Wyoming County

Warsaw Falls, New York

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Recently, I’ve made it a point to write more frequently about the waterfalls I’ve visited and also plan to visit more waterfalls. In 2019, I found out I had a brain tumor, and then in 2020, Covid-19 screwed with everyone’s plans…I did get to see some waterfalls in 2020 when driving from Las Vegas to Michigan, but otherwise, I haven’t really seen a significant number of waterfalls. I’ve still got some things to deal with from surgeries, but I’ve got the summer to do some exploring.

So I decided to fly to New York with my husband to add some more waterfalls to the list. I lived in upstate New York briefly and have a connection to the area. There are some really great waterfalls here. So, today I add to the list one that I will likely never forget…Warsaw Falls.

Let me start by saying. I’ve rated this as a moderate/strenuous hike to view Warsaw Falls because I want people to be cautious. You WILL get your feet wet, so maybe bring some water shoes with a grip. But I will also say…the quicker you get your feet wet, the “easier” it becomes. Initially, I was trying to keep my feet dry by staying to the sides of the gorge I was in, but that’s almost riskier/more difficult. The shale rock is slippery and breaks easily. Once I got my feet wet, I actually felt more stable.

The hike up to the falls is 3/4 to 1 mile up Stony Creek. There is some elevation change on the creek, but it’s not terrible. Little children might find this difficult. When we hiked up the creek yesterday, it wasn’t raging water…If it has rained a lot recently, it is probably not the best time to hike up the creek bed. The most difficult part was honestly getting down to the creek from the path on the north side of the river that starts at Warsaw Village Park. On the way back, we found a much easier path that leads to Empire Street, but I won’t go any further with that since I’m not sure if there’s trespassing/private property involved.

When you do get to the falls, you’ll be greeted with an 80′ drop. I’m surprised it’s not called Buttermilk Falls, as many other falls that look like this in New York and Pennsylvania are called that. It’s definitely a memorable hike.

Directions:

  1. Head into Warsaw either by US-20A or NY-19. Warsaw Village Park is found on Liberty Street, which intersects US-20A.
  2. There is a one-way loop road that is inside the park. You have to turn left. The trail to the falls is not clearly marked. You will pass the swimming pool and children’s park, and then parking in the “southwest” corner of the park before you get to the memorial pavilion.
  3. If you look uphill, you should see a mowed path leading into the forest. Head that ways. The creek will be to your left, though you won’t be able to see it. Walk for a short ways uphill, and then you should see a muddy ditch with a trail next to it. This is the path you want to follow to arrive at the creek.
  4. A portion of that path is very slippery as you go downhill. Be careful. You do want to end up at the creek. I believe a portion of the hike at the beginning had some clear path that you didn’t need to get your feet wet. But when the path seems to disappear, it honestly becomes easier to walk/wade in the creek. And this is coming from someone who doesn’t really like to get wet. The map embedded below shows the approximate location of the falls on the creek.

Accessibility: 4/10 (moderate/strenuous)
Height: 80′
Hike: 1.8 miles round-trip

Warsaw Falls in June 2022

Where in the World is Warsaw Falls?

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Wee Water Willy, New York

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Wee Water Willy in May 2009

Wee Water Willy is a fun, little waterfall in Letchworth State Park. It’s actually taller than it appears. It starts above the path, which is at the top of the picture here. It then falls a considerable distance down into the Genesee River below. I’m not sure I’d visit it as the main attraction, but it is literally feet from Middle Falls in the park, if I remember correctly. There are a number of other small falls that can be viewed in the park if you show up at the right time, which is spring and possibly early summer. Some of them are even dry in spring.

Directions:

  1. I can’t remember which entrance we entered from, but those of off NY-39 are the best choices.
  2. When you enter the park, there will be signs leading to different areas. Find the signs leading to Middle and Upper Falls. I believe you will be heading south as you head toward these falls.
  3. The parking area for the falls is very near the southern entrance to the park. You will know you are in the right place when you see a functioning inn.
  4. From the parking area, you’ll have no difficulty finding Middle Falls. Wee Water Willy is right nearby.

Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: 117′
Length of Hike: 0.2 miles round-trip

Where in the World is Wee Water Willy?

Shadow Cascade, New York

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Shadow Cascade in May 2009

Right next door to Upper Falls in Letchworth Park is this likely overlooked but very beautiful waterfall, Shadow Cascade. Shadow Cascade flows into the Genesee River, and once the waterfall passes below the bridge, it actually combines with Upper Falls, making the two pieces relatively indistinguishable.

The cascade is not that tall, but it is definitely worth visiting. You are only a hundred or so yards from the cascade as your standing next to the base of Upper Falls. If you continue further along this trail, I believe you can reach the railroad track that passes above Upper Falls.

Directions:

  1. I can’t remember which entrance we entered from, but those of off NY-39 are the best choices.
  2. When you enter the park, there will be signs leading to different areas. Find the signs leading to Middle and Upper Falls. I believe you will be heading south as you head toward these falls.
  3. The parking area for the falls is very near the southern entrance to the park. You will know you are in the right place when you see a functioning inn.
  4. From there, you’ll want to find Upper Falls.
  5. To the right of Upper Falls, you’ll notice a trail leading uphill. That trail leads right past Shadow Cascade.

Accessibility: 9/10 (easy)
Height: 14′
Length of Hike: 0.4 miles round-trip

Where in the World is Shadow Cascade?

Upper Falls (Genesee River), New York

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This the furthest upstream of the three major falls on the Genesee River in Letchworth State Park. It’s not as tall as Middle Falls, though size can sometimes be deceiving.

