Near Buffalo Is New York's Rural Letchworth State Park Gateway With An Old-Fashioned Cider Mill

Upstate New York is one of those beautiful corners of America that everyone should visit at least once in their lives. Old forests, beautiful lakes, and gorgeous gorges preserved and protected in state parks are just some of the reasons to visit the region. Then, there are the small towns whose whole personality revolves around being a park gateway town. These cute villages offer a few amenities and conveniences on your way in and out of the park, usually involving food or drinks. Just over an hour from Buffalo or an hour from Rochester, Castile is one of those small, rural towns that sees a lot of visitors thanks to being the gateway to Letchworth State Park, one of the country's most-loved state parks per USA Today. The Letchworth State Park Visitor Center is a 10-minute drive from the village and the ideal starting point for an adventure in the park.

Castile, New York, is not a destination in itself, but if you're visiting the nearby state park to see some awesome waterfalls, there's a good chance you pass through Castile first. The village itself is quite small, with a population of 970, but the town of Castile includes the village and several hamlets, bringing the population up to around 3,000 people. There are admittedly few businesses or restaurants here. The Dollar General is the closest thing to a grocery store in town, and Wolf Creek Deli is the only restaurant, but the Castile Cider Mill is worth a stop to take advantage of the fall apple harvest or enjoy a hard cider tasting before or after your visit to Letchworth.

Just off of Main Street in Castile, you'll find the perfect pit stop to add to your day trip from Buffalo or Rochester. Come for the park, but stop in town to support a local cidery. The Castile Cider Mill has been in operation since 1945, and when it was set to be sold and auctioned off in 2008, new local owners stepped in to keep the old-fashioned cider mill alive. Today, it still delights locals and visitors alike every fall and is open daily from September through November. Bring cash and save some room for homemade apple cider fry cakes (donuts), cold or hot cider, a basket of apples, or a six-pack of hard cider.

Three Falls Hard Cider, a sister company of the cider mill and located on the same premises inside the large red barn building, offers tastings on weekend afternoons. Learn about the cider-making process inside its working cidery and how Three Falls makes its award-winning ciders without any extraneous ingredients or flavorings. The tasting menu includes nearly a dozen different types of ciders, and non-alcoholic options and alternatives are available.

Letchworth State Park is often called the "Grand Canyon of the East" thanks to its forest-lined gorge and powerful waterfalls. It's a favorite fall foliage destination with visitors (so no surprise it's one of the most breathtaking state parks on the East Coast), but the impressive landscape is a popular tourist spot for much of the year. Hiking and whitewater rafting are popular ways to explore the park in summer, and cross-country skiing and snowmobiling trails provide winter recreation opportunities. With 66 miles of hiking trails, there's plenty to see in this beloved state park, even if the waterfalls tend to steal the show. For something truly jaw-dropping, take a hot air balloon ride over the falls. It's easily one of the most romantic and scenic ways to experience the stillness of the morning mists or the beauty of a sunset over the gorge.

If you're here in the middle of winter, don't miss the ice volcano: one of Letchworth's six secret spots that visitors often miss. The volcano is near the Glen Iris Inn, a popular historic inn inside the park's boundaries. It has a fantastic view of the Middle Falls, which diners and overnight guests can both enjoy while on the property. Whether you book an overnight stay or make a reservation at the on-site restaurant, Caroline's, your reservation confirmation can help you get through the park in busy seasons.