Winter is here so let the outdoor fun begin at Letchworth State Park. A variety of activities, programs and family oriented adventures have been planned to provide great options to stay busy and engaged this winter season.
First Day Hikes on January 1 every year has been a state-wide event that encourages starting the year off right with an active and informative day of hiking. Letchworth has four guided hikes planned including a hike designed especially for families with young children, a Winter Wander to Ponds hike, an exotic tree hike and a Great Bend Gorge hike. All hikes begin with a 12:30 p.m. registration at The Humphrey Nature Center and participants in the hikes will receive a state parks souvenir on a first-come, first-serve basis and refreshments are served after the hikes.
The Genesee Valley Greenway State Park also offers two different hikes along the Greenway including starting points on Bull Street in Cuba, and Canawaugus Park in Scottsville.
A multitude of other hikes, lectures and programs are offered throughout the winter season in Letchworth. The Genesee Naturalist is a quaterly publication of the park that details all hikes and programs offerred through the seasons. The winter edition provides information about “winter wonder” hikes with a park naturalist and cross country ski nature hikes and showshoe walks. There are family nature walks and as winter breaks, hikes for signs of spring are planned.
The parks’ Winter Lecture Series brings guest speakers to the park every Sunday at 1 p.m. through January and February. Eight topics ranging from Timber Rattlesnakes, Balloons Over Letchworth, Changes to the Longhouse, Bear Management and what you need to know about the Ripple Effects of Invasive Species are both educational and enlightening. Lectures are held at the Humphrey Nature Center in the park.
All programming in the park is free and open to the public. The best entrance for all park activities is through the Castile entrance. The main park road from Perry to Castile is closed until spring.
For more information, details and to request a copy of The Genesee Naturalist call the park directly at 493-3600. All park events, hikes and lectures are listed at www.parks.ny.gov/parks/79.
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