state park which is nearby and worth a visit is Letchworth State Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information visit the following related links.

Watkins Glen State Park

Niagara Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour

July 2011

The Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour is a top rated adventure in the Niagara area. It is a must do and definitely belongs on everyone’s bucket list. Each year, thousands of visitors embark on specialized jet boats to witness one of the world’s top whitewater rapids on the Niagara River.

 

The Niagara Whirlpool and the Hamilton 360 are some of the top highlights of this 1 hour plus tour. The boat tour departs from three different departure locations, two on the Canadian side of the Niagara River (Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON & Niagara Falls, ON) and 1 from the United States (Lewiston, NY). The jet boat makes its way along the scenic Niagara River towards the ultimate whitewater experience in the narrow Niagara Gorge. This is where the action takes place.

 Over the last 12,000 years, a spectacular 7 mile long canyon gorge has been carved out of the escarpment by the turbulent currents of this river creating towering waves and swirling cross-currents making for amazing whitewater rapids. The best time to go is on a hot summer day in the wet jet with the purpose of getting completely soaked…and you will get soaked especially if you sit in the front row. The Whirlpool Jet provides an incredible adrenaline rush that will have you coming back for more.

These are some photos taken from a camera mounted on the boat as we surfed the rapids.

 

Here are some photos of the jet boat taken at different times and locations while hiking in the gorge on the Canadian side (Niagara Glen Nature Centre) and  US Side (Whirlpool State Park)
 

For more information visit their website at www.whirlpooljet.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mount Colden and Avalanche Lake Hike, Adirondack State Park, New York

July 2011

Adirondack State Park is a huge park covering an area of 6.1 million acres. The Adirondacks contain thousands of streams, brooks and lakes making it a popular outdoor destination especially for those who love to hike. One of my favourite hikes in the Adirondacks is Mount Colden via Avalanche Lake. This trail is certainly one of the most scenic trails and provides a great variety of scenery and landscapes. It probably is one of the Top Hikes in the Adirondacks.

The trailhead begins at Adirondack Lodge and leads to Marcy Dam. This is a perfect place for a photo opportunity as Marcy Dam offers spectacular views of Mount Colden. From Marcy Dam, the trail continues to Avalanche Pass and Avalanche Lake. Avalanche Lake is a great spot to go for a swim or to have lunch especially on a hot summer day. But before you get to Avalanche Lake, there is a bit of a workout as the trail quickly climbs to Avalanche Pass. Avalanche Pass is such an amazing part of the trail. Walking through this area is like walking through a tornado zone as there are many fallen trees and debris. In 1999 a massive slide took place and caused severe damage. From Avalanche Pass, it’s nothing but downhill to Avalanche Lake. As you make your way down, you’ll be exposed to stunning scenery with glimpses of the sheer cliffs of Avalanche Mountain before emerging from the forest. Avalanche Lake is a worthy destination of its own as it offers magnificent views of the vertical cliffs of Mount Colden and Avalanche Mountain rising from the surface of the lake. Continuing to Mount Colden, you’ll have to make your way along the shore of Avalanche Lake by climbing over and around large boulders, up and down ladders and across bridges and wooden catwalks bolted directly into the cliff face making passage possible. This is an amazing section of the trail and can be quite technical at times. Upon reaching the far end of the lake, there are nice views looking backwards towards the cliffs of Avalanche Mountain and Mount Colden.

The trail then continues to Mount Colden where the final ascent to the summit is rather steep and strenuous consisting of a climb of 600m in 2.5km. At one point, you have to climb a 20 foot ladder. The summit offers spectacular views of the Adirondacks two highest peaks Marcy and Algonquin and is worth spending some time enjoying the panoramic vistas before heading back down.

In all the hike is about 22 kms round trip and takes around 9-10 hours depending on a person’s hiking level. We started the hike at 9:30 AM and reached the peak of Mount Colden at around 4 PM before heading back down and returning to Adirondack Loj at 7:45PM. This was an extremely rewarding full day hike.

While staying in the Adirondacks, it is really worth spending some time visiting the town of Lake Placid, home of the 1980 Winter Olympics. Lake Placid is the gateway to the High Peaks region providing a great selection of accomodations, restaurants , activities and events.



View of Mount Colden from Marcy Dam

View of Wright Mountain from Marcy Dam

Avalanche Lake looking southwest.Avalanche Lake is 9 acres in size and sits at 2885 feet (879 m) between Mount Colden, left and Avalanche Mountain, right.

Avalanche Lake

 

Avalanche Lake, looking northeast, showing Mount Colden, right, and Avalanche Mountain, left

Mount Colden is known for its distinctive Trap Dyke, a large crevice running up the center of the mountain seen here from Avalanche Lake

On the hiking trail to the summit of Mount Colden

Mount Colden is the eleventh highest peak at 4,714-foot (1,437 m) in the High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. It is part of the 46ers, a group of High Peaks in the Adirondacks that are over 4,000 feet.Below is Lake Colden and Flowed Lands.

