Wyoming Co.,
New York
Hiking Trails:
Kisil Point Trail: Yellow blaze
Total Time: 1:10 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.9 Miles
Pros: Scenic Peninsula scenery, very quiet area
Cons: Rough end of trail
Level of Difficulty: Easy, until last part which is very difficult
I had spent the week camping in Letchworth State Park and the Genesee River Gorge, and there is a trailhead to a scenic point in the Gorge which starts directly from the campground. I decided to hike this trail, which is somewhat of a loop. The main part of the trail starts along Park Road, but it has a point of entry from the camping area. I walked from the rec hall and playground into the woods, where there is a very short path connecting to the trail which goes parallel to loop 100 and 200 of the campground. I took the trail past the abandoned picnic area and shelter, where the trail splits into a left and right spur. I took the right spur, which is above the rim of the Genesee River Gorge, with ocassional good views of the gorge and river below. I continued to the point where the left and right spur join, and at this point the trail descends and goes along a narrow ridge along the peninsula jutting between the Genesee River Gorge to the right and the Silver Lake Outlet gorge to the left.
The trail sort of ends at a nice view above the drop, but there is a very steep and eroded trail that descends to the bottom. I took this trail, which is extremely challenging, and when I realized that I may kill myself if I go all the way to the bottom, I turned around and went back up, catching my breath. I made it about 2/3rds down and noticed how unsafe, unstable, and steep this trail is to the bottom. I safely and carefully climbed up holding roots and small trails along the steep path, avoiding the poison ivy which seemed to be growing everywhere.
Once I got back up and caught my breath, I continued back up the peninsula, this time taking the spur along Silver Lake Outlet. Back where the spurs meet, I took the path that goes directly back to the campground, and walked back through campground loops 100 and 200 where I had originally started.
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| Map of the Route |
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| Abandoned Picnic Shelter |
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| View of the Genesee River from the Kisil Point Trail |
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| Roots Holding up the Steep Descent |
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| Silver Lake Outlet Joining the Genesee River |
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| Genesee River Gorge |
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| Marshy Area at the end of Silver Lake Outlet |
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| Confluence of Silver Lake Outlet and the Genesee River |
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| Genesee River |
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| Me at the Kisil Point Trail |
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