I really think that the waterfall is very pretty, but it’s actually the things surrounding the falls that interested me, or at least made the waterfall more intriguing. First off, there is a railroad track that crosses rather far above the river. At one point, there was actually a train passing 120 feet or so above the river. You can actually walk to the railroad track, though there’s no way I would get on the track.

Also, while most of the snow had melted by the time we arrived in early May, there was some snow that was left over. It looked very odd near the waterfall, and created this intriguing view that I can’t really describe very well. The snow looked sort of dirty, but it was melting and creating its own little “waterfalls”.

There is another waterfall that is directly to the right of Upper Falls that comes from a stream that flows into the Genesee River. It’s the second portion of Shadow Cascade.

Directions:

  1. I can’t remember which entrance we entered from, but those of off NY-39 are the best choices.
  2. When you enter the park, there will be signs leading to different areas. Find the signs leading to Middle and Upper Falls. I believe you will be heading south as you head toward these falls.
  3. The parking area for the falls is very near the southern entrance to the park. You will know you are in the right place when you see a functioning inn.
  4. From the parking area, you’ll have no difficulty finding Upper Falls.

Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: 71′
Length of Hike: 0.4 miles round-trip

Upper Falls in May 2009

Where in the World is Upper Falls?

Middle Falls (Genesee River), New York

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Middle Falls on the Genesee River is a rather popular name. One of the falls is in Rochester, while the other is in Letchworth State Park. This post refers to the larger, more interesting Middle Falls in Letchworth State Park. Middle Falls is a rather grand falls. It’s pretty wide, relatively tall, and really loud! As part of Letchworth State Park, it also has many other waterfalls nearby. Upper Falls is a few hundred yards away.

The waterfall can be viewed up close from the parking area for High and Middle Falls. It can also be viewed from Inspiration Point, if I remember correctly. At that point, you can visit Inspiration Falls, which I was not able to photograph due to the angle. At that viewpoint, you will be able to see both Middle Falls and Upper Falls simultaneously, which is very cool. You may also be able to view Deh-ga-yah-soh Falls to your right, though it might be easier to miss this falls with two much larger falls in your view. Lower Falls is further downstream.

Directions:

  1. I can’t remember which entrance we entered from, but those of off NY-39 are the best choices.
  2. When you enter the park, there will be signs leading to different areas. Find the signs leading to Middle and Upper Falls. I believe you will be heading south as you head toward these falls.
  3. The parking area for the falls is very near the southern entrance to the park. You will know you are in the right place when you see a functioning inn.
  4. From the parking area, you’ll have no difficulty finding Middle Falls.

Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: 107′
Length of Hike: 0.2 miles round-trip

Middle Falls on the Genesee River in May 2009

Where in the World is Middle Falls?

Deh-ga-ya-soh Falls, New York

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Deh–ga-ya-soh Falls is in Letchworth State Park in New York, and is a tricky waterfall to view if all of the trails are not yet open. When we visited in early May, I don’t think all of the trails were open yet, so a better view might have come from the other side of the gorge. I had to settle for the same side of the gorge, and am surprised to have gotten at least some view of the falls up close. You can also see De-ga-ya-soh Falls from afar at Inspiration Point, I believe, where you can also see Middle Falls and Upper Falls simultaneously. Even if you can’t find the smaller falls, it’s great to see the two larger falls together.

The falls drops much more than the picture lets on. The total drop is about 150′, though I think I only saw the first forty or fifty feet. On the other side of the gorge, you should be able to see the whole drop.

Directions:

  1. There are multiple entrances to the park, but to see most of the waterfalls it is best to choose one near the center or south of the park.
  2. Once you’ve entered Letchworth State Park, head toward the south for the parking area for Middle and Upper Falls.
  3. In the parking area, you can see Middle Falls as you walk along the Gorge Trail. Near there, you will also see Wee Water Willy. If you continue past Middle Falls (away from Upper Falls), you’ll be heading toward the bridge that crosses over Deh-ga-ya-soh Falls. Follow the Genessee River as closely as possible, and you’ll not have too much trouble finding the falls.

*For an alternate view, try viewing the falls from the eastern side of the gorge. This is probably the better view.

Accessibility: 9/10 (easy)
Height: 150′
Length of Hike: 0.3 miles round-trip

Deh-ga-ya-soh Falls in May 2009

Where in the World is Deh-ga-ya-soh Falls?

Lower Falls (Genesee River), New York

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The Genesee River takes multiple drops as it heads toward Lake Ontario. These multiple drops occur in different places. Near Rochester, there are three major drops. In Letchworth State Park, some distance from Rochester, there are three more signifcant drops. They are unimaginatively named Lower, Middle, and Upper Falls.

Lower Falls is the furthest downstream in Letchworth State Park. It is the shortest of the drops in the park, but is still very beautiful. All three of the waterfalls are accessible, though Lower Falls does have some uneven parts of trail. Even so, it is easy to access. Along the way to Lower Falls, you will come up to a beautiful brick bridge that crosses the river, and connects multiple trails. When I visited, the trails on the opposite side of the gorge were blocked off.

Directions:

  1. I can’t remember which entrance we entered from, but those of off NY-39 are the best choices.
  2. When you enter the park, there will be signs leading to different areas. Find the signs to the Lower Falls and head toward that area.
  3. You are going to pass the Lower Falls restaurant parking lot and head to the parking lot at the end of the road.
  4. From there, follow the trail that essentially leads straight to the falls.

Accessibility: 8/10 (easy/moderate)
Height: 70′
Length of Hike: 0.8 miles round-trip

Lower Falls of the Genesee River in May 2009

Where in the World is Lower Falls?