For more information visit the following related links.
VisitAdirondacks.com
Adirondacks.com
Adirondack Loj
TrailPeak.com- Mount Colden trail description
AdirondackExplorer.org-Climbing the Trap Dike

Whirlpool State Park and Devil's Hole State Park- Niagara Falls, New York

May 2011

There are 3 state parks on the US side of Niagara Falls which are worth a visit: Niagara Falls State Park, Whirlpool State Park and Devil’s Hole State Park.

Whirlpool State Park and Devil’s Hole State Park can be accessed from the Niagara Gorge Trailhead Centre which is situated on the Robert Moses Parkway about 1 mile (1-2 kms) from the Falls. The Centre is the gateway to some of the best hiking in the area and offers beautiful views from both the rim trail and the gorge.



View of Niagara River and hydroelectric plant from rim trail

View of the niagara whirlpool from the rim trail

Stairs leading from rim trail to gorge trail

Cave of the Evil Spirits,Devil's Hole State Park

Devil's Hole State Park Trail

Devil’s Hole State Park is a 42 acre park which is situated on the American side of the Niagara River right next to Whirlpool State Park. The two parks are linked together by the gorge trail which spans several miles. The park can also be accessed from an entrance off the Robert Moses Parkway where there is ample parking. A 300 ft steep winding staircase comprised of roughly 400 steps leads down into the gorge. Once in the gorge the trail leads to a unique geological formation called Cave of the Evil Spirits which is a 4 ft tall by 30 feet deep fissue in a large block of dolostone.

 

 

 

 

Whirlpool State Park

Whirlpool State Park offers amazing views of the famous Whirlpool and Whirlpool Rapids. You will be completely mesmorised by The Niagara Whirlpool with its 125ft deep swirling waters which is a result of a dramatic turn in the flow of the river. This is an extremely dangerous and turbulent stretch of the Niagara River which is located downstream from the Niagara Falls. The narrow canyon walls force a massive amount of water through a smaller space resulting in Class V whitewater. For those seeking adventure, the only way to really get up close to the whirlpool is by going on the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour. The Whirlpool adjacent shoreline can also be accessed from the Canadian side via the Niagara Glen Reserve which features some more hiking trails that have nice views of the turbulent rapids. The park is accessed via a steep staircase which is overgrown with weeds from the Gorge Rim Trail. From the Gorge Rim Trail you will get great views of the Whirlpool and the Spanish Aero Car which takes passengers 250 feet above the whirlpool.

 

For more information visit the following related links.
New York State Parks:Devil's Hole State Park
New York State Parks:Whirlpool State Park
Niagara Falls State Park.com
NYFalls.com-Whirlpool State Park
NYFalls.com-Devil's Hole State Park

 

 

Letchworth State Park, New York

July 2010

Letchworth State Park is situated in New York State 35 miles south of Rochester. Dubbed the “Grand Canyon of the East”, the park is 17 miles long from north to south, covers an area of over 14,000 acres along the Genesee River and is noted for its gorge scenery, magnificent waterfalls and dramatic cliffs reaching 600 feet in height.

Within the park there are 3 major waterfalls, Upper Falls, Middle Falls (the highest at 107 feet), Lower Falls all of which are situated in the south section. There is a path that starts at the Glen Iris Inn that leads to the Middle Falls and continues to the Upper Falls.



Middle Falls

Upper Falls

 

There are several nice lookouts along the rim of the park that provide spectacular views of the gorge and Genesee River. The Inspiration Point Lookout provides exceptional views of the Middle Falls ,Upper Falls and the Portage Bridge. The Big Bend Lookout provides an amazing view of the winding Genesee River and carved gorge. The Mt. Morris Dam overlook provides a great view of the Mt. Morris Dam.



View of the canyon gorge and Genesee River from Big Bend Lookout

View of Middle Falls from Inspiration Point

Portage Bridge is 820 feet long and 240 feet high and is still in use today by freight trains. The original wood trestle bridge which was complted in 1852 burned in 1875. Close up views of the Portage Bridge can be accessed from the Upper Falls by climbing a path with a series of steep steps.

The Glen Iris Inn is located on the top of a cliff overlooking the Middle Falls is considered the centerpiece of the park and was purchased by William Pryor Letchworth in 1859 with the surrounding 1000 acres. The Glen Iris Inn provides overnight accommodations and fine dining, has a Victorian Gift Shop and is a popular place for wedding receptions. For those staying the evening you will see the Middle Falls lit up at night with white and colored lights.

 

 

Glen Iris Inn

 

 

Letchworth has over 25 trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and skiing ranging from ½ mile to the longest, the Finger Lakes Trail, which is 24 miles and spans the whole length of the park. Other activities include rafting and hot air ballooning.

 

Letchworth is beautiful any time of the year but particularly in the autumn when it displays magnificent red, yellow and orange foliage. The park can be entered through Mt Morris, Castille, Parade Grounds and Portageville. Cost to access the park is $8 per vehicle.

For more information visit the following related links.

New York State Parks:Letchworth State Park

NyFalls.com:Letchworth State Park

LetchworthPark.com: General Park Information-Camping Information and Park Maps

BalloonsOverLetchworth.com: Balloon Rides over Letchworth

LetchworthParkHistory.com:Learn about the history of Letchworth State Park