In 2024, New York's State Parks and Historic Sites will celebrate its Centennial, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of its parks and sites system. Throughout 2024, New York State will commemorate the Centennial with hundreds of community celebrations, performances, and special events. Participate in the Centennial Challenge, check out a variety of new activities, enjoy parks and historic sites, explore new opportunities to volunteer and promote park stewardship, submit your stories and photographs to celebrate your park memories, and grab Centennial-themed New York State Parks merchandise from park stores. Visit parks.ny.gov/100 to learn more. So, wherever you’re headed next …. We’ll see you out there!
EXPLORE OUR STATE PARKS
Voted the Best State Park in the United States, 2015 USA TODAY Readers' Choice Award. Known as the Grand Canyon of the East, Letchworth State Park is a favorite scenic spot in LivCo throughout the entire year. Surround yourself with the beauty of cascading waterfalls and deep gorges as you stroll, drive, hike, or partake in offerings such as hiking, rafting, horseback riding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snow tubing, and more.
A "hidden gem" of the region, explore hilly woodlands, a deep gorge with rugged cliffs overlooking three waterfalls, and fascinating rock formations. The Gorge Trail is the easiest and most scenic while the Rim Trail climbs up towering cliffs through the woods overlooking waterfalls. Spend time swimming, picnicking, tennis, hiking, and bird watching. The on-site campground offers tent/trailer sites as well as eight cabins available for rent.
Genesee Valley Greenway State Park
This pet-friendly park follows the historic remains of the Genesee Valley Canal and Pennsylvania Railroad, mixing nature with historic features like warehouses and canal culverts, resulting in plenty to take in with your senses as you forest bathe. The Greenway is 90 miles long so, depending on where you enter, you may also find gorges, farmlands, wetlands, and other features.
Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area
Six miles south of Honeoye Lake, this area offers panoramic views of the countryside along hiking and biking trails. The area was created after 680 acres of land were given to New York State from the estate of Harriet Hollister Spencer, a horticulturist, rose expert, and civic leader, after her death in 1962.
GET YOUR EMPIRE PARKS PASS
The Empire Pass is your key to all-season enjoyment at New York State Parks and the State Department of Environmental Conservation including forests, beaches and trails. Passes are available for different lengths of time, choose from: One Season, Multi-Season or the Lifetime Empire Pass. All passes provide unlimited day use vehicle entry to most state parks and recreation facilities. In 2024, grab your year-long, multi-season, or lifetime Empire Passes which are now available for purchase. Instead of paying the vehicle use fee on each visit, simply present or scan your Empire Pass and it waives the fee for day use entry. The pass is shareable amongst a household.
LOVE THE LAND
The Genesee River Valley feeds a spirit of creativity and ingenuity. It's no accident that here in Livingston County, you’ll see people making, designing, and inventing just about everywhere you look. Our landscape is ideal for growing crops and playing outside. And our breathtaking valleys, rippling rivers, and emerald forests inspire locals and visitors to paint, sculpt, write, and make music. Livingston County might be known for its outdoor recreation, but if there’s a takeaway for our visitors - it’s our dedication to conserving the natural lands of the Genesee River Valley. Surrounded by the beauty of the region, it’s easy to see why locals love the land. And as a not-for-profit land trust, the Genesee Valley Conservancy strives to conserve our natural resources and strengthen connections between people and the land in the Genesee River watershed.
By protecting the habitat, open space, and farmland of the region, the Genesee Valley Conservancy provides beautiful places to hike and farm, as well as active classrooms for schools and universities. With over 30,000 acres of land and seven miles of hiking trails protected, the rich soils of the region support people of all generations including the farmers who depend on the land to grow food for our communities. On your visit to LivCo, explore the preserves of the Conservancy including the Railroad Bed Trail in Avon, Indian Fort Nature Preserve in Geneseo, and the Mill Creek Nature Preserve in Wayland. Visit their website to learn how to get involved with their efforts and news on their latest projects.
