Allegany State Park

We left Watkins Glen early Monday morning in search of what many people refer to as the “Grand Canyon of the East”. This canyon otherwise known as the Genesee Gorge splices through the middle of Letchworth State Park, in Castile, NY. The dramatic cliff face of the Genesee Gorge approaches 600 feet in certain areas. The Genesee River flows swiftly in the basin of the gorge, and plunges over three waterfalls, one being 107 feet high. After spending several hours hiking around the gorge, we set off for Niagara Falls. We arrived at Niagara Falls by midafternoon and found a perfect spot to park the RV just a stone’s throw away. The Niagara area was incredibly crowded, so it was fortunate to be so close.  Despite the heavy mist, we were able to get a fantastic view of the falls from Goat Island. Interestingly, 3,160 tons of water flow over the falls every second. This number seems unfathomable, until you witness it with your own eyes. After a quick walk around the island, it was off to our next stop, Allegany State Park. Allegany State Park is the largest state park in New York, encompassing 101 square miles. This park contains many beautiful sights including rolling hills, peaceful forests, glistening lakes and 80 miles of magnificent hiking and biking trails. During our hiking and biking excursions throughout the park, I was able to spot and photograph numerous birds as well as other wildlife. This truly was a birders paradise; just hearing a medley of birdsongs fill the air as we hiked along, was an incredible experience. Unfortunately, the last few days we had an intermittent overheating issue with the RV. Luckily, we were able to locate a service center in the neighboring town of Olean.  The repair shop allowed us to stay in the RV for two nights while waiting for the necessary parts to arrive, and the work to be done. Despite this minor setback, we were still able to stay busy and have fun. St. Bonaventure University had a wonderful paved bike trail, where I enjoyed a five mile run and my parents a bike ride. We also visited Sprague’s Maple Syrup Farm, where we were able to have an amazing breakfast and sample a variety of maple syrups. I never realized it took 40 gallons of sap, to make just one gallon of 100% pure and delicious maple syrup.