Mount Morris Dam & Recreation Area

The Mount Morris Dam and Recreation Area is a major flood control project and public park located on the Genesee River near the Village of Mount Morris in Livingston County, New York. This day-use park is situated deep in the Genesee River Gorge at the northern end of Letchworth State Park and provides flood protection to downstream areas including the city of Rochester. Visit this destination to enjoy a beautiful setting overlooking Letchworth Canyon, known as the "Grand Canyon of the East".

Explore the Visitor Center to learn more about the dam or join us for a free ranger-guided walking tour of the Mount Morris Dam. Spend time outside on the park grounds to enjoy captivating overlooks, picnic shelters, and a playground. This is a great place to hike, bike, or view wildlife. During the winter, explore the trails on snowshoes or cross-country skis. A recreation area is associated with the dam and offers a variety of recreational opportunities to the visiting public.

TOUR THE DAM

You and your family can tour the Mount Morris Dam, it is ideal for active visitors with an interest in engineering and natural resource management. This popular ranger-guided walking tour lasts approximately 1 hour and includes a steep 1-mile trek into the Genesee River Gorge to the top of the Mount Morris Dam. From the top of the dam, there are great photo opportunities and amazing views of the gorge from a unique perspective.

After a short informational talk, the group will take an elevator down 200 feet into the dam, and then walk through a tunnel way (5’ wide x 7’ high) to explore the structure. At the end of the tour, the group will return to the top of the dam by elevator and walk back up the steep pathway to the Visitor Center where they may explore informational exhibits to learn more.

Be prepared for the weather; about half of the walking tour takes place outdoors. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, the 1-mile round trip is on a sloped roadway, which descends/ascends 100 feet in elevation ‘down to’ and ‘up from’ the top of the dam on a 10% grade. The temperature inside the dam will be between 40°F and 50°F year round.

Tickets for ranger-guided walking tours are available up to 7 days in advance beginning at 10:00am EST and until 10:00am on the day of the tour.